Systemic Racism
The scripted entertainment industries are systemically racist and steeped in implicit bias. Our friends and colleagues in the sector have experienced islamophobia, misogynoir, tokenism, sexism, and the devaluation of their valuable professional expertise. The fact that this has often been at the hands of people who consider themselves socially progressive should prompt us all to reflect. There is a chasm between the rhetoric of this industry and the reality. Too often, people are used as tools in a sector where very few leaders have training in personnel management.
Strange Boy Productions has a Diversity & Inclusion Policy, which you can read here. But the mistreatment of our friends and colleagues has happened at organisations which also have such policies. It's not enough. This whole sector, and everybody in it, needs to reflect. The psychological toll, particularly on women of colour and neurodivergent people, of working in this sector is immense. The film, TV and audio industries need to start listening to people, start trusting people, and open our eyes to the talent we're ignoring. We need a reckoning.