MIC lecturer, Dr Susan Liddy of the Department of Media & Communications Studies, has co-authored the first report on harmful behaviours and practices within the Irish screen industries.
Recently launched at the Light House Cinema in Dublin, Behind the Scenes: Exploring harmful behaviours in the Irish screen industries sheds light on the experiences of professionals within the Irish screen industries—highlighting ongoing challenges like bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment, and the urgent need for change within the sector.
Co-authored alongside Dr Fergal Rhatigan, the report was commissioned by Women in Film & Television Ireland (WFT Ireland) and backed by the Screen Ireland Stakeholder Fund.
In discussing the importance of the report, Susan, who is also Chair of Women in Film and Television Ireland and President of Women in Film and Television International, commented:
"Behind the Scenes: Exploring harmful behaviours in the Irish screen industries" is the first report to focus exclusively on dignity at work in the Irish screen industries. It makes an important contribution to the significant work already undertaken by Screen Ireland and the Safe to Create partnership. My colleague, Dr Fergal Rhatigan, and I found evidence that behaviours including bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment continue in many workplaces. Nearly three quarters (72%) of the 253 respondents who participated in our survey had either experienced or witnessed some form of inappropriate or harmful behaviour: a clear signal that while much has been achieved, there is more to do. Cultural change is a lengthy and evolving process, but we believe we can work together with greater urgency to achieve our collective goals for the benefit of all workers in the Irish industries."
The report takes a quantitative and qualitative approach, capturing the anonymised voices of respondents to convey their experiences across a range of industry roles and workplaces. The report’s launch on 30 September attracted industry organisations, third level institutions, screen executives and individual filmmakers. Attendees at the launch included Screen Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán, the National Women’s Council of Ireland, SIPTU, Writers Guild of Ireland, Screen Producers Ireland, Screen Guilds of Ireland, TUS Dublin and Trinity College.
The launch included a panel discussion with Susan, Jessica Drum (Screen Guilds of Ireland), Colman Farrell (Screen Ireland), Ananta Kaur (Screen Producers Ireland), and Niamh O’ Donnell (Safe to Create) and afterwards, a Q&A session focusing on how to collectively foster a safer, more supportive work environment for all. The event was moderated by journalist, Aoife Barry.
