BECTU Debate: Low Budget Collaborations and the National Minimum Wage.

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	Topic: BECTU Debate: Low Budget Collaborations and the National Minimum Wage.
Posted : 22/04/10 / Views : 3402 / Replies : 38 /
mburgess 358 posts last on: 31 min send private reply	BECTU's Writers Producers and Directors' branch are having a debate about low budget collaborations, NMW and the impact of the recent London Dreams ruling. Thursday 18 March at 19.00 hours at The University of London Union, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HY http://www.bectu.org.uk/news/641

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	Reply #1
Posted : 23/02/10
mikebusson 452 posts last on: 06/02/12 send private reply	From the BECTU website (link) Join the union's Writers, Producers and Directors branch for their Spring debate: Low Budget Collaborations and the National Minimum Wage. In the wake of the recent London Dreams' tribunal ruling, which retrospectively awarded Nicola Vetta, an unpaid intern, the National Minimum Wage for the hours she worked on a feature film, there has been much industry debate about the effect this decision will have. Does the verdict represent the long-overdue protection desperately needed by the industry's most vulnerable workers, or the death of creativity and collaboration which often provides a stepping stone for those who are new to the industry? Should the decision be viewed as a victory or a disaster? To discuss both sides of the argument, BECTU's Writers Producers and Directors' branch brings you: Shooting yourself in the foot? A Debate about Low Budget Collaborations and the National Minimum Wage Please join us on Thursday 18 March at 19.00 hours at The University of London Union, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HY and make your voice heard. Nearest tube stations: Goodge Street and Russell Square. Please arrive promptly as spaces will be available on a first come, first served basis. The proposition: Working for free is the only way for new entrants to get a foot in the door of the film and television industry but are you shooting yourself in the foot? Jess Search from Shooting People and Martin Spence, assistant general secretary of BECTU, will be among the key speakers to address these issues. The event will take the form of a parliamentary-style debate with prearranged speakers setting out their point of view in support of, or in opposition to, the motion. The audience will be invited to participate throughout the debate. The aim We hope that this event will kick off a process leading to an industry-wide charter endorsed by BECTU, Shooting People and other interested parties setting out how microbudget films can flourish while staying on the right side of the law. We really hope this will be the beginning of an end to the confusion and misunderstandings surrounding what does and does not constitute a collaboration. For more information contact Tom Bell, supervisory official.

Reply #1

Posted : 23/02/10

mikebusson
452 posts
last on: 06/02/12
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From the BECTU website (link)

Join the union's Writers, Producers and Directors branch for their Spring debate: Low Budget Collaborations and the National Minimum Wage.

In the wake of the recent London Dreams' tribunal ruling, which retrospectively awarded Nicola Vetta, an unpaid intern, the National Minimum Wage for the hours she worked on a feature film, there has been much industry debate about the effect this decision will have.

Does the verdict represent the long-overdue protection desperately needed by the industry's most vulnerable workers, or the death of creativity and collaboration which often provides a stepping stone for those who are new to the industry? Should the decision be viewed as a victory or a disaster?

To discuss both sides of the argument, BECTU's Writers Producers and Directors' branch brings you:
Shooting yourself in the foot?
A Debate about Low Budget Collaborations and the National Minimum Wage

Please join us on Thursday 18 March at 19.00 hours at The University of London Union, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HY and make your voice heard. Nearest tube stations: Goodge Street and Russell Square. Please arrive promptly as spaces will be available on a first come, first served basis.
The proposition:

Working for free is the only way for new entrants to get a foot in the door of the film and television industry but are you shooting yourself in the foot?

Jess Search from Shooting People and Martin Spence, assistant general secretary of BECTU, will be among the key speakers to address these issues. The event will take the form of a parliamentary-style debate with prearranged speakers setting out their point of view in support of, or in opposition to, the motion. The audience will be invited to participate throughout the debate.
The aim

We hope that this event will kick off a process leading to an industry-wide charter endorsed by BECTU, Shooting People and other interested parties setting out how microbudget films can flourish while staying on the right side of the law. We really hope this will be the beginning of an end to the confusion and misunderstandings surrounding what does and does not constitute a collaboration.

For more information contact Tom Bell, supervisory official.

	Reply #2
Posted : 24/02/10
CliveHurst 1001 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	You beat me to it... :)

	Reply #3
Posted : 26/02/10
mikebusson 452 posts last on: 06/02/12 send private reply	Chris Jones, Oscar shortlisted filmmaker and author of the "Guerilla Filmmakers Handbook" has now been confirmed as one of the speakers. For those of you who have opinions on the subject I'd suggest you attend the meeting. It could prove to be something of a game changer for everyone involved on both sides of the camera.

	Reply #4
Posted : 26/02/10
carolineboulton 285 posts last on: 1 hour send private reply	ohh I like that book, very good read!

	Reply #5
Posted : 26/02/10
GUY5 395 posts last on: 1 hour send private reply	Are Equity going to send representation?

	Reply #6
Posted : 26/02/10
mikebusson 452 posts last on: 06/02/12 send private reply	I believe Equity have been approached. No official confirmation on attendance at this stage. Representatives from PACT will also be there.

	Reply #7
Posted : 26/02/10
mikebusson 452 posts last on: 06/02/12 send private reply	I have posted the full BECTU release on my blog: The Future of UK Independent Film: Have Your Say. None of us like working for free but, I'm guessing, that all of us have done it at some point. The purpose of the meeting is to differentiate between the sharks and charlatans who rip us off and those who have genuinely not got a budget to pay everyone. If you have an opinion either way then I urge you to attend the meeting. This could genuinely be a massive change in the way low budget films are made in this country.

Reply #7

Posted : 26/02/10

mikebusson
452 posts
last on: 06/02/12
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I have posted the full BECTU release on my blog: The Future of UK Independent Film: Have Your Say.

None of us like working for free but, I'm guessing, that all of us have done it at some point.

The purpose of the meeting is to differentiate between the sharks and charlatans who rip us off and those who have genuinely not got a budget to pay everyone.

If you have an opinion either way then I urge you to attend the meeting. This could genuinely be a massive change in the way low budget films are made in this country.

	Reply #8
Posted : 01/03/10
GUY5 395 posts last on: 1 hour send private reply	How will this meeting affect legislation? Currently if all the info on the site below (See link) is correct CCP and other sites advertising expenses only jobs look to be in breach of the NMW legislation. http://www.careers.lon.ac.uk/output/page712.asp

	Reply #9
Posted : 01/03/10
CliveHurst 1001 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	Currently, it is the responsibility of an employer, not a casting directory/agency, to ensure that 'workers' are paid at least the National Minimum Wage (NMW). So the law, as it stands, allows work finding services to offer work by employers - that clearly breaks the law... This is one of the items which a group of Equity members and myself, discussed with the Low Pay Commission (LPC) back in November, at the end of last years annual NMW LPC consultation. Later this month the LPC are expected to publish the findings of their latest consultation. Hopefully they will make certain recommendation to the government on how NMW regulations can be better enforced, tightened up and... hopefully, provide industry specific guidelines for those in the entertainments industry. This is the third year that I have been meeting with the LPC. Let us hope that we get some sensible assistance in this matter... For more information about what exactly the LPC does, click: http://www.lowpay.gov.uk/lowpay/what_we_do.shtml **;^))

Reply #9

Posted : 01/03/10

CliveHurst
1001 posts
last on: 07/02/12
send private reply

Currently, it is the responsibility of an employer, not a casting directory/agency, to ensure that 'workers' are paid at least the National Minimum Wage (NMW). So the law, as it stands, allows work finding services to offer work by employers - that clearly breaks the law...

This is one of the items which a group of Equity members and myself, discussed with the Low Pay Commission (LPC) back in November, at the end of last years annual NMW LPC consultation.

Later this month the LPC are expected to publish the findings of their latest consultation. Hopefully they will make certain recommendation to the government on how NMW regulations can be better enforced, tightened up and... hopefully, provide industry specific guidelines for those in the entertainments industry.

This is the third year that I have been meeting with the LPC. Let us hope that we get some sensible assistance in this matter...

For more information about what exactly the LPC does, click: http://www.lowpay.gov.uk/lowpay/what_we_do.shtml

**;^))

	Reply #10
Posted : 08/03/10
mikebusson 452 posts last on: 06/02/12 send private reply	Chris Jones has posted an interesting article on his blog. Just a reminder that the meeting is next week. How many folks are planning to attend? Will CCP be making an official appearance?

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