Canada’s film and television sector will get a snapshot of the breadth and depth of the industry in September when a new study sponsored by Women in Film & Television Toronto is scheduled for publication.

Profile 2002, which starts its research phase this month, will quantify how the genders are employed, earnings and the extent of the nation’s film-related skills gaps.

‘We want this to be an important resource for the industry,’ says new association president Kate Hanley. ‘We want it to be used to help planning, training and shaping the future work force.’

Bell Globemedia, W Network and the Cultural Human Resources Council are among the organizations financially supporting the study, the overall budget of which has not been disclosed.

The report, authored by Toronto arts consultant Kealy Wilkinson, follows a similar survey from 1990.

‘We expect a huge improvement since 1990,’ says Hanley. ‘But there may be areas where women have critical gaps – like in the technical areas.’

-www.wift.com