If you are contacted to be engaged on The Hobbit please notify John Barclay at Equity immediately.

Click the link below for a briefing sheet prepared by the Australian actors’ union.

http://www.equity.org.uk/Documents/Public/Hobbit%20factsheet.pdf

 Click the following link below to hear an interview on Radio New Zealand news with Equity Assistant General Secretary Martin Brown. The link to the sound file is at the foot of the page which loads from this link.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/57936/warners-looking-elsewhere-for-hobbit-locations

If you are going to be at Shepperton Studios on October 4th or 5th, so is Equity – in the canteen from 9.00am – 3.00pm on each day

Take this opportunity to drop in and meet Equity and 

• ask questions; 

• find out about current campaigns and how to join in; 

• raise an issue; 

• join the union if you are not already a member; 

• get an update on contracts and agreements; 

• talk to our pensions advisor; 

• get real information; 

• just have a sit down, a cup of tea and a chat 

The Equity team including John Barclay, Head of Recorded Media, will be delighted to meet you and we look forward to seeing you there: 

The canteen, Shepperton Studios, October 4th and 5th, from 9.00am – 3.00pm

http://www.equity.org.uk/Documents/Public/shepperton%20studio%20day%202010%20poster1.pdf

Equity has been in negotiations with the BBC updating the BBC / Equity Audio Agreements.  The rates have been increased by 1.26% and the new rates are effective from Wednesday the 4th of August.  For further information and for copies of the updated agreement please contact Cathy Sweet – csweet@equity.org.uk

Since 2000 UKFC has championed film production in the UK and has actively engaged with all stakeholders, including trade unions representing performers and other workers in the sector.

 In response to the announcement Equity General Secretary Christine Payne commented:

“We are appalled that this decision has been taken with no notice and no consultation. I urge the Government to ensure that public funding for film production will not be threatened by this change. We must guarantee a sustainable future for UK film – an industry makes a vital contribution to both our economy and international cultural reputation.”

There are two social networking pages which have been set up independently of the UK Film Council.  There are already 9,370 signatures to date attached to an online petition and a facebook page has received 14,771 visits.

 If you are interested in airing your views the addresses are:

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-UK-Film-Council/137240442975080?ref=search

 http://www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/save-the-uk-film-council/sign.html

Due to the increasing financial pressures members find themselves under we are receiving an unprecedented volume of calls enquiring if there are any royalties or residuals due from programmes etc. initially transmitted many years ago which are now being exploited via TV, DVD/video or new media.

To help us process your claim it would be helpful if you could provide the following:-

• Your Equity membership name and number
• A photocopy of your contract
• Evidence of the transmission inc. time, date, TV channel or any other delivery platform eg. DTO, VOD etc.
• Evidence of DVD/Video Sales eg. Adverts from newspapers or availability to buy online

For unpaid royalty claims please contact Nick Craske, Equity’s Royalties Manager on 020 7670 0228 or e-mail Nick on ncraske@equity.org.uk

Click here to read The Independent article

Click here to join the credits crunch campaign

The Contract Enforcement role continues to bring in both substantial TV royalties and back-end payments on Cinema Films.  In 2009 Equity collected £1,152,719.46 in Cinema Film royalties and £910,792.47 for royalties/residual payments on TV productions.  So far, 2010 has seen the role bring in over £250,000.00 for the TV production Band of Brothers and Equity continue to receive large payments for Cinema Films.  If you think you are owed money please contact Christine Blake, Equity Contract Enforcement Officer on cblake@equity.org.uk or telephone 020 7670 0249.  Please also refer to the Factsheet section for further information regarding the process of Contract Enforcement.

A series of meetings have been held with some progress being made. The members of Equity’s Television Working Party which include agents and the Equity Council have been consulted with and updated on the regular basis.

In addition to the on-going negotiations additional meetings have been scheduled to enable representatives from Equity to discuss with the BBC diversity and the casting of actors, credits, walk-on and supporting artists.

 An Equity/BBC production forum will also be established which for the first time will enable the BBC, representatives from its drama production teams and Equity to meet and exchange views regarding current matters of concern.

Finally if you have been offered an engagement by the BBC and if the fee includes any ADR, fitting, read throughs, rehearsals sessions and overtime do please inform Equity’s BBC TV Organiser Ian Bayes. By doing this you will be can helping Equity to put pressure on the BBC to have this practice stopped. 

Ian Bayes Direct line – 020 7670 0252 or email – ibayes@equity.org.uk

Have you contributed to a sound recording that received radio airplay between 1996 and 2003? 

If so, you need to submit a claim to PPL before 26th July for radio royalties collected for your sound recording during this period of time.  

PPL has informed us that the deadline for submitting claims for sound recordings used between 1996 and 2003 has been extended until 26th July.  After 26th July you will only be able to claim for the use of sound recordings in the previous six years.     

Here is PPL’s full notification to performers who could benefit from submitting a claim for these old monies: 

PPL had previously communicated that after 26th April 2010, any accepted claims will only receive distributions for sound recording usage within the applicable six year statutory limitation period. 

Although we have received a high volume of claims to date, following a number of requests from various members, we have decided to extend the claims deadline to allow some extra time for members to make claims relating to sound recording usage between 1996 and 2003.  We are therefore extending the deadline from 26th April to 26th July 2010.  This means that up until 26th July 2010, we will continue to accept claims under the existing discretionary policy for income relating to use of a track between 1996 and 2003. 

After 26th July 2010 any accepted claims will only receive distributions for sound recording usage within the applicable six year statutory limitation period. 

We hope that this extension of time will be of benefit to our members.

If you have any questions about this please contact PPL performer services on 0207 534 1234