ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

12 years, 1 month ago - John Lubran

There’s statute legislation in place, some of it even Lawful, concerning minimum wage and contract. But at the end of the day, unless you get employed within a structure where those statutes meaningfully apply it’s up you to make yourself have the value you see yourself as having. As many establishment grandees clearly suggest, 'Laws are for the Plebs'. So if it's a large institutionalised outfit then you're guaranteed minimum wage. If that outfit has an accord with BECTU and the like then higher minimums, only having the force of contract law, may apply. However it's the independent sector that's growing fastest, a sector that because of the structural and financial thin ice it often has to stand on knows how to duck and dive when either righteous expedience or downright greed demands. You may be lucky enough, if that's what one wants, to become a BECTU-alised worker bee in a big comfy hive; however demographic reality suggests that most new entrants will have to learn to duck and dive too. Wage laws only apply to employees working within specific contexts and structures. (Don't be misdirected by claims of tribunal successes consequential to ignorance and technical errors as boasted by otherwise lovely Unions). Sole traders (individuals) acting as a bona-fide business (as easy to become on this pirate island as falling off a log) may contract, for entirely acceptable reasons, to complete a project at a price without regard to wage regulations.

I'd have to observe though that for most people entering the profession and art of film making these days’ multi tasking skills and intelligent geo-socio-political awareness are more than just desirable. For every one trick post available there are at least ten arguably qualified contenders. Both the state and private education and training sectors have been over producing media skills graduates at a rate of over 25 people per job vacancy YEAR ON YEAR for nearly two decades. It’s one of the most oversubscribed industries ever; hence the effervescent manifestation of thousands of micro production companies popping in and out of the market place like champagne bubbles. We're in a whole new reality for film making where many of the old assumptions, more often than not, just don't apply. The old narrow skilled cloth capped craft technician is being somewhat replaced by more entrepreneurial creatives working within innovative collaborative structures who have access to astonishingly low cost production tools that compare viably with what used to be the privileged domain of mega-buck outfits. Exciting times for some.

12 years, 2 months ago - Colin Thomas

Join BECTU, the film and television trade union, get the assistance of full time union officers and work with other DOPs and operators to improve current rates.
Colin Thomas

12 years, 2 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren

I would suggest that you sign a contract on ANY project, paid or not.

Other than that, I'm not sure I understand your question! EIS and SEIS are tax schemes for investors in things like - films, not camera people. The only way you will get paid is if you work on projects with a reasonable budget and if you're not the one producing the project and only the camera person, then that is up to them and not you what investor/finance scheme they go with.

Seems like you have done a lot of training and worked on a reasonable amount of projects. You tell us, what are your experiences of getting paid on the different projects? Do you always get a contract? Are the terms always honoured?

It's tough out there. Keep fighting and keep searching for better roles and better paid roles. It'll turn around... Gotta keep going.

Good luck.

@wozyW