Ka pai to Katie Millington (pictured) and Lib Kelly! This week the pair announced their production company Eight's intention to include a line in every production budget that will go towards the mentorship and training of underrepresented groups in our industry at full applicable rates.
Eight has been working closely with Miki Magasiva and Mario Gaoa from The Brown Factory to implement a strategy to foster indigenous, Māori and Pacific people in advertising and film. Loosely based on the US Association of Independent Commercial Producers Double the Line initiative, Eight’s inclusion line will extend this initiative in the aim to broaden access to our industry.
The company's aim is to get others to follow suit, as being largely a freelance based industry, the opportunity exists for every production company, on every production to train one person now.
Eight will work closely with advertising agencies and film bodies to use this line item to offer paid opportunities to people at every stage of their career who can be on set gaining knowledge and experience. The aspiration is that this leads to lasting change and the upskilling of a diverse range of people into senior roles.
Watch this space!