Imagine if there was one document that set out the terms and conditions for work you do on screen; a document that performers and producers agreed was FAIR.

Wouldn't it save the time and lift the professionalism of all those who collaborate in the screen industry?

We reckon a standard contract would fit the bill.

In all other English-speaking countries performers have standard contracts, negotiated by their unions and producers, giving our peers certainty about the minimum expectations they can have on any screen job.

Why not in New Zealand?

Click here to sign our petition.

In Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and America performers have standard contracts, which include minimum working conditions, and residuals on screen work. These contracts are negotiated between the performers’ unions such as British Equity and the Screen Actors’ Guild (SAG), and producers. These contracts give performers and agents certainty about the minimum expectations performers should have on any film, television or theatre job. Agents of course are free to negotiate terms which are better than the minimum negotiated between their union and producers. In New Zealand there are no such contracts. While there is a set of guidelines, known as “The Pink Book”, these are not binding on any producer and do not stand up to comparison with the minimum conditions performers receive in all other English speaking countries.

New Zealand Equity welcomes the opportunity to comment upon the Ministry for Culture and Heritage’s Review of the New Zealand Film Commission. From the perspective of performers one of the key challenges faced is the development of sustainable careers within this difficult climate as well as within an industry where performers have long been seen to be at the bottom of a pecking order. Download our submission in PDF format here.

An information booklet by and for NZ Equity members is now available to help you organise a profit-share production. It includes Equity’s Standard Co-op Agreement. For your copy phone the office on (09) 360 1980 or 0800 334 470.
  

 In recognition of the importance of the casting process to the industry, and to encourage best practice for the conduct of auditions in Australia, the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, along with casting consultants and the Drama Agents Association in Australia, have established casting guidelines.

 At the eleventh hour SPADA has cancelled a meeting to discuss an industry-wide contract for performers in the local screen industry. Click below for SPADA’s letter to agents and casting directors, and Equity’s reply.