Actors split producers ranks

Film and TV production continues as producers sign Equity contracts.

Equity, the UK actors' union, is in dispute with the industry's employers' association PACT (Producers' Association for Cinema and Television) over secondary rights payments.

Since December 1 members have refused to accept contracts drafted according to PACT guidelines, threatening a slow-down in studios and on location.

Despite PACT's refusal to write into its standard contract the payments Equity wants, individual producers have begun engaging performers on new contracts which the union sent out to members.

These "promulgated" contracts include a level of payment to actors for repeats and other secondary uses which PACT refused to include in its agreement with Equity.

The final offer from PACT did contain secondary rights payments, but they were lower than the union believed was fair.

Equity is still hoping to achieve an industry-wide agreement through PACT, but will continue advising members to use the promulgated contracts to sign deals with producers.

The union reports that no films appear to have been lost since the December 1 deadline, mostly because producers are signing the promulgated contracts instead of offering cast a PACT contract based on the employers' final offer.

Pressure on PACT was increased by a pledge from the US Screen Actors' Guild that their members would boycott UK shoots if requested by Equity.

BECTU members have been advised to work normally, but contact union Head Office if they are asked to work on productions which have been boycotted by Equity.