Event: Film Diversity Action Group Launch Wed 14 Nov

The Rt Hon Ed Vaizey MP

Former Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries

Terry Ilott

Chair, Film Diversity Action Group

Simone Pennant (Chair)

Founder ot The TV Collective

Helen Grant MP

Event Sponsor

“It shouldn’t have the money if it doesn’t have the mix”

The proportion of BAME employment in UK film production has been stuck at 3% for at least 18 years. The Film Diversity Action Group has developed detailed proposals for linking film tax credits to meeting diversity targets in a report “It shouldn’t have the money if it doesn’t have the mix”. The Film Diversity Action Group is particularly keen to hear the views of BAME people at this meeting.

Ed Vaizey was Culture Minister from May 2010 – July 2016 – the longest serving Culture Minister since the post was created in 1964. In January 2014 Ed Vaizey held the first of a series of diversity round tables where he listened to the concerns of leaders and activists from the creative industries. Thanks to his efforts diversity became a priority for the Department of Culture Media and Sport and this was reflected in new requirements in the BBC Charter. When he left office, over 150 senior figures from the arts and creative industries wrote to the Daily Telegraph to express their thanks for what he had done.

Terry Ilott is Chair of the Film Diversity Action Group and is an expert on film policy. He has worked for Warner Bros, the Motion Picture Association, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Merchant Ivory Productions and was CEO of Hammer Films. A former editor of the Financial Times Screen Finance and contributor to New Media Markets, Terrry Ilott was for many years the leading media business and financial columnist in the UK. He was Director of the Film Business Academy and the MBA course at the Cass Business School and was the author of the 1990 British Screen Advisory Council report “Achieving Diversity In the Film Industry”.

Simone Pennant MBE is foundcer of the TV Collective, a Talent and Ideas Development agency, who’s sole aim is to support the economic growth of the diverse creative communities working in TV, film and digital media. Simone has spent nearly two decades working within the industry across radio, TV and digital media in all areas of production and has had a number of programmes commissioned across the broadcasters for Channel 4, Channel 5, ITV and the BBC. She is a licensed career counsellor and coach works with talent in all branches of the media. Ultimately The TV Collective is a cheerleader for creativity, shining a light on hidden gems of talent in the media from diverse backgrounds who feel on the fringes or under the radar of the mainstream UK TV, digital media and film establishment. Simone was awarded the MBE for services to Diversity in Media.

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Helen Grant was elected as Member of Parliament for the constituency of Maidstone & The Weald at the 2010 General Election. She is the first Anglo-African female Conservative MP. She has served as Minister for Justice 2012-13, Minister for Women and Equalities 2012-2014 and Minister for Sport and Tourism from 2013-2015, notably championing the growth of participation in sport in the UK within diverse and under-represented communities. Helen is a Trustee of the Social Mobility Foundation and she travels extensively focussing upon issues concerning equality, inclusivity, social cohesion, racism and discrimination. In October 2017 she was appointed Chair of the government’s Apprenticeships Diversity Champions Network, set up to make sure that new apprenticeships are diverse and inclusive and open to all people from every background. And in January 2018 Helen was appointed a Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party with responsibility for Communities.

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