Sunday 24 April 2016

Racism in the movie industry

That is not a title often seen with regard to the movie business
Having worked in all branches of the industry for over forty years I have not experienced any overt racism at all in the one International industry that is as culturally diverse as the Film and TV industry.
Why?
No idea..
Maybe it is similar in the music business.
Different races and ethnic groups seem to work in almost perfect harmony in both of these entertainment businesses.
I have experienced racism in a number of countries, from a dislike of my race, English, to a total rejection of my White Anglo Saxon appearance..but it was never really associated with  the job I was doing.
What is it about our industry that surpasses the common prejudices.
Maybe it is the involvement in the creative process.
“Slumdog Millionaire” was shot in Mumbai,India by an Englishman from the North of England.. using inexperienced young Indian actors in some of the worst social conditions in the world . It won an Oscar….An amazing achievement.
I have noticed that when I attend social events at the BAFTA headquarters in  Piccadilly, London that all social and racial groups intermingle and seem very happy to do so, maybe because the main topic of conversation is the making, writing, producing, financing, casting ,and shooting of films.
Is the creative process of making movies about to create something else, an Esperanto of the creative world.

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