Wednesday 17 November @ 7–8pm AWST (UTC+8)

SCEDI_flyer

A CILECT/SCEDI/ECU event

Background:

Diverse and equitable representation, both on and off screen, is the subject of considerable debate in the Australian screen industry sector.  Screen Australia’s Seeing Ourselves report (2016) was a milestone study in representation on screen and prompted the formation of Screen Australia’s Equity and Inclusion Strategy and multiple state and industry initiatives to foster a culture of inclusive story-telling. The WA screen agency Screenwest introduced the role of Diversity & Inclusion Manager in 2017.

In 2020 the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences reset the bar when it announced new representation and inclusion standards to qualify for eligibility in the Oscar Best Picture category. The new standards will be implemented by 2024 and are intended to be a catalyst for long-lasting, essential change in our industry.

There can be little argument that more equitable representation is needed, in fact long overdue. The drive for more stories told by and about indigenous people, women, minority communities, people with disabilities and the LBGTQI+ community has been broadly welcomed.

But what happens when storytellers wish to step outside of their lived experience to tell a story? A contentious proposition arises: do we have the right to tell stories outside of our own community, identity and experience?  This raises questions about the ownership of stories and who has the right to tell them.

This session will explore the concept of “No Stories about Us without Us,” and examine opportunities and obstacles to increasing equity and diversity in both the education sectors and the screen industries.

The webinar with be hosted by Associate Professor Cathy Henkel. Setting the scene will be Dr Jonthan Messer,Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Screenwest. Jonathan is responsible for driving diversity, equity and inclusion for the benefit of the WA screen industry and wider community. Jonathan identifies as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and has lived experience of disability. He will outline what we mean in Australia by Diversity and Inclusion and set the scene of where we are in Australia in relation to these issues.

The panel will include industry practitioners and current students who identify as indigenous, disabled, LGBTQI+ and culturally and linguistically diverse CaLD.

Confirmed speakers to date include:

Jonathan Messer, Leslie Hornung, Jennifer ‘JP’ Piper, Sarah Williams, Oliver Songbuer.

A short clip representing some of the work of the speakers will be included.

Panel members will have 4–5mins each to respond to the following in relation to “No stories about us without us”

  • What does this statement mean to you?
  • What is your experience of diversity and inclusion?
  • What opportunities have you experienced, and what needs to be done to remove roadblocks and encourage more diversity – in the education sector and in the industry?  

The last 15 minutes will be reserved for questions.

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