British actor, activist, and founder of Primetime
The world of film and television might seem glamorous, but behind the scenes it’s a different story. According to The Times, “92% of workers in TV, film and theatre say they have witnessed or experienced bullying or varying levels of harassment.”
Film and television workplaces are characterized by freelance talent and informal HR structures—a professional environment that complicates accountability. Enter: Victoria Emslie, British actor, activist, and the founder of Primetime, a visibility platform that champions hiring women and non-binary folk in film and television and funds work to change the status quo.
Primetime partners with Spot to empower industry professionals to report inappropriate behavior anonymously and securely, ensuring that women and non-binary individuals are safe and supported in their entertainment careers. With the use of Spot’s platform, Primetime aims to build confidence in speaking up and to encourage accountability across sets, studios, and other entertainment industry workplaces.
From her involvement with Time’s Up UK to her work with ERA 50:50, Victoria’s focus as an advocate has been clear: amplifying underrepresented voices and driving equity behind the camera.
Victoria also makes the case that “not only are inclusive workplaces safer and more dignified, they are also great for business. Female-penned projects,” she notes, “quadruple their ROI, especially in budgets over £20 million.”
Reporting misconduct in the entertainment industry comes with challenges, some unique and some not:
Victoria highlights Spot’s ability to remove some of these hurdles.
With anonymous reporting, psychologist-designed workflows, and secure documentation, “Spot provides a safe container to speak up.”
It’s a modern solution to an age-old problem, empowering both reporters and bystanders to share their experiences without fear.
Primetime has partnered with Spot since day one, offering it to members as a resource and promoting its use to production companies. Victoria sees the platform as a way to encourage accountability and help companies tackle misconduct at its root.
Her vision for the future? The adoption of tools like Spot across organizations such as CIISA or BECTU, enabling an industry-wide effort to address misconduct and ensure accountability. “Incidents don’t happen in a vacuum,” she notes. “We need a collective consciousness to make meaningful, lasting change.”
AI has been at the center of heated entertainment industry debates, including the Hollywood strikes in 2023. The Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild fought for more beneficial working conditions in the era of streaming services and AI tools that can draft or clean up scripts and generate likenesses of actors.
Incident reporting is one area where AI proves to be beneficial for everyone. “Unconscious bias or even something as simple as fatigue can affect how reports are handled,” says Victoria. Speaking up, whether it be about inappropriate behavior or fraudulent activity, might feel daunting when you have to speak directly to a human. A bot on the other hand, is an unbiased, non-judgmental facilitator.
Spot’s platform ensures privacy and consistency across cases. AI-driven intake forms and follow-up interviews empower more people to speak up more effectively. For freelancers and teams without formal HR structures, it’s a game-changer.
Victoria’s advice to studios and leaders looking to improve workplace culture is to embrace tools that make inclusion the norm. Reporting technology like Spot isn’t just about compliance, it’s about creating safer, healthier, and more productive environments where talent can thrive.
At Spot, we’re proud to stand alongside advocates like Victoria Emslie, working to make more inclusive workplaces a reality—above the line, below the line, and everywhere in between.
Photo credits: Michael Shelford
