TV embracing women more than Film

More television projects with women in key creative roles are being funded than in film, according to new data.

51% of all projects receiving production funding from Screen Australia in 2017-18 had women occupying at least half of the key creative roles.

Releasing the second instalment of tracking against its Gender Matters target, shows increased representation in feature film, documentary, television drama and online dramas.

But the Film sector is still trailing representation in Television.

“What stands out in our recent application data is that women are well represented, with 57%* of all incoming requests for funding being for projects where women occupy at least half of the key creative roles,” said Joanna Werner, Screen Australia Board and Gender Matters Taskforce member. “Furthermore, those projects are typically successful in obtaining funding, with 55%* of all approved applications being for projects where women occupy at least half of the key creative roles.

“But we’re very aware that television projects are much more likely to include female creatives than feature film, so our top line application numbers need to be read with the understanding that whilst female participation is increasing industry-wide, it is uneven.

“Whist we have seen steady improvement in the film figures over the last three financial years, women are still significantly underrepresented in key roles, so our focus is to see much more advancement in this area. To that end, our new development programs will undoubtedly assist a wider group of creators to be able to workshop their projects, which will not only bring new voices into the market, but give concepts the time and resources to incubate.”

Females working in Creative Roles -Industry Wide
July 2011 – June 2017

Screen Australia’s Gender Matters hopes that by the end of 2018/19, half of the projects that receive production funding will have women occupying at least 50% of key creative roles.

“The entertainment industry is cyclical. You cannot plan for who will have a great idea and when. So whilst we saw a noticeable upswing in titles where women occupy at least half of key creative roles getting production funding in 2017/18, we’re already seeing that trend soften in our most recent funding rounds,” said Werner. “Although it’s good to see we have hit our Gender Matters target early, it remains to be seen if the trend will hold. Coupled with the fact industry-wide data clearly shows areas of chronic under-utilisation of female talent remain, I would interpret today’s Gender Matters tracking data as a sign we are on the right track – not by any means at the end of the track.”

Successful Screen Australia Applications (Production Only)

 

Werner added, “As we move into the final year of the original Gender Matters plan, both Screen Australia and the members of the Gender Matters Taskforce will be considering where to focus our attention in 2018/19 and beyond to ensure the improvements in female participation are sustained. We know we still have a lot of work to do.”

*three year average 2015/16 – 2017/18 inclusive.

 

More info is at Screen Australia.

Photo: Corrie Chen