U.S. Networks On Board with Productions Without Borders

TORONTO/LOS ANGELES: Executives from NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX have signed on to participate in an event mixer put on by Productions Without Borders (PWB) aimed at promoting diversity in Canada’s production industry.

The event, Making Diversity Matter, takes place today, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel in Toronto. Slated to attend from the broadcast side are Kimberly Clark, CBC’s director of inclusion and diversity; Tom Hastings, the head of drama at CBC; Barbara Williams, the executive VP of content at Canwest Broadcasting and Tara Ellis, the VP of showcase and drama content for Canwest Broadcasting. Representing the U.S. networks will be Ron Suter, the executive VP and general manager for Canada at NBC Universal Television Distribution and executive VP of Universal Studios Canada; Kelly Edward, the VP of talent development and diversity at NBCU; Frank Bennett Gonzalez, the director of talent development and diversity at Disney-ABC Television Group; Janice Tanaka, diversity consultant for Fox Television; and Tiffany Smith-Anoa’i, the VP of diversity and communications at CBS. There are also a number of producers, writers and directors slated to attend.
Union.

This is PWB’s second cross-border collaboration and initial membership drive. PWB will be advancing the capacity building of the diverse workforce and businesses in the film and television industry by working in partnership with existing unions, guilds, associations, festivals, broadcasters, distributors and training organizations to get more people working. Long-term projects that will be highlighted in today’s discussions include an annual Diversity Industry Report, which will be announced during the event’s keynote presentation.

Karen King, Productions Without Borders’ founder and author, said: "We are all faced with the challenge of making content for an increasingly diverse audience, and we need to start seeing inclusion and diversity as a benefit not a burden. I want PWB to be an important voice for diversity and providing practical tools for doing diversity better and we are not about window dressing, we are about effective strategies for inclusion."

Producers, writers and directors today will have an opportunity to do a 30-second pitch to the U.S. and Canadian network executives regarding their craft and production portfolio in the business. “Not just a numbers game, but a qualitative contribution from diverse community members, as well as their chosen craft with an emphasis being on the bottom line,” adds King-Chigbo, the founder of PWB.