It has been our pleasure to chat to Sara Johnson to learn more about her work with Bridge06, a company she founded in 2022 to help improve Disability Representation in the TV, Film, Media and Entertainment Industries. After studying English Literature and Language at the University of Leeds, Sara began working in TV Drama, progressed to become a Broadcaster heading up Drama for Sky and Fox, an Executive Producer and senior manager in Independent Production companies as well as working with international companies across the media and broadcasting spectrum.

In the 15 years between her commissioning roles at Sky and Fox, Sara had to modify her career in order to focus on being a parent carer and advocate for her youngest son who was born with two rare conditions. In that time, she brought the BBC series The A Word into the UK as Executive Producer and began to embrace her Access First world view making connections with deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent talent, hearing first-hand the barriers they faced. She saw that there was role for her as a powerful Ally committed to making change. In 2022 she took this passion for amplifying disabled talent and formed Bridge06 to join the movement to make sustainable change. A huge part of her passion and purpose at the company is working with partner Julie Fernandez to place the emergent role of Access Coordinator as an embedded position in production.  They dream of taking this out of TV and into all workplaces.

What does your role involve, what is an average day like for you?

I work from home alone with only the dog for company, but in very close and happy partnership with Julie Fernandez. My time is spent identifying barriers and finding as many creative and practical access solutions as we can think of. I Zoom and speak all day long with Broadcasters, Producers, Agents and creatives powered by purpose. I am an enthusiastic pond swimmer and reluctant runner and am trying to learn how to work in a new way after 30 years in big buildings and companies.

What advice do you have for someone new to the media/ entertainment/ broadcasting industry?

Have hope and purpose and be ready to work hard at everything you do from the moment you enter the industry. But also trust that you are as worthy as everyone else, and that you don’t have to wait for opportunities to come to you. If you are a writer, write, if you want to direct, make films, build a peer group and think laterally. Inform and educate yourself about the industry and the jobs in it and find your path with each job you take. Most importantly, as you enter the workplace remember to face outwards to the world and embed your passion for a diverse workplace and an Access First approach into your own work, as well as encouraging it in others.

What skills did you develop early in your career?

I learnt to listen, learn, take time to assess who and what was around me, and trusted my instinct when taking or leaving a job.  I love meeting and connecting with people and I have honed my empathic and intuitive skills and I hope brought them to everything I do.

What do you consider to be your greatest professional achievement?

I will always be proud of bringing The A Word to TV, placing disability and stories of families living in that world to mainstream TV.  But taking this brave and terrifying pivot in forming Bridge06 and trying to remodel my career and passion into a business is what I am proud of every day.

Have you encountered a career setback that you later realised was an advantage?

The years spent masking my vulnerability and life as a parent carer was damaging for the potential career that would have come from being the Head of Drama at Sky at age 28.  But looking back with the benefit of hindsight, it has led me to where I now find myself, and I am proud to be a voice for those who are facing similar challenges.  

Where to you hope the industry will be in 10 years’ time in terms of disability representation and inclusion?

I hope that there will be armies of Allies in every production company and broadcaster, listening to and working under senior creatives and managers who are deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent. I hope that the Industry as a whole values the diversity of experience and how to Be Better and Kinder in how they work, laying the ghosts of the barriers faced by DDN individuals and those hard years of my own parent carer experience to rest.

When you look back at your time at BGS, what are some of your fondest memories?

I used to dream a lot of that building that housed me from 4 to 18 years old. The ramp in the playground, the quiet corridors and trips to the forbidden staff room during the hours spent rehearsing for the plays and musicals I loved. The tuck shop, the hockey and tennis I played, the fun and lifelong friendships I made. BGS made us feel worthy and strong as women and I carry that forward.