The screen entertainment industry can be tough-going. As demands, technologies, consumption and rules change at pace, this In Brief session brings four perspectives from people and organisations trying to make working lives a little easier for all.
- Discrimination Behind the Scenes: What Can We Do About It?
- Derisking Production: Why the Right Medical Team Matters
- Thinking Differently: The Business Case for Neuroinclusion
- Experiments in Diversity
Discrimination Behind the Scenes: What Can We Do About It?
Discrimination - whether overt or subtle - remains a persistent issue across the film and TV industry and its impact on workers’ mental health is profound and far-reaching. In this Better Work session, Marcus Ryder, CEO of the Film and TV Charity, shares personal insights and professional expertise on how racism and mental health challenges intersect in our sector. He’ll explore the realities faced by industry professionals and outline the Charity’s new initiative aimed at driving meaningful change and fostering a healthier, more inclusive working environment.
In association with
Film & TV Charity
Derisking Production: Why the Right Medical Team Matters
Protecting your cast and crew starts with understanding the risks of injuries and illnesses unique to your production, and ensuring you have first aiders and the right healthcare professionals on set when it matters most. Yet, the role of medics and the importance of hiring them properly are often overlooked, leaving productions, and their people, exposed to unnecessary risk. Through a scenario, we’ll look at how to prepare for the worst-case on set, exploring practical steps to flagging risk that could arise, choose the right medical team, diligence and ensure your production is ready for anything.
In association with
Osborne Clark & Secret Compass
Thinking Differently: The Business Case for Neuroinclusion
The film and TV industry has long attracted creative, passionate people who see the world differently - and many of them are neurodivergent. Conditions such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia are not just present but overrepresented in our sets, studios and writers’ rooms. Yet with this brilliance often comes misunderstanding: what’s seen as “difficult behaviour” can simply be a difference in how someone processes information or copes with stress. This talk explores how neuroinclusion isn’t just a moral or HR issue but a business advantage. By communicating in ways that work for all brains, productions run smoother, teams collaborate better and mental health improves. Through real industry examples, we’ll show how empathy and curiosity can transform on-set dynamics, reduce burnout, boost retention and unlock creativity - because the future of film depends not just on better technology or bigger budgets, but on better understanding each other.
In association with
Neuro Jungle
Experiments in Diversity
Among commercial directors at least 80% of major industry award winners are consistently white, male, middle-class, straight, and non-disabled. This session uses stats to explore what’s changing and why in director diversity. We’ll look at “The Pull”: why brands are demanding more inclusive creative commissioning. Then we explore “The Push”: how initiatives like Shiny and Bid Different are helping diverse directors get seen and hired. Presented by two women working across the director supply chain, this talk explores what’s working, what isn’t, and how we can all work together to make change.
In association with
Shiny
