Animated Women UK - Stats on Women Working in Animation & VFX in the UK

A N I M A T E D W O M E N U K @ G M A I L . C O M 1


Presented by: Lindsay Watson, Founder & President

(Animation)

DETAILS

Inspired by an event that took place in 2011 with the London International

Animation Festival and Women in Film & Television UK, our group aims to

represent England, N.Ireland, Scotland and Wales using a membership

business model to sustain itself.


MISSION

‘To positively support, represent, celebrate and encourage

women in the animation and visual effects (VFX) industries

across the UK. ’


VISION

‘See a change in the UK's animation and VFX industries. We

want to support a network of women who can help each other

achieve success at every stage of the animation or VFX pipeline.’


• International

relationships

• Mentoring

• Advice

• Formal and

Informal

Support

• Lifestyle

• Knowledge-

Exchange


5 KEY AIMS

1. Networking

2. Mentoring

3. Showcasing

4. Recruitment

5. Education

(Training/Research)


EVENTS – 2013/14

M I N D C A N D Y , L O N D O N

1 0 S E P T E M B E R , 2 0 1 3

Launch Event

Speech, Networking,

Ideas

Sponsored by Mind

Candy

Supported by Creative

Skillset (Kate

O’Connor)

M P C , L O N D O N

3 0 J A N U A R Y , 2 0 1 4

180-minutes of

video from across

UK

76-seat theatre

Drinks, Networking


EVENTS - 2014

T H E C A R T O O N M U S E U M ,

L O N D O N

1 5 S E P T E M B E R , 2 0 1 4

Monthly Event

Networking, Drinks

Workshops

Guest Speakers


B A F T A – B R O A D C A S T T E C H

N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Awards

Guest

Speaking

Discounts

Workshops

EVENTS – 2015: UPCOMING/ONGOING



Presented by: Helen North, Advisory Committee

(Mentoring) & Shiona Llewellyn (Executive Coach)

A SYMPOSIUM, WHAT’S THAT?

‘A forum to debate, plot, and discuss a

subject – a meeting at which ideas are

freely debated and exchanged...’


WHY ARE WE DOING IT?

• To increase the proportion of women in these sectors,

in particular roles and more women in senior roles

• To help women achieve their potential by helping them

manage their careers

• Our aim today is to tell you what we’ve learnt, initiate

debate, ask you for recommendations for action, help

you do things differently.


WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO

• Share our research – what are the barriers to career success?

• Roundtable 1: What type of support could be valuable at this stage in

your career?

• Preparation for industry experts

• Break

• Sharing our research – what employers told us

• Roundtable 2: What can be done to increase the proportion of women?

• Roundtable 3: What can women do to be more successful? What's

holding women back?

• What will you do differently?


OUR FINDINGS

• 261 responses - 56% from animation 40% from VFX - 4%

both.

• 35% Under 30 40% - 30–40 25% Over 40

• 55% have or would experience career barriers

• 65% of respondents were aged over 30, but only about

one third (22%) of them have children


BARRIERS WOMEN EXPERIENCED - THEMES

1. Not being treated as a serious professional/having to work

harder than male colleagues to achieve promotion/regard.

2. General industry attitudes/male dominated areas/direct

and indirect sexism and discrimination.

3. Difficulties associated with balancing family life with the

demands of work.

4. Stereotyping of jobs, skills and expected female

behaviours.

5. Unhelpful and ‘expected’ female behaviours.

6. Barriers caused by having children.

7. Perceived (and real) inequality of pay and conditions.

8. Getting older and relaunching after career breaks.


ROUNDTABLE

• What type of support could be valuable at this

stage in your career?

• Your 3 top recommendations


NETWORKING TIPS

The majority of production and creative roles are rarely advertised

Personal contact – 47%

Networking/direct approach – 32%

Responding to an advertisement – 17%

Recruitment agency – 4%


VFX EMPLOYER INPUT

Nature of the work/culture of the companies.

Skill requirements

Getting into the industry/recruitment issues generally

Professional development within VFX

Issues for women to consider

Recommendations to increase the proportion of women


ANIMATION INDUSTRY EXPERT INPUT

Nature of the work/culture of the companies

Job hunting for first and subsequent jobs

Sought after skills and personal qualities

Issues for women to consider

Recommendations for AWUK to increase the proportion of women

and to help more women achieve their potential.


ROUNDTABLE

• What can be done to increase the proportion

of women? What can companies,

government, organisations do?


BARRIERS WOMEN EXPERIENCED - THEMES

1. Not being treated as a serious professional/having to work

harder than male colleagues to achieve promotion/regard.

2. General industry attitudes/male dominated areas/direct

and indirect sexism and discrimination.

3. Difficulties associated with balancing family life with the

demands of work.

4. Stereotyping of jobs, skills and expected female

behaviours.

5. Unhelpful and ‘expected’ female behaviours.

6. Barriers caused by having children.

7. Perceived (and real) inequality of pay and conditions.

8. Getting older and relaunching after career breaks.


ROUNDTABLE

• What can women do to be more

successful? What's holding women back?

• Feedback


To get somewhere new,

try something new

What will you do differently?


CLOSING REMARKS/RESOURCES (L.WATSON)

- Part-time jobs website: Timewise Jobs

- Career Development Book: Dude, Where’s My Career?

- Government: DCMS Events

- Government: Equalities Office – Women’s Engagement Newsletter

- To join AWUK simply go to the website and sign up to the newsletter for

free

- Please share our newsletter/website with friends and colleagues

- We will announce networking events and workshops shortly for Jan/Feb

- If you’ve got questions or would like to volunteer/help, email us at:

- [email protected]


C.2014 LINDSAY WATSON

[email protected] 26

Data & Analytics

Animated Women UK - Stats on Women Working in Animation & VFX in the UK