/ Inclusion, Diversity & AI use

On diversity and Inclusion

I believe in giving access to all, irrespective of race, gender, ability, sexuality, class, age or faith.

When hiring staff and crew, I look to find people from a diverse background by searching outside of my usual networks. I will have open, frank conversations with agencies regarding the hiring of staff, and I have turned down work when I have felt I am not representative of the core audience, or if I have felt there is a better-placed director for the role.  

I take the consent and safeguarding of contributors extremely seriously, and I want on-screen contributors to feel accurately represented by my work. I ensure all contributors know what they are being asked to do and feel comfortable doing it.

I don’t always get it right but I always wish to learn from my mistakes. I ask for honest feedback and always work to take it on board for the future.

/ Because it’s 2026 and this is the world we live in now, here is my statement on AI: 

The use of Large Language Models and advanced machine learning has led to incredible technological feats and there are genuinely brilliant use cases for these tools. 

I have been asked to use them regularly in my work to a degree where the pace, style and content of the work I now undertake has changed drastically. 

Budgets are shrinking, the world is speeding up and we are all looking at ways of making our work faster and more efficient. I believe that working alongside human colleagues feels like a richer, more rewarding working practice for all parties. I believe the project is better for it, too.

Whilst I see the benefits of using AI in the collection, organisation and structuring of data within production – I prefer not to use AI for the generation of written or creative content. 

I agree with the sentiment of ‘why should I bother reading something you haven’t bothered writing?’. I am in the business of human storytelling. It’s a pleasure for me and I wish it to remain one. 

Therefore I will never willingly hand over the joy of creative writing to AI.

I continue to be open to discussing other uses of AI technology for each project on its own merits, including AI-generated imagery and sound.