If half of film and TV students are women, why are 80% of key roles in the film and TV industries occupied by men?
Lucy Brown, Head of Film and Television at the University of Greenwich, founded the Trailblazing Women On and Off Screen International Conference to try and tackle the problem.
By bringing together academics, industry professionals and students, the aim is to support and find solutions to this inequality. The conference is based on the belief that all students, regardless of background, should have the chance of a future in the screen industries.
Juliana Naples, a University of Greenwich MA film production student who attended the conference, said: "I'm about to start my first job in the industry, and this conference has been a great chance to make strong connections with other talented women. It's opened my eyes to the challenges I might face in the industry, but more importantly showed me ways in which I can help change things."
Blending theory and practice, the conference explored the theme of trailblazing women with a unique blend of talks, masterclasses and screenings focussed on inspiring women working within the film and television industries.
Highlights of the event included panels featuring former actor and MP Tracy Brabin and Baroness Tanni-Grey-Thompson, the broadcaster and Paralympian who also holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Greenwich.
An important aspect of the conference is to champion women who are blazing a trail, such as Gemma Jackson, the Emmy award-winning production designer of 'Game of Thrones', 'Finding Neverland' and 'Bridget Jones's Diary', who received the conference's inaugural Trailblazing Women Recognition Award.
Lucy also presented research from the conference at the National Association for Higher Education in the Moving Image (NAHEMI) Talking Shop conference on 29th June. She is leading a collaborative research project between the University of Greenwich and members of NAHEMI to examine how Higher Education Institutions can support change through teaching and learning practices, as well as connections with industry.
The conference began in 2017 as a one day symposium and this year grew to a two day international conference with speakers and delegates attending from across Europe, the USA, Canada and Hong Kong.
-ends-
The conference was sponsored by Women in Film and Television (UK), The National Association for Higher Education in the Moving Image, The Media, Communication and Cultural Studies Association Policy Network and Women's Film and Television History Network – UK/Ireland.
For further information please contact the media team:
Telephone: +44(0)20 8331 8937
Email: public.relations@gre.ac.uk
Website: www.gre.ac.uk
Out of hours: +44(0)20 8331 8937
Notes to editors:
University of Greenwich has been providing higher education for over 125 years. It has over 20,000 UK and international students studying at three campuses in the UK, and an additional 17,000 students studying overseas.
University of Greenwich is a public, research university with four faculties: Architecture, Computing & Humanities; Business School; Education & Health; and Engineering & Science.
The university operates across three campuses: Greenwich and Avery Hill in London and Medway in Kent. Its renowned research has been globally received and endorsed by nine Times Higher Education Awards and four Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher & Further Education.
Notable alumni include Nobel Laureate Sir Charles Kao, Blur musician David Rowntree and campaigner Doreen Lawrence, Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon.
