Bectu Vision teams up with Timewise to tackle long hours in film and TV

Bectu Vision and Timewise have today published a report on flexible working in film and TV, the start of a three-phase partnership to tackle the long hours in the film and TV industry.

Read more here and download the full report here.

The report, commissioned by Screen Scotland and the Film and TV Charity, was based on a series of interviews over a six-month period with commissioners, heads of production and directors, as well as production teams and crew, about the impact of long working hours.

Key findings and recommendations include:

The report concludes that improving working patterns will prevent the loss of experienced crew, ease pressure and help production companies support wellbeing of workers.

Next steps involve surveying scripted crew across the UK to assess the viability of different working patterns and identifying instances of reduced working days in drama productions.

With the support of production teams from World Productions and Silverprint Pictures, Bectu Vision and Timewise will then develop a blueprint of two reduced production schedules, to demonstrate how the industry can create and deliver a shorter working day.

Alongside the report is the release of a checklist to help productions consider bringing more flexibility to roles when recruiting crew. Read the checklist here.

Bectu Vision is a skills hub for freelance film and TV crew in Scotland providing short courses and initiatives to upskill and support the workforce. Our industry development initiatives lead the way in driving change for fairer, more flexible and sustainable workplaces.

Bectu Vision co-manager Amy Shaw said: “At Bectu Vision we have been passionate about developing and delivering initiatives and supporting flexible working in film and TV for several years.   We are proud to have partnered with Timewise in the last year to create the Making Flexible Working Work Report and Guide published today to support and inspire productions and crew to create more flexible working opportunities.”

“As a former production crew member, I personally know the challenges the long hours on productions bring and the many stories of friends, colleagues and crew who have had to leave the industry because they could not fit their life and work alongside each other.”

“To now begin the next step and find some answers to the questions about shorter working hours that have been discussed by industry for so long is thrilling. This work is so important to move the conversations forward towards action and we are excited to explore new possibilities and test new potential models of work that could change the industry.”