The UK’s film and TV industry has grappled with growing challenges around fair pay and inclusivity especially in the wake of the 2023 Hollywood strikes, which caused widespread job uncertainty across British productions.
This climate has prompted discussion about low pay and the future of the industry, particularly within marginalised communities. A 2024 survey by Bectu, a UK trade union for freelancers in the media industry, found that 44% of Black British and 41% of Asian British workers are planning to leave the industry in the next five years.
Speaking at Leeds Trinity University’s Journalism and Media Week, Beatrice Neumann – who is the Head of Skills and Industry Engagement at Screen Yorkshire – gave her insight into the future of film and TV.
Neumann’s first job in the British film industry was unpaid, but she notes the stark difference in the last 20 years: “Things have changed massively and the industry is starting to get it – there’s a real awareness nowadays that entry-level and first jobs should be paid.”
“If we’re serious about equal opportunities, being paid is essential.”
Screen Yorkshire’s philosophy emphasises the need for fair compensation, discouraging early-career workers in the film industry from taking on unpaid work. “We might support shadowing someone for a few days, or making a short film with your friend, which has long-term benefits,” Neumann said.
“But people put to work should be paid, especially when economic challenges are already pushing out those from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
This summer marked the eighth cohort of Screen Yorkshire’s Beyond Brontës programme, aimed at opening doors for individuals underrepresented in the screen industry. Neumann tells Yorkshire Voice that there is a commitment to inclusivity: “For it to be a real opportunity, we do a lot of community outreach,” Neumann explained.
“We go on community radio stations and get in touch with local groups we haven’t reached yet. Each time we recruit, we push it a bit further.”
Beyond Brontës provides its participants with more than technical skills – as Neumann put it: “It educates the industry by showing that film and TV can be a career path for anyone.”
Many trainees and workers at Screen Yorkshire are neurodivergent, which Neumann said required flexibility from the industry: “There may need to be adjustments or time spent accommodating them, but simple changes can make it possible for people to actually thrive in this industry,”
“If the industry isn’t inclusive, people aren’t going to stay, and we want them to stay so they can change the face of it.”
Though there is a push for diversity in the workforce, there is another looming challenge for the film industry – attracting younger audiences back into cinema and TV. While teenagers and young adults typically form a large part of cinema audiences, their attendance has been on a decline since the first COVID-19 lockdown.
British Film Institute data notes that younger audiences are more likely to access films via streaming platforms than in a cinema setting. As ticket prices continue to skyrocket, young people – who are often just beginning their careers with limited income, are selective about where and what to spend their money on.
Neumann noted another factor, “The more diverse the workforce and content is, the more likely it is to attract a wider audience.”
As these challenges continue, Neumann has an optimistic outlook on the future of the film industry in Yorkshire: “The film industry comes back to Yorkshire because they enjoy working with the people – they just think they are really nice.”
“Its great to see how vibrant the industry is here, it’s growing from strength to strength.”