Attention SHOWRUNNERS, WRITERS AND DIRECTORS! Call for research focus group participants

WIFT Canada Coalition is proud to be partnering with Dr. Amanda Coles at Deakin University in Australia, and Professor Deb Verhoeven at the University of Alberta, on an important research study funded by the Canada Media Fund. The project examines how risk assessments related to film and television development and production under COVID-19 interact with the specific challenges the pandemic also poses to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in the Canadian film and television industry.

The output of this project will be a report for Women In Film and Television Canada Coalition that interrogates risk and decision-making in relation to equity, diversity and inclusion of both workforces and story content under COVID-19.

Amanda and Deb are actively seeking women writers, directors and producers from under-represented communities, particularly Indigenous, Black and People of Colour women creatives, and women from under-served film and television production regions across Canada, to participate in 2 English-language focus groups of 8 – 10 people each for the study. (French-language call for participants coming soon.)

The focus group for English-language PRODUCERS will take place on WEDNESDAY, FEBRURARY17, 2021 at:

•       1500 Pacific Standard time

•       1600 Mountain Standard time

•       1700 Central Standard time

•       1800 Eastern Standard time

•       1900 Atlantic Standard time

•       1930 Newfoundland Standard time

The focus group for English-language WRITERS AND DIRECTORS will take place on WEDNESDAY, FEBRURARY 24, 2021 at:

•       1500 Pacific Standard time

•       1600 Mountain Standard time

•       1700 Central Standard time

•       1800 Eastern Standard time

•       1900 Atlantic Standard time

•       1930 Newfoundland Standard time

The focus groups will be held via Zoom and take approximately 90 minutes. Focus groups will explore the opportunities and challenges women face in relation to project development and financing before and during COVID. Focus groups will also probe COVID-19 issues related to career pathways and progression, including (im)mobility, work-life interference, and caring responsibilities.

All participants must be at least 18 years of age and have at least two years of professional experience in film/tv project development and production in Canadian dramatic television, feature films, or foreign service production.

If you:

•       Identify as woman writer, director and/or showrunner; and

•       Are from an under-represented community, including but not limited to professionals who identify as IBPOC, LGTBIQ+, disabled, gender diverse, from the regions; and

•       Have at least two years of professional experience in film/tv project development and production in Canadian dramatic television, feature films, or foreign service production

and are interested in contributing to this important research initiative, please email Amanda Coles directly at amanda.coles@deakin.edu.au to confidentially express your interest in participating.

Although WIFT is the industry partner, this academic research is being conducted independent of WIFT. Any questions directly related to the research project or process should be directed to the research team.

At no point will the list of focus group participants, or the focus group recordings and transcripts, be made available to Women in Film and Television chapters, or the Canada Media Fund as project funder.

Please include “writer/director focus group” in the email subject line, and a brief email indicating your interest in participating. Amanda will respond promptly to confirm space availability for participation. Once space is confirmed, the research team will provide you with additional details about the Zoom meeting, your rights as a participant, and answer any additional questions you may have.

Spaces are limited. All interested parties are strongly encouraged to indicate their interest as soon as possible.

We hope you’ll consider contributing your expert knowledge to this important and exciting research project!

About the Researchers

Dr. Amanda Coles, Department of Management, Deakin Business School Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia

Email: amanda.coles@deakin.edu.au

Dr. Amanda Coles is in the Department of Management at the Deakin Business School in Australia. She is a scholarly researcher who specializes in the Canadian film and television production industry.

You can see some of her work here: https://www.deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/people/amanda-coles

Professor Deb Verhoeven, Canada 150 Chair in Gender and Cultural Informatics, University of Alberta

Email: debver@ualberta.ca

Professor Deb Verhoeven is the Canada150 Chair in Gender and Cultural Informatics University of Alberta. Deb specializes in cultural informatics which combines digital technology, big data, cultural forms, and social justice.

You can see some of her work here: http://debverhoeven.com/about/

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