There can be more than one.

Embracing Diversity: Reflections from a Film Screening and Industry Panel

Last week, I attended a screening of the short film "To the Death" and an industry panel afterward discussing diversity and inclusion, featuring filmmakers Yasmin Kassim and Menik Gooneratne, mediator and journalist Soaliha Iqbal, writer-creator-producer Mithila Gupta, director Bali Padda, and producer/diversity advocate Ana Tiwary. Upon arriving at the Actors Centre in Leichhardt for the screening I found myself a minority in the room. Apart from Leanne Tonkes, one of the organisers of the event, and actor Susan Prior, the majority of the attendees were people of colour.

Susan and I grabbed front row seats together. Susan revealed she tutored Yasmin as an actor a few years ago. Susan and I met in the mid 90’s when I was an actors agent at Barbara Leane and Associates. Diversity on screen in Australia at that time sadly was extremely rare. I remember we represented two people of colour then, the legendary Ursula Yovich and an incredible actor, Lee Willis (now known as Lee Willis-Ardler). The rest of our board was predominantly white apart from a few actors with Greek or Italian heritage like the brilliant Zoe Carides. I always tried to advocate for Ursula and Lee but it wasn’t easy. There was this strange and damaging belief that there could be only one person of colour in the show, if at all. A practice Yasmin and Menik are still fighting now.

To the Death is a comedy about two South Asian actresses who are forced to physically kill each other in competition for the same role because there can only be one brown person in the show. It was an hilarious but also confronting watch. As a white feminist who has always believed herself to be inclusive, I found myself at times feeling uncomfortable about the colour of my skin. Not something I feel often but something I realise the panel have felt throughout their lives. I’m not naive, I am educated and well-read. I consider myself an ally. But when it was mentioned this was the first “all brown panel” they had ever been on it hit home. Usually there is only one or two advocating for their perspective in majority white panels.

But this panel wasn’t a platform for complaints. It was a joyful sharing of stories about how these creatives have overcome barriers by joining forces. Mithila shared her story of introducing the South Asian family into Neighbours. Bali recounted his journey of becoming a creator and actor to depict roles reflecting his lived experiences. Ana shared her advocacy stories over the past fourteen years through her Facebook group. Yasmin spoke about how she and Menik initially resented each other, finding themselves always in competition for the same brown role in audition rooms until they attended the same improv course in LA. Their shared experiences led them to realize they could achieve more together, sparking a creative partnership and advocacy, culminating in their short film.

As the panel progressed, Yasmin’s infectious humour and joy spread through the audience and melted my sad white heart. Hearing her talk about her experience as a stand up comedian; her courage and wit in carving her career against the odds inspired me to look beyond my frustration at being a woman over fifty edging into the realms of invisibility. The resilience and strength displayed by the panel members in the face of adversity were truly inspiring. It encouraged me not to give up but to persist in the fight and join forces to amplify each other’s voices, to carve out our own opportunities.

My only wish is that more white people attended the panel. It was truly a joyful experience and I left feeling hopeful for Australian stories.

When To the death is available to stream, watch it. It’s funny, confronting and surprising. Especially the ending with its nod to Thelma and Louise - but no spoilers.

I am currently putting together my wish list for a writer’s room. Yasmin and Menik are on it. Because there can be more than one. In fact there can be many!