Monthly Archives: October 2021

CoViD cases to fall in the run-up to Christmas?

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Paul Evans

There’s some cautious optimism from Sage about falling numbers of cases in the lead-up to Christmas, though the PM has been warned by Patrick Vallance that he must be prepared to trigger Plan B if needed. Plan B (basically, a … Continue reading →

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The budget and the theatre – more detail

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Paul Evans

After a bit of time to digest the budget statement, there are a few things to chew over. Firstly, the backdrop is one of uncertainty. Productions are just not opening up due to pandemic-related uncertainty, and there seems to be … Continue reading →

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Skills shortage update – Production Accountants

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Paul Evans

There appears to be a particularly large skills-gap in the area of Production Accountancy with the supply of labour not matching demand. This appears to have been caused, at least in part, due to people leaving the industry for more … Continue reading →

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People who are vaccinated are significantly less likely to infect others

Posted on October 28, 2021 by Paul Evans

From the New Scientist: “They absolutely do reduce transmission,” says Christopher Byron Brooke at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “Vaccinated people do transmit the virus in some cases, but the data are super crystal-clear that the risk of transmission … Continue reading →

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More details of the proposed IATSE deal

Posted on October 28, 2021 by Paul Evans

The actual text of the proposed agreement between IATSE and AMPTP is still in the hands of the lawyers, but IATSE have published some more information about how they will be consulting on this, the financial aspects of the offer … Continue reading →

Posted in Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Trades Unions | Tagged | Leave a comment

Freelance pensions – low take-up, postponement, and the earnings trigger

Posted on October 28, 2021 by Paul Evans

Stuart Mott has a post up on the Prospect Blog about the problems around Freelance pensions, addressing the alarmingly low take-up among members and answering a few questions about how the law on auto-enrollment is applied to freelancers. It’s well … Continue reading →

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Budget statement – quick reaction

Posted on October 27, 2021 by Paul Evans

Here’s a quick reaction to today’s Budget statement from Rishi Sunak. As ever, it’s worth waiting for a lot of this to be digested by economists and a range of more detailed briefings will be available in a few hours. … Continue reading →

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Bectu engagement with external Health & Safety structures

Posted on October 26, 2021 by Paul Evans

Our Health and Safety Committee has been inactive since the start of the pandemic (though this will change shortly) and Prospect have their NEC Health and Safety committee that continues under the stout stewardship of Chris Warburton. In the meantime, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bullying and Harassment, Coronavirus, EU & Brexit, Film & TV industry data, Health & Safety, Long hours, Management, Mental Health, Occupational Health, Remote working, Safe working practices, Safe working standards, The working environment, Theatre and Live Events data, Trades Unions, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

National Living Wage will rise to £9.50 an hour

Posted on October 25, 2021 by Paul Evans

The 59p increase for workers over 23 – up 6.6% from £8.91 reflects the inflationary pressure outlined here a few weeks ago. The new rates will rise from 1 April 2022 as follows: National Living Wage for over-23s: From £8.91 … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Inflation, Low pay, Minimum wage rates, National Insurance Contributions (NICs), Pay & inflation, Tax, Trades Unions, Wages and Pay-rates, Wealth inequality | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Drivers particularly badly hit by soaring costs

Posted on October 25, 2021 by Paul Evans

In news that will particularly hit film freelancers, car costs are soaring. Secondhand cars are costing up to 60% more than they did in 2019, and the price of petrol is climbing rapidly. The weekly road fuel prices stats on … Continue reading →

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Busy industry = unsafe industry?

Posted on October 25, 2021 by Paul Evans

An Australian study has revealed that economic growth following a period of recession has an impact on workplace injuries. This is particularly interesting in two respects for us at Bectu. The issue of skills fade in theatre and live events … Continue reading →

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Devaluing arts education

Posted on October 25, 2021 by Paul Evans

I don’t want to get too diverted into a focus into the general question of arts education, its status, and funding (we’re fighting on enough fronts already at the moment), but one of the post-Brexit realignments that are being talked … Continue reading →

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Halyna Hutchins – the latest film set tragedy

Posted on October 22, 2021 by Paul Evans

The BBC is rightly focusing on Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer who died when reporting the incident involving Alec Baldwin and a prop gun in the latest tragedy on a film set. Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer who died when Alec Baldwin … Continue reading →

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Bluffer’s guide: Cabotage

Posted on October 22, 2021 by Paul Evans

Everyone interested in touring or doing work abroad is likely to start talking about ‘cabotage’ at some point soon (if they haven’t already). See also ‘Carnet’ (watch this space!) As a Seasoned Professional, you will need to be able to … Continue reading →

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IATSE briefs members on the proposed deal

Posted on October 22, 2021 by Paul Evans

The union is hosting a series of town hall meetings with members, along with this briefing on three key issues in a Twitter thread: NEW: We are releasing our first three one page documents explaining how the new tentative Basic … Continue reading →

Posted in Factual & Entertainment sector data, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, High End TV data, Trades Unions | Tagged | Leave a comment

Piracy of films is still a thing

Posted on October 22, 2021 by Paul Evans

The commonplace (one I’m occasionally guilty of repeating) that online piracy of movies is almost a non-issue now thanks to the emergence of competitively-priced streaming platforms is wrong, it seems. The Global Innovation Policy Center is claiming that worldwide online piracy … Continue reading →

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UK radio to get ‘discoverability’ boost on smart speakers

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Paul Evans

Regulators have a number of tools at their fingertips. They can offer tax breaks linked to cultural tests. They can tell TV channels that a percentage of their content should be made within a particular jurisdiction. They can oblige distribution … Continue reading →

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General sense of wellbeing fell during the pandemic

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Paul Evans

The latest in a type of report that is best filed under “probably interesting in the long run, but hopelessly distorted by the pandemic” is the latest report from the ONS on levels of wellbeing and happiness in the UK … Continue reading →

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Comprehensive European figures on women’s representation in TV drama

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Paul Evans

Women still under-represented in the #TVfiction industry in Europe🚺Find out more in our report ➡ https://t.co/hjdMgTDNP4 #womeninfilm #diversitymatters #womendirectors #genderequity pic.twitter.com/hqMu7fHIw6 — Europ AV Observatory (@EuAvObservatory) October 20, 2021 The key insights contained in the report are that, beyond obvious … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversity of representation, Equality, Film & TV industry data, Gender equality, Gender representation, High End TV data, Management, Skills & capacity, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Public Service Broadcasting – contestable funds under threat?

Posted on October 19, 2021 by Paul Evans

The dust has long settled on the Public Service Broadcasting Contestable Funds Consultation [pdf] from 2016 (the outgoing culture team were fairly keen on them but Nadine Dorries may not be), and the Times [£] has a worrying set of … Continue reading →

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Netflix global strategy on films

Posted on October 18, 2021 by Paul Evans

More fuel to the debate about how the SVoD boom will affect the cultural diversity of film and TV, and on that whole ‘cinema to sofa’ question will play out. Here, their international film Boss David Kosse talks about how … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture policy, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, SVoD | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

IATSE update – strike averted – members consider a deal

Posted on October 18, 2021 by Paul Evans

IATSE have reached an eleventh-hour deal over the weekend to avoid a US film and TV strike. The fine details are yet to be published and Variety are reporting that townhall meetings will be held, along with first reactions. Deadline … Continue reading →

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Visa-free short-term touring allowed in 20 EU countries

Posted on October 18, 2021 by Paul Evans

The government website is saying that… “20 Member States have confirmed they offer visa and work permit free routes for UK musicians and performers. These countries are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, … Continue reading →

Posted in EU & Brexit, Theatre and Live Events data | Tagged | 1 Comment

Flexible working – Arup explore the seven-day week

Posted on October 18, 2021 by Paul Evans

From Arup’s website: “Arup, the employee-owned global engineering and design firm, has today announced it is adopting an innovative hybrid model – known as Work Unbound – that will give its 15,500 employees, known as members, greater flexibility in deciding … Continue reading →

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Protecting mental health in the workplace – TUC webinar

Posted on October 18, 2021 by Paul Evans

With the TUC’s Anna Kalsi alongside Peter Kelly, Senior Psychologist at the Health and Safety Executive, discussing what employers should be doing to prevent work-related stress and to protect the mental wellbeing of their employees. Details here. You can register … Continue reading →

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UK commissioned productions losing crew talent to streamers

Posted on October 18, 2021 by Paul Evans

We’ve been saying it will happen for a while, but the wider world is beginning to notice. This, from the FT[£]; “Seetha Kumar, chief executive of ScreenSkills, said the “pinch points” were particularly acute in mid-tier roles — for which … Continue reading →

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Energy bills to rise by 50% between 2020 and 2022

Posted on October 18, 2021 by Paul Evans

With the impacts of soaring global gas markets on the energy bills, and the price cap rising by 12 per cent on 1 October, The Resolution Foundation is briefing that energy bills are set to rise by 50% between 2020 … Continue reading →

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Bectu: “Do Nothing To Undermine The IATSE Action,”

Posted on October 15, 2021 by Paul Evans

Bectu has, once again, come out strongly in support of IATSE’s threatened strike action next week, as reported in Deadline earlier today. Head of Bectu, Philippa Childs has urged members to “go further and show solidarity” posting photos with colleagues … Continue reading →

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Vaccinated or a negative CoViD test – new guidance in Wales

Posted on October 15, 2021 by Paul Evans

From Monday 11th October new rules came into force in Wales requiring people attending large events and nightclubs (or similar premises) to prove they are either fully vaccinated or have had a negative COVID test. You can read guidance here … Continue reading →

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More on freelance pensions

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Paul Evans

Members who missed the seminar on freelancers and pensions a few weeks ago can view it here. Following this up, and looking at The Great British Retirement Survey annual report, On the one hand, people are hearing to retire as … Continue reading →

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Yet another big streamer eyes European markets

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Paul Evans

This time, it’s Paramount +. “In the U.K., Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria (GSA), for example, Paramount Plus will launch on Sky platforms. Craig explained that according to the deal, Paramount Plus and Comcast/ViacomCBS streaming co-venture SkyShowtime will be … Continue reading →

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BBC Studios Appoints Tom Fussell as CEO

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Paul Evans

As reported in Variety. “Fussell will oversee BBC Studio’s “ambitious” plans for global expansion, its focus on employee engagement and wellbeing as well as diversity, inclusion and sustainability.”

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What is happening to self-employment in the UK

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Paul Evans

The tl;dr answer is that it’s too early to tell. As mentioned previously here, there’s a lot of job-switching going on, and there is a generally tight labour market in the UK (and globally, though the UK has the added spice … Continue reading →

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French cultural policy

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Paul Evans

France has always had an interesting, and different approach to cultural policy to the UK’s equivalent. In thinking about this last night, I remembered this 2013 document [pdf] from the Coalition Francaise and I thought I’d bookmark it here. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Copyright & Intellectual Property, Culture policy, Diversity of representation, Film & TV industry policy, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, Tax incentives | Tagged , | Leave a comment

IATSE ramps up the pressure: a deal – or a strike on Monday!

Posted on October 13, 2021 by Paul Evans

IATSE has ramped up the pressure, publishing a Strike Clock counting down to midnight on Monday morning. In a message circulating IATSE members, the line is…. “AMPTP has until Monday 18th at 12:01 am to make us a better offer. … Continue reading →

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