The ongoing downturn in production in the UK’s film and TV industry is having a severe impact on the talent working in the sector, according to research by the Film and TV Charity.
As part of its latest report, Money Matters: Examining the Financial Circumstances of the Film, TV, and Cinema Industry Workforce, the organisation found more than 80 per cent had been affected by the recent production downturn, with more than a quarter having work cancelled due to the US strikes.
Other findings include:
- Nearly half (45 per cent) of respondents were finding it difficult to manage financially
- Freelancers, film workers, those with a disability or a long-term health condition, and carers with adult dependents are finding it particularly difficult
- 42% had less than £1,000 in savings, with over 80% seeing savings decrease and 29% having low cash savings and high levels of debt
- 40% felt they wouldn’t be able to make ends meet for any more than a month if they lost their income, with more than a third running out of money before the end of the week or month most of the time over the last 12 months
- 71% were pessimistic or very pessimistic about their financial future
Speaking about the report, Marcus Ryder, CEO at the Film and TV Charity, said: “The Money Matters report is a sobering read and it’s critical that the survey results it highlights form the basis for urgent discussion about the welfare of the film and TV workforce, retention of talent, and the future health of the industry as a whole.
“Currently, behind the scenes workers are asked to navigate an industry prone to boom and bust cycles, to deal with structural shifts and respond and pivot to meet the needs of changing business models. In too many cases, they’re asked to do so without any of the safety nets afforded to other workers, despite being at the heart of a multi-billion pound pillar of the UK economy. At the same time, we ponder why people are leaving the workforce and why we struggle to attract and retain talent from marginalised or under-represented groups.
The full report is available here.
