Shocking report details human rights risks in post-production

New research from the UK has found that many of those working in post-production “have their human rights adversely impacted in a range of different and sometimes very troubling ways.”

A new report from the TV Industry Human Rights Forum in the UK details the many ways in which those working in post-production, particularly at the entry level, have their human rights violated in any number of ways.

Titled, Let's fix it in post: why broadcasters and production companies can and should address human rights risks in post production, found evidence of systemic issues across post. These include.

• Widespread examples of illegal or barely legal practices including lack of contracts, below minimum wage work, inappropriate payment terms, non-compliance with health and safety regulations, and a failure to make reasonable adjustments. 
• High levels of insecurity, causing high levels of stress for those finding work and leading some to accept poor terms or working conditions. 
• A lack of formal recruitment processes, employment practices, training and career paths. 
• A bullying and blame culture, with blame frequently pushed down the chain to junior roles. Meanwhile the fragmented hiring practices and widely freelance nature of the sector means that there is a lack of clear management, accountability or channels for reporting issues. 
• Poor labour practices, including excessively long working hours, a lack of rest days, high pressure to deliver, insufficient breaks, poor working conditions, and an expectation to remain available when projects are postponed.
• Consequent negative impacts on the health, safety, and family lives of those working in post production. Some interviewees felt that working in post was incompatible with having children. 
• Being unable to raise concerns because of fears of blacklisting in an industry that relies heavily on word of mouth, damage to their reputations if they are seen as not coping, a lack of clarity about how to raise concerns, “and an expectation that nothing will change.”

The research was conducted by the TV Industry Human Rights Forum in partnership with the Film and TV Charity, and with support from Creative Diversity Network, together with post production consultancy from Emma Butt. Current members of the TV Industry Human Rights Forum are BBC Studios, Channel 4, ITV, Sky, and NBC Universal, so these are some big and major companies involved here. And while UK-centric, a lot of its findings will be depressingly familiar to many people working in the post sector worldwide.

It’s not pretty reading. It’s also not surprising. As anyone that has hung around a production or in post for any length of time knows, it can be an extremely difficult industry to get a foothold in. The ad hoc system of runners and trainees that has evolved to ensure a steady flow of new talent is a harsh one open to exploitation and abuse. And the insecurities that are built into the way the industry is structured continue on from there.

The report says that many of the issues it identifies are a product of the way that commissioners and productions operate, which it characterises as a miasma of unrealistic schedules, last minute changes, poor communications, and late payments.

Recommendations for change 

It offers a range of recommendations as a result. Broadcasters and production companies can lead change by:

1. Increasing the understanding of post-production processes among commissioners and production teams
2. Resetting expectations on the amount of budget and time required to meet demands for high quality work, together with acknowledgement of and responsibility for financial and resource implications of late changes
3. Changing their own practices in order to incentivise and enable better working conditions so that the post industry can thrive. This includes committing to prompt payment, rewarding post-production facilities that have good working practices and supporting better diversity monitoring of post-production workers. 

There are also opportunities for post-production facilities to improve the situation by: 

1. Providing structured training opportunities and paths for progression
2. Proactively addressing stigma around accessing mental health support
3. Ensuring written contracts and prompt payment for freelancers
4. Being proactive in reducing the working hours of all those involved in projects. 

Finally, it says that together, broadcasters, production companies and post facilities should work with industry bodies to:

1. Clarify job descriptions and career paths in post
2. Support an industry-wide channel to report poor working conditions
3. Provide training opportunities on management, business skills and self-care.

It’s a long list, but it’s also a fair one, and especially relevant as the current prevailing mood music from out of the US seems to be one of rolling back on DEI initiatives and rights in general.

As Emma Butt concluded in Televisual: “For years, I and others have been working behind the scenes to engage in conversations with people at all levels about the poor conditions we often work under, their impact on our mental health and the negative impact they have on the lack of diversity and inclusion across post. I hope at least some of the recommendations in this report are embraced to create a more sustainable and inclusive post sector.”

For once, fixing it in post seems like a very good idea.

tl;dr

• Widespread illegal practices in post-production, including lack of contracts, below minimum wage, and non-compliance with health and safety regulations, contributing to a culture of insecurity and stress.
• High levels of bullying and blame culture, where junior staff bear the responsibility, compounded by fragmented hiring practices that hinder accountability and reporting of issues.
• Poor labor practices manifesting as excessively long hours, insufficient breaks, and an expectation of constant availability, negatively impacting workers' health, safety, and family lives.
• Recommendations for change include better understanding among decision-makers of post-production needs, improved training and career paths, prompt payments, and industry-wide mechanisms for reporting poor working conditions.