MEDIORITE SPOTLIGHT
Local film production company and social enterprise, Mediorite has partnered with Visual Marvelry, The Dark Art of Light and Jack Media to shine a spotlight on the diverse young people they’ve already helped to break into the creative industries. By highlighting their success stories, they hope to do two things; firstly, encourage other young people to follow in their footsteps and secondly, highlight to creative businesses that there is a new wave of talent out there if they are ready to open their doors to it.
Lucy Ferguson, Director of Mediorite said: “The creative industries show a distinct lack of ethnic diversity, with many media institutions having workforces that are unrepresentative of the audiences they serve. BAME employees make up just 4% of the media (film/tv/video/radio/photography) workforce. Mediorite specifically aims to help underrepresented groups break into the industry and we hope that these images will inspire more young people to step into the spotlight.”
LUCY SAYS…
Mediorite offers free training, work experience and work to diverse young people in order to deliver their vision of sustainable creative careers for diverse young people in a representative creative sector. The young people featured in the posters have first hand experience of trying to break into an industry in which they don’t see many people like themselves.
Ibby, Mediorite apprentice said: “The education system doesn’t really guide you towards the creative sector.” While Reuben sees the problem as more entrenched, saying: “The infrastructure at the top needs to be diversified in order for people from diverse backgrounds to stand a chance in getting employment in the film industry.”
However, through the work of organisations like Mediorite, things are looking up. Aiysha said: “I feel like the creative sector does lack in giving equal opportunities but it is improving. “ Matthew, Mediorite’s studio manager and graduate of the Apprenticeship scheme says : “People without degrees are being given opportunities in the industry, which I think is a big step in the right direction.”
The creative sector has started opening its doors to under-represented young talent, who keep London’s media industry fresh, lit and full of new vision. These images are a reminder that there needs to be more opportunities to build a pathway for diverse young people to become part of the infrastructure at the top. More people in the media need to look like the people it’s made for, to break down barriers.
“people without degrees are being given opportunities in the industry, which I think is a big step in the right direction.” Matthew