There has been a historic lack of representation of people of color in the film industry. Deadline reports that of the 1,200 top films from 2007 to 2018, just 27 featured leading or co-leading characters from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.
However, while the industry clearly has a long way to go, one show that is breaking the mould is Netflix's historical drama Bridgerton, which has been praised for its diverse cast, even amongst the actors themselves.
"With color-conscious casting, I get to exist as a Black person in the world," Regé-Jean Page, its breakout lead, told Entertainment Weekly. "It doesn’t mean I'm a slave. It doesn't mean we have to focus on trauma. It just means we get to focus on Black joy and humanity."
If you haven't seen it yet, watch the trailer for Bridgerton below:Not only this, but there is arguably historical reasoning behind the show's decision to cast a Black queen, with recent historians noting that Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, was actually Black.
VT recently spoke to the show's assistant crowd director, Saloum N'Jie, whose film credits include the likes of World War Z, to gain an insight into how the series is a step forward for Black representation.
"Myself as a crowd assistant director, I have been in the industry for a long time, and Louise Rashman [who is also Black], she was the crowd second AD, so she was responsible for getting all the lovely extras. [We had] Black people in costume [and] in makeup and we had some sparks behind the camera who were black, so it was just as diverse behind the camera as it was in the front."
Do you think the show will pave the way for other period dramas to adopt similarly diverse casts?"That's a good question. I'd love to say yes. In an ideal world, that would be great because Black people have been around for centuries. We were involved in the Victorian age, in the Edwardian age and the Elizabethian age, and it would be great if we had more shows that highlighted that.
"We had one review [of Bridgerton] which said that it's the Black Downton Abbey, which it's not, but it would be great to have Black casts in period pieces.
"I also believe that Bridgerton has set a bar, and other networks and writers shouldn't be afraid to follow suit and cast Black actors in period dramas."
What do you think the biggest challenge is when it comes to casting more Black actors in leading roles? Is it the result of Eurocentric storylines?"It's the storylines. But as I've said before, [Black people] are in every aspect of history. So that shouldn't be a reflection of the casting, but I think that's what been happening right now, we have these other shows which are so typically Black narrative - council estate dramas, best friends, drug dealers. Now, we have a show like Bridgerton and people are like 'Wow'. But hopefully, [Bridgerton] will open up more casting opportunities for Black actors to do something different."
Historically, there has been a chronic lack of representation of people of color on screen in the film and television industry, but has this been the case behind the screen too?"I have been one of the only Black assistant directors for the past ten years. If you were to go into any studio, even right now, and you looked behind the camera, you're lucky if you see more than Black five crew members. You'd be very lucky if you see that, and things have to change.
"I was the only Black guy on the set for a long time, but that didn't stop me. I had to overcome obstacles; I had to overcome racial issues, but it never stopped me from pursuing my goal, which is where I am now.
"There are more Black people in front of the camera than there is behind the camera, but times are changing for people like me and Louise Rashman. Those are the faces that will help bring other Black crew members [onboard] and give them jobs, but they have to be hired.
"We have to look around the room. We have to [go to the] people who are hiring. If they could read everybody's CV, that would help."
And on that note, do you think that this is changing?"Again, I'm used to seeing the same faces that I saw before. So has it improved? Not really. It's improving. On my last job, Avenue 5, I saw a Black female who was in the camera department, that I never saw before. So I am seeing a difference, but there needs to be more."
The issue of race is only brought up once in Bridgerton; when the Duke is told that his position would not exist had the king not fallen in love with a black woman. Do you think that this was a missed opportunity to have an important discussion or was it simply not necessary?"No, I don't. I believe that what you saw is what you got. It's a beautifully cast, beautifully acted, and beautifully shot [series]. From what I've gathered from friends and family and what I've read on the internet, it was just a breath of fresh air to see Black and white people together - nobility, good clothes, good food, and good friends - dancing really nice waltzes together. That, for me, is what I love about it."
Your film credits include World War Z, which has a predominantly white cast. How did working on Bridgerton compare to this movie?"World War Z is really white. Again, I was the only Black AD on that. How does it compare? It is a massive Hollywood film. It is the biggest film I've ever worked on. It was just huge. Compared to Bridgerton, which is small.
"But you go forward all these years, and now we are having Black leads, talking the good Queen's English, Black people being behind the camera, so from that perspective, from my job on World War Z to Bridgerton, is a big leap for Black crew members being the camera.
"I want to direct films like World War Z. I just hope that we can have more people of color behind the camera and in front of the camera on those epic films."
There's going to be a second season of Bridgerton. Do you think that the subject of race will be tackled differently or will it be more of the same?"That's a good question. I can't answer that. I think it's in pre-production. I haven't had a call yet, and crews change. I hope it will be just as diverse behind the camera as it is in front of the camera. That would be a good look."
"Keep your dreams alive. Keep trying. One thing that I used to do is go online, go on the studio's website, see what films are in production, see who the line producer is, who the first AD is, who is hiring, [and] send your CV in. Make the phone call.
"Not to sound like a preacher, but don't be afraid to fail. I've failed so many times, and with each failure, I learned a lesson and I just kept on going. And for people of color, write your own stories too.
"Send the email off, look on studio websites - Warner Brothers, Pinewood, Shepperton, all these production companies. Look at your favorite film. Where was it made? If it was made in Great Britain, find the number, find the email, and make the contact."
N'Jie's words are a testament to the fact that Bridgerton is a welcome step forward for Black representation, but they are also a reflection of how much more work needs to be done to give people of color equal opportunities both behind and in front of the camera.