New EU Audiovisual Observatory report focuses on the situation of writers and directors of film and TV/SVOD fiction 2015-2022
7 March 2024
On 5 March 2024, the European Audiovisual Observatory published a new report on writers and directors of European films and TV/SVOD fiction, authored by Gilles Fontaine, the EAO’s Head of Department for Market Information. It offers a unique snapshot of the audiovisual authors and directors workforce and levels of employment over the years 2015 to 2022.
To collect the data on which the report is based, a list of audiovisual works produced between 2015 and 2022 was dressed using the Observatory LUMIERE database for theatrical films and the EAO’s annual survey. Thanks to this groundwork, close to 30 000 audiovisual authors – writers and directors – were identified; however, the sample is less representative with regard to daily soaps and telenovelas, for which there are usually varying writers and rotating directors. The data is also limited in that it only relies on audiovisual works actually released and not on projects abandoned after the writing stage or in the middle of production.
According to the study over 25 000 writers and over 17 000 directors were involved in the production of European theatrical and TV/SVOD fiction between 2015 and 2021. The report notes a strong growth in the production of European TV/SVOD series, which has resulted in writing and directing assignments exceeding the number of assignments for theatrical films.
While this would seem like a positive development, which, one might assume, would lead to steadier employment for fiction writers and directors, the report observes the contrary. It notes an intense turnover, with writers and directors working on average on 1.4. films between 2015 and 2022. The number of directors working for TV/SVOD fiction is only slightly higher: 2.2 TV films or series in the same timeframe.
FERA takes note with great concern of the fact that the series production boom experienced by the European audiovisual industry has not eased the precarious socio-economic situation of writers and directors or led to more sustainability in their careers.
Read the full report here.