• Black people are significantly under-represented in the film and TV industry, according to a McKinsey report.
  • Increasing opportunities for Black people in film and TV could improve equality and also generate over $10 billion in annual revenues across the industry.
  • The report also showed that few Black people are given creative, off-screen roles.
  • Here are four measures to improve diversity and inclusion in the film and TV industry.

Black professionals are substantially underrepresented in film and TV, and the relatively few that do find success must bear the lion’s share of responsibility for creating opportunities for other Black people. Barriers to inclusion run deep and wide, extending from the most junior positions to the most senior.

Talent is missing out and so are audiences. Mckinsey estimate that closing the opportunity gap could generate more than $10 billion in annual revenues across the industry, the equivalent of a 7 percent expansion in baseline revenues.

Have you read?

Mckinsey's new report, Black representation in film and TV: The challenges and impact of increasing diversity, examined data on thousands of productions and interviewed more than 50 industry professionals. It found that not only do fewer Black-led stories get told, their projects receive less funding and are quicker to be shelved. In all, less than 6 percent of writers, directors and producers on US films are Black.

a diagram showing how black talent is under-represented in film, particularly off screen
Statistics how underrepresented Black people are in film.
Image: Mckinsey & Company

Notably, it often falls to the small number of Black artists in those key “above-the-line” positions to create room for other Black artists. While films with a Black producer or director represent a small sliver of all those produced, these productions are significantly more likely to have Black representation.

a chart showing that Black off-screen talent is primarily responsible for creating opportunities for other Black off-screen talent
More Black, off-screen talent is needed.
Image: Mckinsey & Company

For many Black professionals, the issue is not so much glass ceilings, but steel doors. Breaking into the industry is often only possible after years of low or unpaid work. Securing that work often depends on who you know. And pitching a show effectively requires relating to it, something that’s far more difficult when decision-makers have a different lived experience.

a chart showing how the film and TV industry remains disproportionately white
More black representation is needed in the film and TV industry.
Image: Mckinsey & Company

Once in the door, there are numerous other challenges. A single flop can torpedo a career. Pigeon-holing is another problem. “…[Studios] are looking for Wakanda or poverty, with no in between,” said one creative executive. In an ecosystem designed to cater to white talent, Black talent is subject to a “Black tax”; this means having to pay out of pocket for such essentials as proper hair, makeup and lighting, or spending countless hours trying to reform the industry on their own.

a chart showing that although there is mixed progress, Black and minority team leads are still underrepresented in TV across platforms
Greater Black and minority representation is needed in leading TV roles.
Image: Mckinsey & Company

Achieving equity in film and TV is a complex, system-level challenge that will require collective action. Mckinsey believe the following four measures could begin to create a more equitable and rewarding experience for all underrepresented groups.

What's the World Economic Forum doing about diversity, equity and inclusion?

The COVID-19 pandemic and recent social and political unrest have created a profound sense of urgency for companies to actively work to tackle inequity.

The Forum's work on Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Social Justice is driven by the New Economy and Society Platform, which is focused on building prosperous, inclusive and just economies and societies. In addition to its work on economic growth, revival and transformation, work, wages and job creation, and education, skills and learning, the Platform takes an integrated and holistic approach to diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice, and aims to tackle exclusion, bias and discrimination related to race, gender, ability, sexual orientation and all other forms of human diversity.

The Platform produces data, standards and insights, such as the Global Gender Gap Report and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 4.0 Toolkit, and drives or supports action initiatives, such as Partnering for Racial Justice in Business, The Valuable 500 – Closing the Disability Inclusion Gap, Hardwiring Gender Parity in the Future of Work, Closing the Gender Gap Country Accelerators, the Partnership for Global LGBTI Equality, the Community of Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officers and the Global Future Council on Equity and Social Justice.

a chart showing that the lived experience of Black talent along the film and TV content journey reveals an ecosystem that reinforces the status quo
These are the barriers which stand in the way of Black talent being under-represented.
Image: Mckinsey & Company

1. Ensure diverse representation, especially among off-screen talent and executives, by expanding recruiting to HBCUs and state schools, looking beyond Los Angeles or New York, and formalizing mentorship and sponsorship programs.

a graph showing that white actors have more opportunities for lead roles early in their careers than Black actors do - and the gap only widens over time
More Black actors need leading roles earlier on in their careers to close the gap.
Image: Mckinsey & Company

2. Increase transparency and accountability through frequent and public intersectional reporting.

a diagram showing that Black talent is twice as likely to be funnelled to race-related films, which are the least funded
Black actors should be given the opportunity to take on a more diverse range of roles.
Image: Mckinsey & Company

3.Support a variety of Black stories by dedicating a larger share of upfront funding to increasing diverse content and talent.

a chart showing that films with Black off-screen talent have smaller budgets despite higher earnings per dollar of budget
Films with off-screen Black talent need to be provided with larger budgets to close the gap.
Image: Mckinsey & Company

4. Create an independent organization dedicated to advancing racial equality that could develop best practices and track and report progress across the industry.

graphs showing that Black talent is largely susceptible to market shocks and has been largely stagnant over the last 20 years
Evidence shows that market shocks have decreased the amount of Black talent.
Image: Mckinsey & Company

Mckinsey recognize that that there is no silver bullet to increase diversity and inclusion in the industry. But starting a concerted, multifaceted effort should put film and TV on a path to becoming more just, and also more profitable.