Re: “diverse” casting in Australian TV. I will just say. The Kates did an episode on disability and they sought out disabled actors for every. single. role. I attended an audition for a role specifically written for a chronically ill woman, but was cast as a delivery person. /1

It didn’t matter what my disability was for that role. The other delivery person was a professional actor who was d/Deaf. I was not a professional actor; they found me through Twitter and my stand-up work. We all had different experience types and levels. It was awesome. /2

At the wrap party, producers kept asking me how my experience of shooting was, if there were any way accessibility could be improved. I didn’t think they were really asking (so used to ableds not caring!) so I said no. But they asked specific Qs like “what time of day is best” 3/

They actually wanted to learn from that experience *for next time*. This surprised me, because for me, I’m so used to the status quo of no one giving a fuck about fitting CI people in.

Obvs race & ethnicity are different to disability. But if you look for them, they’re there.

The talent is there. So you audition an inexperienced actor for a role specifically written for someone of their ethnicity, and they weren’t quite right for that role. Okay, but now you know about them. You cast them in a bit player part. Now they have some experience.

Okay now I’m a white woman who’s said enough on this subject. Byeee