Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion

OUR COMMITMENT:

We are committed to dismantling institutionalized and systemic racism. Cultural imagery and experiences will not be co-opted or tokenized, rather, represented authentically through the direct involvement and compensation of culturally relevant communities and people.

WHAT WE BELIEVE:

We acknowledge as a company that our current industry often overlooks certain voices and perspectives – particularly those of folks who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, womxn, and differently-abled. At Actual, we weave creating opportunity into all aspects of our work, by incorporating equity and inclusivity into our hiring, sourcing, and storytelling practices. We prioritize hiring individuals from underrepresented communities in leadership positions, as research supports that diverse leadership results in more diverse hiring throughout*. We also believe that having a diverse team directly increases the quality of our work.

*A study published in September 2019 by economists at Stanford and the University of Chicago (http://klenow.com/HHJK.pdf) found that 40% of the US’s per-worker economic growth since 1960 can be directly tied to policies that fight discrimination and invite diversity and inclusion,

ADVANCING DEI:

We all have the opportunity to empower these communities. Beyond prioritizing DEI throughout our company – we want to back this intention with financial commitment and data transparency, maintaining accountability as we grow. Direct actions include, but are not limited to:

Fostering mentorship opportunities internally and on select productions to break down barriers for folx seeking to enter the production industry or try new skills.
Continuously expanding our diverse network of contractors between active productions to foster stronger working relationships.
Casting outside of only the traditional channels for on-screen and voice talent so we’re better able to reach both underrepresented and emerging talent.
Utilizing an optional form for our crew, cast, and clients to let us know how they identify so we’re able to track our hiring practices per project and annually share data alongside videos we create.
Testing our language and branding for projects with a diverse set of advisers and creative leadership to ensure our communications are effective to all audiences.
Committing to external avenues to build community, learn, and advocate for better representation across the production industry – be those paid or volunteer.
Always keeping our door open to discuss all of the above – please don’t hesitate to ask what we’re working on now.