Posts by Simon Bennett
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I don't believe the CTU were involved in the initial MEAA/Equity action in any way shape or form. They were brought in to try to bring reason to the mess once everything had gone pear-shaped.
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Working NZ actors may not earn as much as their counterparts in Australia, the UK or the US. But name one area in NZ where this isn't also the case.
NZ has a small population, market and funding base. The revenue available to a successful NZ production (I'm talking TV here). is relatively miniscule. I believe there's a mistaken assumption among many actors that 'success = big bucks'. They're not seeing the big bucks, therefore someone, producers, must be ripping them off.
In my experience, successful NZ TV actors would earn in a year sums that most New Zealanders could only dream of. They are also extremely well looked after in the workplace.
What we're witnessing is the unfortunate side-effect of success in a small country.
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Jonathan King - hear hear!
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Eighteen months ago, Equity refused an offer from the Screen Production and Development Association (Spada) to renegotiate the "Pink Book" code of conduct which covers actors' pay and conditions and has been untouched since the MEAA moved in. Its precondition for any talks with Spada was that the existing system, which does generally work, be scrapped and replaced with collective agreements.
It's hard to imagine a good outcome when this opportunity was not taken. Should it be possible, I'd appreciate it if someone could explain why it wasn't?Because at the time Equity/MEAA wanted to impose a blanket industry-wide binding contract (along the lines of the Australian one), and saw returning to the Pink Book as being counter-productive. Now, they're going to the Pink Book, which is the only logical course of action within current legal parameters.
I wonder how many actors have actually READ the Pink Book - I think they'll find the recommended guidelines for contracting performers are very similar to the things they think they're fighting for. Namely, nudity clauses, breaks, overtime, working days etc.
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Sadly, Russell, I think you've nailed it.
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They still haven't figured out what they want yet? What have they been doing the last few weeks?
Texting, Facebooking, talking and getting more and more worked up into a frenzy of incoherent indignation about how hard done by they are.
They really don't get how the industry works.
What they don't understand is that everyone who works on a film or TV production is self-employed and engaged on a gig-by-gig basis. This goes for crew, writers, editors, directors and even producers. Everyone faces the spectre of periods of downtime, and an industry that demands long hours and high standards.
In my experience, there is a camaraderie, and a 'can-do' attitude amongst crew. Although roles are delineated, there is a healthy dose of egalitarianism and mutual respect. It's not a bosses v workers situation.
It's not all idyllic. Problems do arise. And when they do, in my experience they are discussed and sorted.
The irony is that from my perspective, actors are better paid and enjoy better conditions on the whole than any other person working on a shoot. I have never begrudged this - I think that actors deserve to be very well remunerated, because they are putting their faces into the public domain, and their lives as private individuals are restricted somewhat as a result. Directors, crew, writers etc don't have to deal with this.
Now I'm starting to feel a growing resentment towards what I can only perceive as attention-seeking behaviour, a sense of super-entitlement, and sadly self-centred greed.
Very few people in NZ enjoy the same pay and conditions as their counterparts in Auctralia, the UK or the States. We're a small country. We choose to live here for reasons other than money.
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Very very bad news.
My prediction: the bulk of Hobbit production goes offshore. Hundreds of crew in the Wellington region lose a lot of work. Post will probably still take place in Wellington, but this doesn't help the production crew and suppliers.
There will be a lot of anger from within the industry towards MEAA/Equity - we're seeing this now. Equity will lose membership to the point where it represents a small handful of (predominently Auckland-based) committed actors. These people will be villified within the industry and end up seeking work offshore.
It's a lose/lose situation.
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Yes, good news.
I wonder if SAG and MEAA have been advised by NZAE to withdraw the 'do not work' notice. Or are discussions proceeding with that particular loaded gun still aimed at The Hobbit?
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The resolution from Monday's meeting of Wellington actors:
http://www.theatreview.org.nz/news/news.php?id=678
I note that NZ Actors Equity chose not to attend.
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A meeting of Wellington actors resolves not to support Equity/MEAA-led boycott of The Hobbit:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/4222575/Wellington-actors-oppose-boycott
And Philippa Boyens' account: