Netflix releases update on Film & Series Diversity – Screen Australia recently shared the findings from Seeing Ourselves 2 Report, the second report that looks into diversity, equity and inclusion in Australian TV drama.
Today, Netflix has released its latest film and series diversity study (link here) which is the second release of the six year, three part study, to help keep us accountable and effect lasting change in our industry.
Key findings include:
- Netflix achieves gender equality in leading roles: More than half (55%) of all Netflix films and series from 2018-2021 featured a girl or woman as the lead or co-lead.
- Increased representation for people of colour in leading roles: In 2020-2021, nearly half (47%) of Netflix films and series featured a lead or co-lead from an underrepresented racial/ethnic group.
- More women behind the camera: In 2021, 26.9% of directors on Netflix films were women, compared to 12.7% across top-grossing films that same year. And 38% of show creators in 2021 were women, substantially higher than 26.9% in 2018.
- Significant strides for women of colour in front of and behind the camera: Women of colour increased significantly as series directors from 5.6% in 2018 to 11.8% in 2021 — with similar growth for writer and creator roles. Nearly a third of films (27.7%) and more than half of series (54.75%) in 2021 had women of colour as leads/co-leads
As part of this commitment to D&I, Netflix established the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, investing $100M USD over 5 years to create more pathways for talent from underrepresented communities across the world through partnerships with external organisations and bespoke Netflix programs.
In Australia, Grow Creative, funded by the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, is on a mission to support and prioritise diversity in front of and behind the camera. Since its launch, Grow Creative has:
- Netflix Indigenous Scholarship Fund: In partnership with AFTRS, Netflix has provided $515,000AUS for a range of initiatives to elevate indigenous creatives and voices to support First Nations communities and storytellers.
- Regional Crew Development Program: In partnership with Screenworks and NSW Government, Netflix invested $500,000AUD to boost skills in the industry through training, placements and work experience to create new pathways in the field.
- ANZ Writers Journey Lab: a five day intensive workshop which took place in October to support scripted series for Australian writers in partnership with Australians in Film and Screen Australia.
- Production Accounting Workshop: Addressing a specific skills shortage, in Feb/March 2023 Netflix Grow Creative held a two-week training intensive in partnership with Entertainment Partners (formerly Moneypenny Services) to give an overview and how-to of the role of a production accountant.
- Ongoing attachment programs: Starting with a successful program within Heartbreak High Season 2, Netflix Grow Creative attachment program has extended to Boy Swallows Universe, Heartbreak High Season Two and more are still to be released, with successful candidates now going on to roles within other Netflix products. .
Still to come in 2023 there are plans for multiple workshops to upskill in a range of areas across post and production, locations and more, alongside its ongoing attachments program.
Media Release – Netflix
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