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Warner Bros, Disney, BBC, Sky, Paramount and Apple TV+ are among the organisations that have signed a pledge from UK performing arts and entertainment trade union Equity to tackle bullying and harassment in the TV industry

Equity has led on the creation of a Statement of Commitment which aims to safeguard cast and crew, make productions more accountable, and open up reporting lines for those who have experienced inappropriate behaviour on productions.

The statement commits to: 

  • Safer castings and auditions, with professional recruitment standards and auditions undertaken in appropriate workspaces.
  • Producers having clear respect at work policies which include a process for making and addressing concerns and complaints of bullying and harassment.
  • Making information accessible about how cast and crew can raise concerns, such as information on call sheets and displayed in communal areas, and providing support and whistleblowing helplines, and details of the safeguarding contact for each production.
  • Anti-bullying and harassment training to be completed by cast and crew before they start work.
  • A suitably trained, senior member of each production team to be appointed as a safeguarding contact who can make any necessary adjustments.
  • Notification to be given in advance and in writing about the scope and extent of nudity and simulated sex acts, followed by discussion and agreement with the artist, and an intimacy co-ordinator to be engaged if acceptable to the actors involved.

The commitments were jointly developed by the organisations following Equity’s meeting of representatives to discuss how to create a workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Equity’s president Lynda Rooke said: “To establish an inclusive and respectful culture requires actions not just words, and I encourage all those working in this sector to recognise their individual responsibility to report inappropriate behaviour and unite against any pressure to remain silent on these issues.”

BBC Studios Productions director of content Ralph Lee said: “It is important that as an industry we work together to ensure there is a safe and respectful working environment within the production community. Signing up to this Statement of Commitment will strengthen our ability to continue to improve making this happen.” 

Sky UK and Ireland managing director of content Zai Bennett said: “Across all our productions, we are committed to providing a safe, collaborative and inclusive work environment. We fully support this new industry commitment.”

Last month, Equity launched guidance to help actors understand when non-disclosure agreements are being misused to combat their “unnecessary, bullying and over-reaching” use and urged the industry to stop the practice of requiring actors to sign such agreements in order to be cast.

Last week, it emerged that BBCS has committed to rolling out its own anti-bullying pilot scheme as a compulsory part of all its productions.

The full list of organisations that have signed up is:

  • AMC
  • Apple TV+
  • BBC
  • The Casting Directors’ Guild
  • Channel 4
  • Channel 5
  • The Co-operative Personal Management Association
  • Disney
  • Equity
  • HBO
  • Intimacy Directors & Coordinators
  • ITV Studios
  • Northern Ireland Screen
  • Pact
  • Paramount
  • Personal Managers Association
  • S4C
  • Screen Scotland
  • Sky
  • TAC
  • Warner Bros 

This story first appeared on Screen’s sister site Broadcast

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