RESEARCH

In 2024, the Forum supported research into human rights risks related to post production.

The report found significant human rights impacts within post production, including:

• Exploitative working practices

• Lack of warning or support for those working with traumatic or sensitive content

• Significant detrimental impacts on health, safety and family life

• Impediments to diversity

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The report identifies a lack of understanding about post production processes among many of those working in commissioning and in productions as one root cause of the issues, leading to insufficient budgets, impossible schedules, a lack of transparency and poor communications. In particular, the report highlights:

• Demands for post production work that is cheap, fast and high quality;

• The associated purchasing practices of commissioners and productions, including: unrealistic schedules; late notes, approvals and decisions; poor communication; and late payments; and

• The failure to require, budget for and monitor practices of post production suppliers, instead tending towards the lowest bidder rather than rewarding those suppliers with good working conditions in place.

The report concludes that some of the costs of a production are borne by individuals least able to afford it, who end up providing their labour below cost or for free.

The report includes a set of practical recommendations for broadcasters, commissioners, production companies and post production facilities, which include:

• to increase the understanding of post production processes among commissioners and production teams;

• to reset expectations on the way budgets and time are allocated; and

• to change their own practices in order to incentivise and enable better working conditions so that the post production industry, and wider TV sector, can thrive.

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The report was developed in partnership with The Film and TV Charity, together with post production consultancy from Emma Butt, freelance Sound Editor.