UK Film Council: BME groups poll

A Harris poll commissioned by the UK Film Council found that more needs to be done to present a more ‘authentic portrayal of the country's diverse audiences that includes older women and minority ethnic groups’.

Most minority groups feel that they are stereotyped and under represented by Hollywood, and the British film and television industry.

The poll of over 4000 people conducted in early 2011 indicated that:

• eight out of 10 Black people felt they were more likely to be depicted or characterized as drug dealers and as over sexual;
• four out of 5 gay and lesbian people felt that characters depicting them were too focused on their sexuality;
• seven out of 10 older people were represented as de-sexual;
• three out of 4 Asian people felt that their religion was inaccurately portrayed;
• three out of 4 Eastern European respondents believe they are regularly portrayed as being at the bottom of the economic ladder.

Furthermore, the poll revealed that minority groups were far more likely to visit the cinema more often than the wider general public. 31% of the general public attended the cinema at least once a month contrasted with 67% of Asian and Eastern European groups, and 56% of Black African/Caribbean individuals and 55% of LGB respondents attending on a monthly basis.

Another finding from the study indicates that there is considerable commercial opportunity to be had if minority groups and diversity are greater represented more authentically on film. 59% of Asian, 66% of Black African/Caribbean, 54% of East European and 51% of LGB audiences say they would watch more films if they felt this was the case.

The UK Film Council has this year been responsible for supporting films including The King's Speech, Made in Dagenham and Mike Leigh's Another Year.

The UK Film Council is one of the agencies that will no longer be operating having had its funding cut in the bonfire of quangos.

The full study is on the UK Films Council website.

Ashok Viswanathan

Image: Film Council Logo