UPDATE: MEETING RE 'THE HOBBIT' AND THE FUTURE
TONIGHT, 20 October, 5pm, A Stage, Stone Street Studios, Miramar, Wellington!
REPOST, RETWEET, RE-WHATEVER AND COME!!!!
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It is time New Zealand actors really got informed about the details of the conditions they work in. Generally these conditions are contained in the contracts we sign when we book work and in The Pink Book. 'The Code of Practice for the Engagement of Cast in the New Zealand Screen Production Industry'. I doubt many of us read contracts properly, let alone have read the Pink Book.
TONIGHT, 20 October, 5pm, A Stage, Stone Street Studios, Miramar, Wellington!
REPOST, RETWEET, RE-WHATEVER AND COME!!!!
______________________________________________________________________
It is time New Zealand actors really got informed about the details of the conditions they work in. Generally these conditions are contained in the contracts we sign when we book work and in The Pink Book. 'The Code of Practice for the Engagement of Cast in the New Zealand Screen Production Industry'. I doubt many of us read contracts properly, let alone have read the Pink Book.
Since it contains our rights and
responsibilities in the screen industry, New Zealand actors should get
familiar with the Pink Book. It is freely available in pdf format here.
The Pink Book was jointly agreed
on and issued by SPADA, New Zealand Actors’ Agents’ Guild, Actors’
Agents’ Association of New Zealand and New Zealand Actors’ Equity.
The Pink Book applies to
television drama, feature film, short film, and documentary and
associated voice work. It does not apply to television or film
commercials. These are covered in documents and standard contracts by
CAANZ, ANZA, NZAAG, AAAG, NZAE and Non Solo Producers and are available
from these organizations if you're interested.
In it's introduction, the Pink Book further says,
'It’s important to note that the Pink Book is a guideline for best practice and not a rigid document. Its provisions outline legal responsibilities and suggested best practices.
The Pink Book outlines our accepted ways of working to provide useful
information in an explanatory context. Production companies and cast are
able to negotiate different arrangements, within the law, if some
provisions do not meet the needs of either party.' (emphasis added)
The general terms and conditions
dealt with in the Pink Book and therefore agreed upon between the
above-mentioned representative industry bodies relate to,
- obligations of production company and cast;
- general clauses on contracting;
- alteration to engagements;
- the duration of working day and week (including overtime, off-days etc);
- public holidays;
- turnaround;
- stunt-work;
- nudity;
- special effects;
- make-up and wardrobe;
- meals and refreshments;
- child performances and chaperones;
- production travel;
- general clauses on fees and expenses (including tax and insurances);
- assignments;
- health and safety policies;
- dispute resolution;
- and travel zones.
New Zealand producers generally
incorporate the Pink Book into the contracts they use for each of their
productions. These contracts are furthermore pretty much standard
contracts themselves (it's cheaper and easier to manage and did I
mention cheaper?).
If you don't
believe me but would like to know whether the Pink Book is applied in
practice and what sort of performers' contracts are used, why not
contact your agents and ask what their experience is?
Now that you
know what the Pink Book is about and how it is applied in the industry,
you can make up your mind without being talked into things. Yay!
Do we need
new standard contracts that are applied accross the industry. Or are
standard contracts negotiated by NZ Equity for every single production
the way to go? Or is regularly updating the Pink Book and ensuring it is
applied by all NZ producers best?
If
you're an Equity member, please go to the meetings next week and speak
your mind! If Equity represents you, you should be able to say what you
want and they should listen.
The
meetings are in Wellington, TONIGHT Wednesday 20th October, at St Johns
Hall, 7pm, cnr Willis & Dixon Street, CBD and TOMORROW NIGHT in
Auckland, on Thursday 21st October, at St Columba Centre, 7pm, 40
Vermont St, Ponsonby.
If you are not an Equity member and do not care to join so you can attend these meetings, send them an email here
anyway and let them know what you think. Or alternatively, write to
your local newspaper, write to Stuff.co.nz, facebook, blog or twitter
about it. Do something!
Get the knowledge, get the power and speak your mind! For whatever good it will do, it's better than sitting on our collective ars, waiting for things to happen.
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