The Commission for Equalities and Human Rights has said that there is one factor above all others that leads to women's inequality at work - "becoming mothers". Creative Skillset's surveys show that only 14% of women working in film have children. In the rest of the country 74% of women with children are working. We believe it doesn't have to be so difficult for mothers to work in film and we want to start a conversation about how change can be made for filmmakers who want to have a family and continue their careers.
This is about DIVERSITY, at a time where there is a renewed global interest in creative diversity in front of and behind the cameras. It is about SUSTAINABILITY, with a growing body of evidence that films for, by and about women do well at the box office. It is about DEVELOPMENT of talent and preventing the departure of so many brilliant individuals from the UK film industry.
We are looking to address one of the key issues that prevents many female filmmakers from pursuing their careers, to enable filmmakers with families to keep working and feel supported during demanding times in their personal lives, and to challenge at a structural level the demands the film industry makes of all of us.
We have short, medium and long-term goals designed to enable parent filmmakers to be better served by the industry they give so much of themselves to.
SHORT-TERM:
Create a supportive community that offers resources and shares personal experiences about how to best manage the challenges that parent filmmakers face. Being (emotionally and practically) prepared for what lies ahead can make a huge difference when you are self-employed. This online community will be based on the Raising Films website and social media pages, as this works best for the busy lives of working parents, and has the added advantage of raising awareness and starting the conversation.
MEDIUM-TERM:
1. Our first campaign will be to investigate the key issue of childcare. We will gather evidence of solutions that work for parents and investigate which are the best fit for the film industry and film workers. Whether it be making childcare a line item in the production budget, facilitating the use of childcare vouchers or ensuring funders provide childcare expenses in development, creating a pot of money to which producers can apply or understanding what parents need from on-site creche facilities, we will look at schemes, initiatives and family-friendly policy internationally and talk to the UK film industry about its own specific requirements.
2. Together with other organisations investigating diversity in the industry, and working with academics and universities, we want to collect and analyse data that we can present to policy-makers and film financiers to bring about change. This is how structural change comes about.
3. Set up training events at festivals across the country (and worldwide) for filmmakers to understand both how they can develop their own careers with a family, as well as educate employers about how to best manage employees who have family responsibilities.
LONG-TERM:
- Oversee implementation of solutions which work for both parents and the film industry. For example:
- Create a fund, in conjunction with key film financiers and trade organisations, for childcare to which filmmakers and productions could apply.
- Facilitate a workspace with a creche or childcare for parent filmmakers.
- Establish an industry recognised kitemark requiring productions with public funding to operate under criteria which makes parents and other carers more employable.
We have a fantastic committee of women who are volunteering their skills and commitment to work towards these goals. But we need a project manager to deliver our objectives for Raising Films. We want to pay them a healthy rate for a short term. This will encourage applicants who can not only manage the platforms we are already operating on (the website, our Twitter and Facebook feeds), but who have the necessary experience to gather the data we need to make decision-makers review policies, to create essential partnerships and secure longer term funding to continue this important work.
THE FUNDS:
£5k will buy us 6 months of 10 hours a week at a rate that means we are able to employ someone part time, possibly a parent. The additional £1k is for project expenses (website hosting, design etc.) and to pay the Indiegogo charge.
The more we raise, the more people we can employ, and the better work we can do. Every penny will be spent on extending the reach of this conversation between stakeholders and policymakers to change the industry for the better for everyone.
THE FINAL FAVOUR:
All of us are parents and/or self-employed and that's why we need this money - to pay someone who can do this important work. Unfortunately, this means we don't have the time or resources to come up with real perks, so we're asking you to forgive us for not sending you anything in the post, or even online love. And in respect for the fact that many of you are very busy too, we're gonna stop there and let you get back to that. Thank you for reading.
