Deals and Meals

Hello,

Reading the story about Fat and Thin Productions going under makes me stop and ask the question - Why is there no collective agreement signed between the producers and the crew here in NZ, as done in the rest of the world??

As you know, the deal memo that a crew member signs covers the production, so why not have them sign something that covers the crew members? This agreement could have the production place a minimum of 75% of its budget in a bank account that the crew’s representative has the ability to control/access, so that the crew are paid for work done while the production works out its money problems, as in the example of Fat and Thin.

This is NOT the crew’s problem, but is made so when crew are not paid by producers. Waiting for “rescue packages” does not pay our rent or feed us. The agreement should also hold production to the Blue Book.

Regards,

Mike MacAuley

P.S: While I have your ear…

I think the Blue Book is fair to crew and production; the only thing I would like to see changed is the meal penalty area, which says that when lunch is delayed six hours after the COMMON call one goes into meal penalty.

I believe that it should be six hours from the INDIVIDUAL’S call. With Laundry Warrior, hair and makeup were at times starting 3 hours before the common call, thus doing 9-hour mornings (6-hour mornings were the norm); other departments had their fair share of pre-calls also.

I believe that people should be paid fairly for the long hours they put in.