Research

Establishing an evidence base for system reforms and industry tools

BSO Research

The BSO has produced ground-breaking research projects designed to accelerate system change towards equity, inclusion and authentic content creation across Canada’s screen industries. The research projects provide valuable empirical data and new insights into the relationship between Canada’s screen industries and the country’s Black communities who work within the industries and consume their content.

Being Heard: Black Canadians in the Canadian Screen Industries provides evidence-based recommendations for creatives, employers, and the sector to create long-term, sustainable transformation that addresses anti-Black biases and exclusionary practices, and builds toward a stronger, more diverse and equitable sector workforce.

Being Counted reveals the viewing habits and preferences of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour audiences in Canada by exploring survey data that is usually hidden in “general population” of traditional audience surveys.

“The Being Seen directives provide a necessary and practical resource for filmmaking teams to consult. It presents practical, thoughtful considerations in ensuring that representation is accurate and authentic to all the key players in the industry – a critical step towards an inclusive screen-based industry.”

– Telefilm Canada

“Ontario Creates values authentic storytelling and understands the importance of representative voices on screens and behind-the-scenes. Being Seen has become a critical tool in the delivery of our funding programs – from encouraging applicants to respect the report’s guiding principles and best practices, to utilizing the Being Seen tools and insights in our project assessment process. We are a proud supporter of this innovative and vital resource and highly recommend it to all Canadian screen creators.”

– Ontario Creates. 

The Being Seen: Directives for creating authentic and inclusive content: report is a consultation on the representation of Black, People of Colour, 2SLGBTQIA+ and People with Disabilities in the screen-based sectors.

The Being Seen: The Black Communities Report provides guidance in creating and commissioning more authentic and representative screen-based content that engages with Black community(ies).

The Being Seen: People of Colour Community Report looks at the perspectives of people who identify as being from the South Asian, East Asian and Southeast Asian, West Asian and Latinx and Brazilian communities.

The Being Seen: 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities Report looks at how these communities currently view their representation onscreen, the consequences of poor representation and what they want to see more of.

The Being Seen: People with Disabilities Report digs into the responses from consultations and interviews that were unique to those who identify as members of the People with Disabilities communities, namely: stereotypes; consequences of poor representation; and what they want to see more of.

The Being Seen: Children’s Media Report looks specifically at the insights of children and youth, their parents, and creators and producers of children’s media who also belong to the target communities.

Shows Committed to Creating Authentic and Inclusive Content

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Amours D’occasion

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The Porter

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Overlord and the Underwoods

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The Fabulous Show with Fay and Fluffy

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Coroner

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Je Voudrais Qu’on M’efface

Being Seen – Knowledge Mobilization

Since launching the Core Themes report at Prime Time in February, the BSO and Being Seen teams have presented ‘Being Seen’ at a number of events in different formats. Please scroll through the list of ‘Being Seen’ activities and where underlined click through to their video recordings.
CMPA’s Prime Time
Launch of Core Themes Report. Open to delegates and free to register.
(February 7, 2022)
Cinesite
Commissioned by Cinesite animation studio in partnership with client Disney and open to BSO’s network.
(March 2, 2022)
Virtual Kidscreen
Available to conference delegates only.
(March 10, 2022)
SXSW
In-person and sponsored by Telefilm Canada and Canada House.
(March 15, 2022)
Coalition M.E.D.I.A. (co-hosted with BSO)
Francophone panel.
(June 1, 2022)
Inside Out Festival
In-person launch of 2SLGBTQIA+ Report sponsored by BSO and OutTV.
(June 4, 2022)
Shaw Rocket Fund
Five workshops on children’s media.
(August 22 – 26, 2022)
TIFF Panel
In-person event focused on Feature Films.
(September 11, 2022)
FIN Strategic Partners
In-person event with a focus on ‘Coroner’ Case Study.
(September 17, 2022)
Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Staff Workshop
Separate English and French workshops.
(October 13, 2022)
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Reports can be found at Being Seen but also at Telefilm Canada and Ontario Creates

Presentations and Workshop

Shaw Rocket Fund Children’s Content Creator Workshops

The Black Screen Office and the Shaw Rocket Fund presented hands on workshops for children’s content creators to learn more about how to implement the ‘Being Seen’ Directives.

August 22, 2022

Facilitators

Core Themes: Facilitators Kelly Lynne Ashton, Kai Little-White and Jiro Okada

Shaw Rocket Fund Children’s Content Creator Workshops

The Black Screen Office and the Shaw Rocket Fund presented hands on workshops for children’s content creators to learn more about how to implement the ‘Being Seen’ Directives.

August 23, 2022

Facilitators

Black Communities: Facilitators Kelly Lynne Ashton and Jadiel Dowlin

Shaw Rocket Fund Children’s Content Creator Workshops

The Black Screen Office and the Shaw Rocket Fund presented hands on workshops for children’s content creators to learn more about how to implement the ‘Being Seen’ Directives.

August 24, 2022

Facilitators

People of Colour Communities: Facilitators Kelly Lynne Ashton, Rennata Lopez and Georgina Lopez

Shaw Rocket Fund Children’s Content Creator Workshops

The Black Screen Office and the Shaw Rocket Fund presented hands on workshops for children’s content creators to learn more about how to implement the ‘Being Seen’ Directives.

August 25, 2022

Facilitators

2SLGBTQIA+ Communities: Facilitators Kelly Lynne Ashton and Caitlin Langelier

Shaw Rocket Fund Children’s Content Creator Workshops

The Black Screen Office and the Shaw Rocket Fund presented hands on workshops for children’s content creators to learn more about how to implement the ‘Being Seen’ Directives.

August 26, 2022

Facilitators

People with Disabilities Communities: Facilitators Kelly Lynne Ashton and Sasha Boersma

April 12, 2022

Moderator
Shant Joshi, Producer, Fae Pictures

Panelists
Kelly Lynne Ashton, Lead Researcher, ‘Being Seen’
Rabiya Mansoor, Screenwriter and Producer
Leonard Chan, Screenwriter and Actor
Hoda Elatawi, Producer, GAPC Entertainment
Luisa Alvarez Restropo, Project Manager, Warner Media Access Canada

Black Screen Office and BIPOC TV and Film present a virtual panel discussion to launch the Being Seen’s People of Colour Communities Report, which will highlight the concerns and challenges to authentic and inclusive content for People of Colour Communities.