Christine Payne, Equity's General Secretary, believes that new technologies and new ways of working present Equity members with opportunities as well as challenges.
The incredible pace of change in television is creating exciting new opportunities for everyone working in the entertainment industry.
Equity members are starting to work on projects that are produced and distributed in many different ways, benefiting from the potential of new technology.
Some performers have already worked on episodes of programmes made specifically for viewing on mobile phones (or mobisodes) and on podcasts for which their terms and conditions were negotiated by Equity. Over the next few years there will be many more opportunities for performers to work on these new types of original productions on new media.
In addition, theatre productions and other live performances will increasingly be recorded and made available on-demand over the internet, as a podcast or on other new media devices. The video gaming industry will also use more actors, performers and voice-over artists, as it seeks to incorporate increasingly realistic dramatic content.
These new ways of working are just the beginning. They offer a snapshot of the way in which the television industry is being transformed and could be supplemented in future by the use of a very wide variety of technological platforms.
This document outlines the ways in which Equity has been approaching the big changes that are occurring in television. It sets out how we believe actors, performers and creators of all kinds can be supported so that they can take advantage of all the opportunities presented by new technology. It is our goal to protect your pay, working conditions and rights in this new era and to defend your status in terms of tax and national insurance. This document explores the emerging trends in new technology, new industrial practices and new working environments and seeks to identify how we as a union might secure the best terms, conditions and ongoing rights for Equity members in this new world.
In the short-term this means building on existing Equity agreements and making the best arrangements possible to cope with new uses and secure proper rewards for performers. In the long-term it means that we need a fundamental change in the structure of payments, rights and rewards for our members.
There is no doubt that television is changing. It is no exaggeration to say that a revolution has already started. Equity wants to work with you to shaping the future.
Christine Payne
General Secretary