At Cinesite we want our workplace to reflect the values of the people who have chosen to be part of our team. With 7 locations around the world as part of the Cinesite Group, we have people from many different backgrounds and value systems who have come together to create images and stories that serve them. To support our team, we strive to learn (and unlearn) at all levels of business through the lens of equity, diversity,  and inclusion (EDI). 

We are an equal opportunity employer, and while this work is ever evolving, here are some of the ways we are supporting EDI at our studios. As we progress and expand our knowledge, expect this page to do the same, so check back often!

Cinesite Initiatives:

RESPONSIBILITY

We understand that EDI is the responsibility of everyone, but without someone to take the lead and move us forward, we are unable to make the progress that is needed. 

Sara Martin (she/her) is our global EDI specialist who is responsible for keeping us on track to create and maintain an equitable and inclusive environment for everyone. She has a passion for breaking down complex topics related to social justice and psychological safety in order to make learning accessible for everyone. To learn more about this role, check out this interview.

FLEXIBILITY

One of the silver linings coming out of the pandemic for Cinesite has been the ability to fully embrace hybrid working. While work/life balance is something that we have all tried to achieve in the past, we really got an understanding of what that could look like after experiencing lockdown. 

We are happy to report that we will be carrying on with hybrid working in order to support crew flexibility. 

Here are some other ways we support flexible working:

• Flexible hours – for parents, caregivers and others who may need extra time at the beginning or end of the day
• Flexible working during pregnancy 
• Comprehensive and generous parental leave policies in all divisions
• Pay equity analysis and yearly audits to ensure pay equity for marginalised genders. In an industry that has historically had lower percentages of women and other gender minorities, we continue to work towards gender equality and have a balanced ratio of all genders who are being compensated equitably.

ACCESS VFX

Cinesite is a proud member of Access VFX, a global, industry-led, non-profit comprised of 40 leading companies, industry bodies and educational establishments in the VFX, animation and games industries.

It focuses on actively pursuing and encouraging inclusion, diversity, awareness and opportunity under its four pillars of Inspiration, Education, Mentoring and Recruitment. 

The Access VFX  e-mentoring platform has 405 mentees signups. 68% of are from non-white backgrounds or female. The organisation only has 227 industry mentors signed-up. This is a massive imbalance. Do a good thing today. Become an Access VFX mentor. Sign up here – https://accessvfx.org/mentors

COLLECTIVE BUNCH

Cinesite Vancouver, in partnership with Collective Bunch, is working to create a place of community and connection within screen-based industries in Vancouver, BC Canada. The mission of the collective is to elevate diverse voices and role models, decrease cultural bias and create a film production and creative industry that is more inclusive, understanding, and reflective of Vancouver’s culturally rich demographic.

We are thrilled to be supporting this mission. You can learn more here. 

WOMEN IN ANIMATION (WIA)

Cinesite is a proud supporter of WIA. WIA’s mission is to bring together the global animation community to empower and advocate for people of underrepresented gender identities in the art, technology, production, and business of animation, inspiring excellence and justice in all facets of the industry. WIA envisions a world in which people of all gender identities share fully in the creation, production, and rewards of animation, resulting in richer and more diverse entertainment and media that move our culture forward.

AFROANIMATION SUMMIT

In line with our studios wider equity and inclusion objectives Cinesite is a sponsor of the AfroAnimation Summit which aims to move diversity forward in the animation industry. Through this partnership, Cinesite and the Afro Animation Summit will strive to:

• Support amazing animation stories created by Black/African/Brown creators.
• Offer networking opportunities with black counterparts worldwide.
• Provide a platform for black creative talent.

We’re looking forward to gaining insights from a wide variety and diverse black-ground of thought-leaders, illustrators, creators, designers, developers, and more.

For more information about the collaboration and summit, please visit: www.afroanimation.com

2SLGBTQIA+

Cinesite is developing and implementing policies and practices that are more inclusive of our 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Some of our current initiatives across our studios include:

• Optional pronouns in email signatures:
  • Sharing of pronouns invites acknowledgement of gender identity
  • Sharing of pronouns normalises pronoun usage throughout our organisation
  • Sharing of pronouns curtails any assumptions around the gender identity of others

• Gender neutral washrooms
• Queer competency training
• Respectful workplace training
• Policies written through an 2SLGBTQIA+ lens

Yearly support of QMUNITY and the IDAHOT breakfast

NEURO DIVERSITY

Neurodiversity is a relatively new term that many people may not yet know much about.Neurodiversity refers to the different ways the brain can work and interpret information. It highlights that people naturally think about things differently. We have different interests and motivations, and are naturally better at some things and poorer at others. Most people are neurotypical, meaning that the brain functions and processes information in the way society expects.

However, it is estimated that around 1 in 7 people (more than 15% of people in the UK) are neurodivergent, meaning that the brain functions, learns and processes information differently. Neurodivergence includes Attention Deficit Disorders, Autism, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia.

We’ve partnered with Inflow ADHD – a digital program designed to help people reach their full potential by improving executive functioning and managing challenges associated with ADHD. This programme is open regionally to our employees.

The Inflow program will give our employees free access to the following:

• Short daily exercises to improve their executive functioning
• Live weekly events with psychologists & coaches where they can get any questions answered 
• Challenges to support the development of helpful & productive habits
• Community of like-minded individuals.
• Interactive journaling & prioritization tools.

Cinesite will always make reasonable adjustments across our studios and the individual’s role that will remove or minimise any disadvantage to them.

Cinesite will always make reasonable adjustments across our studios and the individual’s role that will remove or minimise any disadvantage to them.

RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful to discriminate against or treat someone unfairly because of religion or belief, or their lack of religion or belief. Cinesite employees are given a safe place to practice their religious beliefs and they are protected from discrimination at all stages of employment including recruitment, workplace terms and conditions and dismissal.

Features of the protected characteristic of religion or belief include:

• Employees are protected against discrimination because they have a religious faith or a philosophical belief, as well as because they don’t
• No one religion or branch of a religion overrides another 
• A philosophical belief must meet certain conditions including being a weighty and substantial aspect of human life, worthy of respect in a democratic society and not conflicting with the fundamental rights of others
• All protected beliefs are equal – whether religious or philosophical.

MENTAL HEALTH

We believe in supporting your mental health. Your quality of mental health affects your daily life and the lives of those around you. Making movies and shows is fun, but we also recognize that working to tight deadlines, working with clients, and in a fast-paced environment can be challenging at times. 

People in BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities have higher rates of mental health conditions and COVID-19 has increased mental health issues for many of us. It’s important you take care of yourself. A few ways we support mental health are: 

• EAP plans – these plans offer free and confidential counselling services to employees who may need extra support such as; bereavement support, legal support, and everyday life and/or work challenges. 
• Accommodations – if you require support for your mental health, we can support you with an accomodation. 
• Inflow app – as mentioned, we have partnered with Inflow in order to support those who have ADHD. 
• Flexibility – as mentioned we provide flexible working hours to help support you through times when you need it. 

We continue work and strive to build on our EDI practices going forward. Our aim is for our employees to always feel safe, respected and treated fairly within the Cinesite Group.