Shooting People debate

Fot those of you who are subscribed to Shooting People (a website dedicated to filmmakers and other related industries) you'll know all about the poll that they're conducting over whether Shooting People should continue letting people advertise for unpaid staff, both in front of and behind the camera.
It's throwing up the argument from filmmkers that filmmaking will only be accessible to the people that can afford it, if the National Minimum Wage is enforced. Anyone from a non priviledged background will be unable to make films, they claim.
Have they ever stopped to think about the actors that they are requesting to work for free? How it is changing the demographic of those in the industry?
Actors are professionals. A lot of us are not rich. We need to be paid or we cannot afford to be an actor any more. How is that any more acceptable?

To those on no budget, then carry on making your films, beg borrow or steal what equipment you can, blag your best and enjoy what you do. Just get used to the idea that you cannot use professionals any more than you can afford to shoot on 35mm. A fact of life if you have no money. Find drama students or enthusiastic amateurs and you won't fall foul of the law.

To those with higher aspirations, shooting on 35mm and not having any money left for cast- what is the point of a good looking film if the people delivering it cannot live up to the high production values? Without actors you don't have a drama. Remember who is delivering your ideas onto the screen; who is speaking your words. If that's not important to you, then you might want to take a long hard look at why you're in this industry.

Lastly, there is the argument that some no pay jobs are fine and some (like jobs on a funded film) are not. Trying to separate the charlatans from the honest collaborations is like trying to separate water. It's not going to work. My conclusion is, if you don't have the money for your film, then turn some of that inventiveness into ways of raising a bit of cash. Think of ideas that you can do on a shoestring and keep things simple. Do you need ten crew when three will do? Keep the grand ideas for when you can afford them. If your ideas are sound and your voice distinctive, you'll grow.

Manifesto for Theatre

The wheels are turning, slowly but surely. A BECTU member has recently taken their "employers" to court for flouting NMW guidelines and won.
Equity are starting to make the right noises too. See
http://www.manifestofortheatre.co.uk/ and look at the ideas that have come from talking to members.
Talking about these issues, whatever you think of them is the only way we're going to get progress for everyone.

Still fighting

Sorry it's been a little while since the last post.
Rest assured that there are lots of people still working hard for change.
I've become a committee member on the Equity Midlands Area Committee and will use my influence to lobby on this issue whenever I get a chance. (Thanks to those that voted me in on the strength of this issue and what I intend to do about it).
I know a lot more people who are thinking twice about working for nothing which is great. Education is the key. Raise this issue whenever you can- in the pub, at rehearsals...
To those that think that I am trying to curtail their personal freedom, then I say, feel free to do what you like. If it's your belief that you should be able to work for nothing and to hell with other people- just rememeber that whatever you do in life has repercussions on everyone else. Think hard about how that portrays you as a person and professional and whether that's who you really want to be.
Me? I'm leading by example. And that doesn't just mean not taking unpaid jobs. I've set up a not-for-profit film initiative that has, at it's core, an ethic that all participants are paid for their time.
As an experiment, we've already shot one short film and are proud to say that everyone has been paid at least (and sometimes more) than NMW. We're busy raising funds and you'll all know about it in due course. Hopefully some of you will work for me in the future! (though I've got first refusal on the 30-something female roles!)
xx

Another letter, perhaps?

Hi all,

If you're mad about this article too them e-mail The Stage at:

editor@thestage.co.uk

Ask them if they are going to do a similar article from the actors' point of view. It is a paper that champions the actor, is not? The same paper that doesn't go out to review any show now that has a run of three weeks or less?

I don't want to close down all fringe venues overnight. It won't happen. Creativity springs from these places. Sometimes the braver choices don't get the funding. There wouldn't be time to go after every group that wants to break out and do something different and that's a good thing.
What I don't want to see if the Fringe Theatre brand de-valued by producers jumping in with no budget, no plan and no direction.
The venue must be paid. Do you see any theatre manangers saying "oh go on then, it's such a groundbreaking piece- you can have the venue for free".
Being creative is our JOB. We shouldn't be afraid of that. What we don't want is to go back to a time when only the rich could afford to be in this profession.
E-mail them now!

Tonight!

Whilst you're still fuming!
x

Whose side is The Stage really on?

The Stage this week printed this:
http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/24897/equity-minimum-wage-proposal-will-destroy

They are scaremongering just to get a headline. Equity plan to go after the funded companies.

The NMW guidlelines are a vital lifeline to bring back the "jobbing actor" in this country. The Stage are trying to suggest that you will get "seen" in a Fringe show. We all know it doesn't happen. Actors have been propping up the finances for producers who are simply failing at their jobs.

To the fringe venues- if you're funded- we're on your case. If you're unfunded and worry that Fringe as we know it will cease- stop asking actors to bankrole your productions. Take the time to get funding and churn out less quantity and more quality.

Equity are moving things forward...

The ARC at Blackpool was a great success, by all accounts. The motion forwarded by Tracey Briggs and seconded by myself at the Midlands Branch was passed unanimously. Read an extract printed by The Stage:
http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/24508/publicly-funded-companies-must-pay

Change is coming folks...
Just keep up the pressure on those that seek to exploit us.

New laws and new powers for the actor

New legislation is now in place which will impose a fine of up to £5000 on any employer not paying the National Minimum Wage.
This applies to actors to, don't forget. We are classed as "workers" when we take on an engagement, as we still pay National Insurance Contributions. Just because we are self-employed doesn't mean that we waive all rights.
This can be backdated, so anyone that feels agrieved at a precious engagement they have done in the last three months can go here:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/nmw/complaint.htm

And those of us who see any job posted on a casting website that flouts the National Minimum Wage can go here:
https://online.hmrc.gov.uk/shortforms/form/NMW_TPWorker?dept-name=NMW&sub-dept-name=Complaints&location=25&origin=http

We need to inundate HMRC with the many, many examples of non-paid work that we see every day. We all know the type: "An opportunity to work with a professional crew" which really means "The crew get paid, you don't".

Of course, there are some companies out there that are purely collaborative and are not paying anyone because they have no funding. I would exercise disgression if you think that this is the case. In most cases, I feel that those type of projects don't advertise for cast anyway as they are normally shows or films put together by a group of people that already know eachother. If you put yourself up for this type of project be very sure that they are being fully honest with you as regards to being a true "no budget" production.

At least you have some form of attack now if you find out later that they have been less than honest with you!

If you have any queries on what rates you should be paid, contact Equity.