Inclusive Film Sets
For everyone to be their best on set and fully participate in the work environment, employers and coworkers need to follow the law, feel safe and feel comfortable. Below are resources the film community can utilize to help cultivate safe experiences for all on set.
Inclusive Film Sets Report
Washington Filmworks is committed to building a thriving creative economy where film and media production fuel equitable job growth, encourage investments, and create pathways to opportunity for all Washington communities. This commitment is reinforced by the state legislature’s declaration that Washington’s film sets and stories should reflect the diversity of the state’s residents.
Before starting the initiative, WF staff collaborated with the Equity Co-Chairs and the full Board of Directors to draft an Equity Charter, ensuring the work was conducted authentically. With the Charter approved by the Equity Committee and the Board of Directors, the organization recruited 77 film industry professionals across the state to participate in ten regional focus groups in 2024–2025 to explore strategies for creating more inclusive film sets.
This report details focus group findings and outlines the initial action plan to ensure opportunity in Washington State is not limited by geography or lived experience.
Download the report here.
Glossary (Definitions)
In establishing consistent community norms of inclusivity, an understanding of terms is essential so that the film community can develop a shared language. The following resources include definitions of common equity terms you might encounter.
Washington Filmworks Equity Committee Charter
Washington Filmworks has adopted the following terms found in the Equity Committee Charter.
WA State Glossary for Inclusive & Equitable Workplaces
Created by the State Human Resources (SHR) division of the Washington State Office of Financial Management — common equity-related terms and their meanings.
Workers Rights and Reporting Unsafe Conditions
Workers Rights
Workers have rights. Below are links to employment practices regarding federal and state laws, union protections, equal pay rights, protected leave rights, unemployment insurance, and workplace safety hazards.
- Federal — Department of Labor Workers Rights
- State — Washington’s Labor & Industries (L&I) Worker Rights
- Union — Union contracts provide additional protections for their workers via their collective bargaining agreements.
Anti-Discrimination
There are federal and state laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions, transgender status, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. Below are links with more information about anti-discrimination laws.
- Federal — US Equal Opportunity Employment Commission
- State — Washington State Human Rights Commission
Anti-Harassment
All forms of sexual harassment are illegal, and employers may be liable for this behavior if they do not take the proper steps to address it. Below are links with more information about anti-harassment laws.
Physical Safety Requirements and Reporting
Motion picture production can be exciting but also presents a variety of work locations and environments that can challenge our sense of safety. In Washington State, employers have a legal obligation to protect employees on the job. Below are links to report unsafe work conditions.
- Federal — Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- State — Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)
- Unions — Union contracts provide additional protections for their workers via their collective bargaining agreements. Union members can always reach out to their Shop Stewards or Business Agents with questions.
- If someone, union or non-union, feels as if a production is an unsafe environment they are encouraged to reach out to the appropriate union hotline.
Awareness & Trainings
There are many free resources available online to further your exploration into how to cultivate a more respectful, empowered, and inclusive work experience. Washington Filmworks is providing links to external resources that have been recommended to us solely for informational purposes. We did not create these resources and cannot guarantee they are the most up-to-date or comprehensive guides available.
Intimacy Coordinator Panel
In the summer of 2025, Washington Filmworks partnered with Film Community Training Program to lead a panel conversation on Intimacy Coordination.
According to SAG-AFTRA: “An intimacy coordinator is an advocate, a liaison between actors and production, and a movement coach and/or choreographer in regards to nudity and simulated sex and other intimate and hyper-exposed scenes.”
Find the panel conversation here.
Additional resources:
Disclaimer on the Page
All links, resources, and materials shared are solely for informational purposes and do not serve as a substitute for industry training or legal counsel. Washington Filmworks assumes no liability any user may sustain as a result of applying methods or resources shared.
There may be costs associated with some of the resources shared – Washington Filmworks does not endorse or derive any financial benefit from any linked resources, and recommends users complete their own research before making any purchase.