DIRECTORS GUILD RELEASES REPORT ON "DGC CENSUS"

First-of-its-kind report covers voluntary self-identification of DGC Members on a broad range of demographic characteristics.

The Directors Guild of Canada today released its first report on the results of the “DGC Census” – detailed data from the first full pan-Canadian, membership-wide voluntary self-identification questionnaire in the history of the Canadian film & television industry.

This census allowed DGC Members to voluntarily self-identify on a broad range of demographic characteristics including age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation and disability status, covering creative and logistical positions in all areas of direction, design, locations, accounting, production and editing.

“Our Guild and our industry have a long way to go to ensure we represent the diversity of stories and audiences across this country, but the road towards this goal has to start with declaring who we are and acknowledging our numbers,” said DGC President Warren P. Sonoda. “The census gives us a benchmark for accountability to tell us whether our efforts towards inclusion are getting the job done.”

“This effort serves our whole Guild. The industry has shifted towards a global market for original content, and there’s a hunger for varied stories that represent those diverse audiences”, said DGC BIPOC Members Committee Chair RT Thorne. “Moving towards greater representation within our guild will help meet the demand, and create more opportunity for our whole industry”.

The DGC Census was sent to DGC Members in Good Standing and those on Honourary Withdrawal. In total, 67.2% of members responded to the census with 3,865 completing the questionnaire. This represents a completion rate of 58.2% of the total Guild membership with an opt-out rate of 13.3%.

Among census respondents, 82.8% of the DGC membership identified as Caucasian/White and 18.3% as BIPOC members, a significant underrepresentation compared to the population at large. Likewise, as DGC membership records indicate, the Guild membership is composed of 57.5% men and 42.4% women with 1.8% of all members identifying as transgender, non-binary or gender non-conforming. Members living with a disability were also significantly underrepresented compared to the Canadian workforce comprising 7.9% of members; however, 12% of members who completed the questionnaire chose not to disclose their disability status, highlighting a need for further study.

Download the report here.