Director Steve McQueen calls out ‘shameful’ lack of diversity in UK film and TV industry

‘What I want is to see change, not hear excuses,’ director wrote

Director Steve McQueen has called on the British film industry to address the “blatant racism” within its ranks.

Writing in The Guardian, the 12 Years a Slave filmmaker argued that the UK is far behind the United States when it comes to representation behind the camera.

“Last year, I visited a TV-film set in London,” he wrote. “It felt like I had walked out of one environment, the London I was surrounded by, into another, a place that was alien to me.

“I could not believe the whiteness of the set. I made three films in the States and it seems like nothing has really changed in the interim in Britain. The UK is so far behind in terms of representation, it’s shameful.”

Recalling working on his new series Small Axe, the director admitted that while the team “tried very hard” and created their own training scheme to get more black people on set, only a few members of the crew were black British.

“We had tax breaks, incentives, financial support, but the only BAME people were the drivers and one electrician,” McQueen continued. “The stark reality is that there is no infrastructure to support and hire BAME crew. And there is no infrastructure because there hasn’t been enough will or urgency to put it in place.”

He continued: “The culture of the industry has to change. It’s just not healthy. It’s wrong. And yet, many people in the industry go along with it as if it is normal. It’s not normal. It is anything but normal. It’s blindingly, obviously wrong. It’s blatant racism. Fact. I grew up with it. I know it. And not nearly enough is being done about it.”

McQueen concluded: “What I am saying is that the whole culture of the industry has to change. It’s long overdue. Yes, I’m fed up. I don’t want to hear anyone say, ‘Oh yes, It’s terrible,’ ever again. I’ve heard it a thousand times. They all agree, but nothing gets done. What I want is to see change, not hear excuses.”

McQueen’s latest project Small Axe stars Black Panther’s Letitia Wright and Star Wars actor John Boyega and will air on the BBC in the UK and Amazon Prime internationally.