SUBMISSION 48
Supplementary memorandum submitted by
the film office
DIVERSITY IN THE FILM INDUSTRY
I was very interested in the questions that
you asked last Tuesday regarding diversity in the film industry
and the answers you received. It came as no surprise to hear you
being told that nepotism is still rife. In some respects the industry
is still quite feudal: productions are often little principalities
with a rigid pecking order. Since most personnel are freelance
and dependent on the patronage of the hierarchy for their next
job this often fosters an unhealthy environment where diversity
of opinion is stifled and sycophancy rewarded. Talent and ability
are recognised but jobs are equally often awarded on the
basis of who one knows or whether one's face fits: "are they
`one of us?'" Ethnic minorities, who usually are not "members
of the club," are highly disadvantaged in this (though their
success in nevertheless gaining ground in the Industry is a testimony
to their talent and ability).
It is vitally important therefore that the institutions
that have been established set a good example in this matter but
this has not always been the case. The London Film Commission's
record for employing people from ethnic minorities is poor: indeed
it may be that they have never employed someone from an
ethnic background since it was established in 1995. (You may wish
to satisfy yourself on this score by examining their employment
records since I cannot be absolutely positive about this but certainly
they have never had anyone from an ethnic background working in
a prominent role though there are plenty of able people.)
This is not the standard one expects from a
publicly funded body. I do not believe it is racism of the BNP
kind—though you can imagine what would be said if the same
statistic were true of the Police!—more that it reveals
a mind-set that leans towards cronyism. This has been damaging
for the LFC, never good at handling criticism however positive,
as it has stifled real debate about its role and direction. There
has been little room for diversity of opinion: those who
do express views contrary to those of the LFC are cold-shouldered
or worse.
25 June 2003
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