The new HireBIPOC initiative aims to stamp out systemic racism in TV and film

It's no secret (in fact, it's kind of in-your-face) that the TV and film industries are overwhelmingly white. Even with strides made in the past several years to make on-screen entertainment more diverse, there's still MUCH progress to be made, especially behind the camera, in the writers' rooms and at higher levels in media organizations. The new HireBIPOC initiative aims to eliminate barriers faced by Black, Indigenous and creatives of colour in the industry by compiling a comprehensive and ever-growing database of BIPOC who are ready to get hired.The initiative, launched October 5, is a collaboration between major Canadian broadcasters (including Bell Media, CBC/Radio-Canada, Corus Entertainment and Rogers Sports & Media) and BIPOC TV & FILM to throw out every last excuse an entertainment company might make for lack of diversity at every level of the creative process. "Canada’s broadcasters and industry leaders... are working together to eradicate systemic racism in the media and entertainment industries with HireBIPOC, an industry-wide initiative to create meaningful change around hiring practices and ensure a more inclusive workforce," a press release reads.[video_embed id='6197620696001']WATCH: HireBIPOC aims to eradicate systemic racism in entertainment hiring [/video_embed]HireBIPOC is a resource for any production hiring for projects with Canadian affiliations, whether fully Canadian or shot-in-Canada. At launch, the HireBIPOC site (available in French and English) is an online roster of more than 500 creatives (and more can join at any point!). The platform aims to increase BIPOC hiring by changing the process and facilitating connections between companies and potential employees at all levels of screen-based entertainment (including TV, film and digital) from on-air talent to production to behind the scenes to executives to communications to marketing.TL;DR: If you need a position filled for a production, you better believe there are countless qualified creatives of colour who are ready to work.

 

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Bell Media, Corus and Rogers have also "committed to making the use of HireBIPOC a specific condition of greenlight for original productions," meaning some of the biggest content-producers in Canada are pledging to widen the scope of their media offerings and focus on meaningful representation. All involved assert this is a step toward systemic change in screen-based entertainment."Creating real, systemic change to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Canadian media industry is a long-term commitment, and a top priority for Bell Media," Bell Media President Randy Lennox said. "We’re proud to make use of HireBIPOC among our production partners a condition of green light for Bell Media original productions. It is our ardent hope that HireBIPOC is a game-changer for Canadian content in seeing more Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour on screens across the country."In addition to Canadian broadcasters, more than a dozen other Canadian organizations in the industry have signed on, including the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, Inside Out, Hot Docs, Indigenous Filmmakers Association, Remix Project and Canada Media Fund. Any company in the entertainment industry can create a profile and browse the hundreds of creatives on the platform.[video_embed id='2012607']BEFORE YOU GO: Sterling K. Brown talks about power of representation on TV [/video_embed]