UK TV and film directors are facing financial instability due to irregular employment and a reduction in opportunities to work and earn, according to new research by the University of Glasgow.

The independent survey of UK TV and film directors - conducted by CREATe, the Centre for Regulation of the Creative Economy based at the University of Glasgow, and commissioned by Directors UK - found that 78% of directors feel that their income is unstable.

Directors experience a number of poor working practices, that are accepted as the ‘norm’. These factors exacerbate systemic inequalities in the industry and have dire consequences for inclusivity and diversity.

The report finds that an improvement in the working conditions of directors offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen the sector’s resilience, allowing for long-term growth and competitiveness.

Looking at the financial year 2022/2023, the survey found that 32% of directors undertook non-paid creative work, such as developing new ideas or writing scripts, showing that a significant part of their working time is dedicated to invisible, unpaid labour.

Thirty nine percent of directors reported that the value of residuals and royalties have decreased - a particular challenge being the change in how directors are compensated for the use of their work in a digital market.

Andy Harrower, Directors UK CEO said: “With employment being so unpredictable, and opportunities to work as a director decreasing, our members are finding the instability of work challenging, which is why royalties are extremely important to make directing a viable and sustainable career. Collecting and paying out the royalties directors are due is at the heart of what Directors UK does. The survey tells us that programmes we all enjoy watching are made by directors that are working long, often unpaid hours, with no idea where the next job is coming from. That is why we continue to fight for directors’ rights to be recognised. The work that they do must be fairly remunerated.”

CREATe’s Dr Amy Thomas and Dr Arthur Ehlinger, who led the reports, noted: “Compared with other creative industries we have surveyed, directors are among the least inclusive and diverse. For example, only 31% of directors are women, 6% of directors have a disability, and more than half come from a socio-economic background with the highest levels of privilege. This tells us that people without financial safety nets, or who require any kind of flexibility for project-based work, cannot sustain themselves in an industry where irregular income is pervasive.”

The findings of this survey confirm that directing is a financially precarious profession for the majority of those who work in it.

Beyond this, the survey also highlights the human cost of pursuing a career as a director, finding that, when directors are in work, 56% report working 41-60 hours a week, with 31% exceeding 60 hours, and some even noting 17-hour work days.

The precarity of work, the long and often unpaid hours, and the poor working practices that directors face, exacerbate systemic inequalities in the industry, have dire consequences on the inclusivity and diversity of the profession.

The report concludes its findings by stating that “while the industry is undergoing important changes, addressing the working conditions of directors offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen the sector’s resilience. By ensuring fairer contracts, equitable pay structures, and sustainable employment practices, the audiovisual industry can not only support its creative workforce but also position itself for long-term growth and competitiveness.

This research is the latest in a series of surveys conducted by CREATe, which shows a concerning decline in working conditions and income in the creative industry.

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First published: 11 February 2025

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