About > DEI
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
The content we consume has long been created by people who don’t reflect their audience. We’re committed to changing that.
From a lack of on-screen representation to inequitable hiring processes, the film industry has a long way to go — and a big opportunity at hand.
A UCLA study found large-budget movies that rank below average in authentically inclusive representation typically underperform by $32 million at opening weekend. McKinsey urges studios to set — and publish — representation targets. Casual is committed to enacting change by investing in, fostering and promoting BIPOC talent.
How we’re enacting change.
We commit to hiring diverse talent by removing the barriers BIPOC candidates face when applying for roles on and off screen. Our equitable recruiting process places weight on transferable skills, tenure in other industries and non-traditional experiences that translate into content production. We seek out diverse talent at all levels, from entry-level to senior leadership.
We’re committed to growing and empowering the diverse talent we already have. Most of our Executive Producers joined in a junior role. We up-skill our staff to take on leadership positions, increasing the diversity of experience, background and thought in our key decision-making roles.
We regularly examine our progress towards more inclusive hiring, spending and thinking. It’s a bare-minimum expectation to hire freelance talent from a variety of backgrounds, seek out diverse suppliers and challenge our own blindspots. We hold regular knowledge-sharing forums, and challenge our clients to examine their biases and make more inclusive content.
We report on our diverse-supplier spending quarterly. From equipment rentals to catering, hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent in the local economies we operate in. The most effective way to enact change is to direct your dollars toward enterprises that align with your values. Our goal is 10% YOY growth of total spend directed towards BIPOC and women-owned businesses.
Our greatest asset is our knowledge and experience in filmmaking, and we keep re-investing in sharing it — through the Casual Academy and skills workshops. The Academy gives 16–25 year olds from diverse, often disadvantaged backgrounds hands-on filmmaking experience alongside our professionals, culminating in a free film for a local charity. So far we’ve reached over 150 young people across our home cities.
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