Actions you can take
Think about topics you want to cover and ask your team for input about what they’d like to discuss and reflect on. Look at this wash-up meeting guide to help you plan your meeting.
When you start the meeting, focus on learning, not blaming – even if there have been difficult experiences. Be respectful and offer feedback in a kind and constructive manner. Give everyone space to speak without judgement.
Allow those who can’t attend the opportunity to either share their insights with a trusted member of the team, send an email or give them the option to share anonymously via an online survey. The more voices and opinions, the better.
Thank everyone for their valuable feedback and summarise key takeaways and actions.
These are short, well-structured discussions at the end of a shoot or production and can give people the opportunity to talk about what elements of the working culture, atmosphere and set-up worked for them and what they’d like to see change.
Giving constructive feedback to crew/freelancers at the end of a project can be of real benefit to their ongoing development. However, these should be entirely optional, and freelancers may have concerns about this process impacting future employability, so be patient if take-up is gradual. Here’s some guidance to exit interviews and some suggested questions you might find useful.
Sometimes crew members feel more vulnerable at the end of a job. This might have been caused by the project itself, job search anxiety, or not having enough time to assess how they feel until they have finished. Some team members may also still be contacted by contributors after filming has ended. So, remember to continue to offer support for those working on the project in post-production, alongside those who have just finished. That may be through an Employee Assistance Programme, specialist support you had in place on your production, or The Film and TV Charity’s free 24/7 Support Line.
Click here to read the case study from Lorna Buchanan, HR Business Partner for STV
