June 18, 2011

FAIR DEAL FOR PERFORMERS ON MR PIP  

Mr Pip:

All New Zealand performers engaged on offshore feature film Mr Pip will be engaged, as a minimum, on Pink Book terms and conditions, following an agreement between the production company and Actors Equity. New Zealand performers will also receive residuals payments equivalent to the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) rates for the reuse of their work in the US and residual payments equivalent to Actors Equity Australia rates for the reuse of their work in other markets.

Equity was approached by the producers regarding the engagement of a SAG member and that Equity was able to reach this highly-significant agreement was due in no small part to the ongoing international co-operation and support of our sister union SAG.

International Solidarity shored up:
Following the Hobbit dispute, the International Federation of Actors (FIA) met in Sydney to discuss the importance of international solidarity and commended Equity members for their efforts in seeking to advance the working conditions of all performers.FIAhas also formed a working group (including the Alliance,SAG,Equity UK, and the Association of Canadian Television and Radio Artists) to look at issues relating to future international productions with the aim of strengthening the ability to improve terms and conditions of work in the global economy.

To read more about the work of the FIA click here.