To coincide with Pride Inside – an online festival of events and activities celebrating the LGBTQ+ community – we decided to ask some of our LGBTQ+ members to reflect on how the TV industry is doing on LGBTQ+ inclusion, let us know what’s happening within their own indies, and to offer their top queer picks for some lockdown viewing…
Sara Geater
COO, All3Media
Sara Geater was appointed Chief Operating Officer of All3Media in 2015. Her career to date has spanned TV, film and digital, in both business and creative roles and covers all genres. Roles have included CEO of Fremantle Media UK; Head of Commercial Affairs at Channel 4; and Director of Rights & Business Affairs at the BBC.
Sara is Chair of Pact and she sits on the BAFTA Board of Trustees as Chair of the Commercial Committee. She is a barrister and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
As a result of the global Black Lives Matter movement we are reviewing our diversity and inclusion strategy to ensure we have a culture and environment where everyone, including LBGTQ+ talent, both on and off screen want to work.
Q. What has your experience been as an LGBTQ+ person working in the industry?
I came out at work in my early twenties and on the whole my experiences in the TV sector have been positive, enjoyable and I’ve experienced very little overt prejudice.
Q. Where do you think the UK film and TV industry is in terms of its representation of LGBTQ+ characters and lives on screen?
Getting better, but the lesbian still gets killed off in most dramas. Its brilliant to see Queer Eye winning so many awards and apparently doing so well for Netflix.
Personally, I’m a huge fan of Gentlemen Jack, Last Tango in Halifax, Killing Eve and Feel Good.
Q. What sort of work is happening within your indie to support LGBTQ+ inclusion?
As a result of the global Black Lives Matter movement we are reviewing our diversity and inclusion strategy to ensure we have a culture and environment where everyone, including LBGTQ+ talent, both on and off screen want to work.
We have a number of shows which include LBGTQ+ participants and many of our dramas portray LBGTQ+ characters, including Hollyoaks, Gogglebox, Naked Attraction and many more.
As Chair of Pact Council I’m also very aware of the role that Pact plays in supporting the wider indie community to embed inclusion at the heart of their businesses and productions. Pact has always been passionate and proactive on these issues and will continue to be.
Q. What LGBTQ+ film or TV programme would you recommend for some lockdown viewing and why?
Gentleman Jack is brilliant – the story, cast and acting, the music, and the art direction.
The L Word – from the beginning is a must. One of the first TV series I remember watching, it’s all lesbians in bars having fun and angst!
Different for Girls – made by Felicity Milton, my partner – fun and games and angst, made on a shoestring in Chiswick but looks so much more.
Q. What does Pride mean to you and how will you be marking it this year?
Pride means celebration of who I am.
When I first started going it wasn’t like that – it was unfriendly and often we had an aggressive reception from the public and the police. Now, wow – it’s fantastic – a really big, fun, fabulous celebration.
This year I’ll be marking it with big, fun, COVID-allowed celebrations with friends!
Pact would like to thank Sara for taking part in our 2020 Pride interview series.
