Posts by Sacha
-
Despite the earlier attempts with the local TV productions mentioned, one of the union's fundamental decisions in this campaign seems to have been seeking broader change by leveraging this one production. It would be interesting to hear from those involved locally where that decision came from, if not Mr Whipp.
It does seem to have got them around a table with SPADA and under the wing of the CTU but the cost seems pretty high.
-
They're a performers union in general, aren't they?
-
Simon Whipp interviewed, gives some examples of concerns.
Whipp said the campaign The Hobbit had been caught up in was part of a bigger effort to give those actors the same rights as those in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.
"For most people who sign a contract it's as binding for one party as the other... for New Zealand film and TV contracts that hasn't been the case."
Whipp said that if a Kiwi performer wanted to quit a production, producers could bring legal proceedings to stop them – and sue for damages.
"But if the producer changed their mind about a production, all they're obliged to do is give a day's notice ... that's standard in New Zealand."
He cited a theatre company contract stating that an actor unable to work would be financially liable for their replacement.
"Not only do they not get paid if they are sick, but they have to pay for their replacement. That's not fair, and it shouldn't be part of anyone's contract."
-
Dexter, we heard you the first time, and the second, and the third. Please find a new angle.
-
Points to anyone who takes along another of those "Carly Binding Referendum" signs.
-
Peter, go right ahead with your mild civil disobedience, just don't act like you're sticking it to the man by doing so.
Ignorance is one reason the world still needs change. You bring deficient reasoning here and you'll get called on it. Your cause deserves better.
-
Thanks, Chaz. We've heard similar stories on other threads and it disappoints me how fast some have leapt to demonise the man to fit into a good/bad, boss/union worldview as if they don't have the wit to acknowledge what's actually going on is more complex and has real people in it. That includes the ridiculous recent attacks on Russell and this community as somehow being traitors or scabs for having the affront to expect competent behaviour from those acting in the interests of working people.
-
Helen Kelly posts a timeline of her involvement.
-
MEAA came in after the lack of response from SPADA.
Nice try
-
Don't seem to be able to link to individual posts in that TheatreReview forum, but this one from actor Ian Hughes is another example of a negotiable condition:
2 Oct 2010, 04:23 PM
I was in LOTR and my voice was dubbed out but only out of 2 of the 3 scenes I was in. I was never told and found out while I was sitting in the theatre (infact they wouldn’t tell me if i was in the movie or not!) . I was a bit shocked and surprised – I do a lot of voice work and my voice is a big part of my business – I would have liked to have been asked.
And was it my contract ? no – I didn’t know what I didn’t know – and this goes back to the problem of the onus of analysing and enacting contracts falls to the sole trader actors and their agents. A job that in cases like the Hobbit we just don’t have the resources to do let alone police.