Tim Potter

It was with shock and distress last week that the Camera Branch learned of the unexpected death of our Chair, Tim Potter. It happened just days after he attended the Bectu Conference in York where he appeared to be his usual, cheerful self.

Tim Potter joined Bectu in 1985, as he went freelance as a Clapper/Loader. One of his anecdotes was about how he plied a grip with drink in order to find out how much he should charge for his work when starting out. As he built his industry knowledge, he also shared his insights with his colleagues.

An extremely intelligent man, Tim became a valuable source of information and history for the Camera Branch as he was able to place in context the dilemmas facing members around rates, agreements and the many other issues we have to navigate. Over the years he held the roles of both Secretary and Chair of the Camera Branch and had been serving in the latter role for many years. Compiling the branch rate card was just one of his valuable contributions.

Tim gave up many hours of his time, not only for branch meetings, but as a member of the London Production Committee and the Film Policy committee. In meetings, there was frequently a time when all eyes would turn to Tim Potter as his wisdom and experience meant he could offer authoritative advice on what course of action to take and what pitfalls to avoid. In addition, Tim sat in negotiations with PACT for both Film and TV drama agreement negotiations, often able to spot loopholes and errors missed by everyone else.

If this was not enough, Tim also joined the Guild of British Cinema Technicians in 1991, eventually also chairing that organisation since 2009. Through his positions in both Bectu and the GBCT, Tim championed the education and training of camera technicians.

Difficult though it is to organise a predominately freelance industry, it is hard to overstate the contribution made by Tim, first in simply showing up, then in his commitment to informing his fellow members and putting in the hours to try to improve their situation; all this with modesty and a friendly smile.

Tim Potter was a pillar of the Film and Television industry in this country and at just 66, has left us far too soon. We can only hope that some of his colleagues will come forward to take on his work as it is unlikely that a single person could.

Tim Potter, Camera Branch & GBCT Chair, Focus-Puller: 27th of June 1958 to 21st May 2025.

The branch will decide which candidate to support in the meeting on 26th April. The candidates are:

Carmen Locke (RPD Western Freelance)

My name is Carmen Locke and I am standing for re-election as President of the Bectu Sector and, if I am successful, I will continue to work for the best interests of our members.

My role as President:

During the past two years as President, I have always put the needs of members first and foremost and will continue to do so. I have sought to represent the interests of the Sector in the wider Prospect as well as encouraging involvement from all members and furthering the propositions passed at our most recent Conference in 2023.

As well as chairing the Sector Executive Committee meetings, I have also become Chair of the Western Freelance Branch and continued as a rep to the RPD Committee. I have also attended both Bectu and Prospect National Conferences and I represented the Sector at Uni-Global and Uni-Mei in Philadelphia.

A little about me:

I have been a Bectu member for over thirty years, starting at the BBC in 1989, becoming a rep in 2008 and moving to Branch Secretary in 2010. I left the BBC in 2017, moving to the Western Freelance Branch in RPD.

I work in Television Production but I also have experience and understanding of the issues faced by other workplaces and roles. I have supported a number of member’s personal cases and been involved in negotiation and consultation with employers, as well as union campaigns. I have completed many union training courses over the years, including a TUC Diploma in Employment Law and a Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring organised by the Cardiff Branch/Cult Cymru.

My Bectu experience:

My Bectu experience includes a two-and-a-half term on the Bectu NEC. The NEC was disbanded at the beginning of 2017, owing to the merger with Prospect. Its members formed the SEC – I left the committee when I took redundancy from the BBC in June 2017.

I was a representative for RPD on the SEC 2021-2023; I was the Western Freelance Branch Secretary and the Vice-Chair of the Women’s Committee and have attended the TUC, Women’s TUC and UNIMEI in Lisbon on behalf of the Union. I have enjoyed the challenge of the many different roles I have undertaken and always had a good rapport with the colleagues I’ve worked with.

I have a good understanding of the issues facing film and TV production, having worked in the industry for a long time, but I also strive for an awareness of the difficulties faced by the other divisions in the Sector. I feel my membership of two Divisions (BBC and RPD), my experience across many roles and my time on the SEC, will allow me to continue to make a strong contribution to the business of the committee and the success of the Sector in these challenging times.

Sean O’Malley (Outside Broadcasting)

Our members have faced over five years of unprecedented and unrelenting challenges, from Covid upturning the world to the SAG AFTRA strikes, barriers to touring across Europe and cutbacks across the arts and creative sectors, no part of our diverse and vibrant sector has been unaffected.

Bectu has a unique place and name within the sector, no other union has the breadth of experience in representing freelancers, no other union has the lobbying experience, no other union has the recognition we have. With a new government in power, and the creative sector at a crossroads, never has it been more important that we keep our union in the vanguard, as we adapt and work to increase our membership in all workplaces making sure our members interests are at the heart of everything we do.

The Government recognises the value of our industries, nearly £130 billion to the UK economy, and has us at the heart of its growth and industrial strategy. Why? Because we are good at what we do. The creative industries continue to be a cornerstone of the UK’s softpower, with our distinct Nations and Regions offering creative ambition and unique storytelling that is admired and respected across the world.

This is why I am standing to be Sector President; I am proud of what we achieve, proud to be a part of this dynamic and imaginative workforce and I want to help our members have the respect, dignity and recognition they deserve. Too often our dedication and loyalty are taken for granted, too often we are unjustly exploited. That is why we continue to need a strong union where members, reps and Officials are fully supported and respected. We must also recognise that as a union we need to change, grow and adapt and it is in that spirit I am putting myself forward.

My first union card was a NATTKE cardboard wallet when I was working as a stagehand and flyman in a hemp theatre. Times have changed and I have since been fortunate to work in the live events sector touring with bands such as Take That. I subsequently moved into television taking a staff job at MTV. After a few years I returned to freelancing working across almost every conceivable genre and major sports events.

I have been a rep since 2019 first as Secretary of the Sound branch and then involved in helping to establish the Outside Broadcasting branch, where a swell of ground up discontent with stagnant rates, dangerous conditions and long hours motivated freelancers to initiate change. I am currently serving on the LPD committee and have been a member of the SEC since 2021.  Last year I was elected to the Prospect NEC, where I continue to bring the voice of our members across the Bectu Sector.

There are many challenges ahead but there must also be optimism. With a workforce and sector that gets things done, alongside vibrant and growing arts, theatre, fashion, supporting artistes, live events and unrivalled film & television production and broadcasting divisions, a strong, forward looking, engaged union working for its members and branches is more important than ever.

The Camera Branch has updated rate cards available on the website. you can find them on the rates page: RATES.

Bectu is keeping it’s eyes on the current inflationary pressures in the UK economy. Members are, as always encouraged to contribute to the ongoing rates survey so we can effectively track what numbers are being achieved on the ground.

The Camera Branch Annual General Meeting will take place at 11am on Saturday 12th of June, on Zoom – an invitation link will go to members shortly. Agenda here.

This is the meeting where we elect the reps who help to run the Branch and make decisions on policy when it’s not possible to consult the entire membership. The branch is a democracy & it’s important that the committee genuinely represents the membership – so please turn up & vote!

Engagement from members has increased substantially since the lock-down, which is great to see – and we’d like to encourage people to get more involved with representing the interests of the camera department within the union, by standing for election to the committee.

You don’t need any special skills or experience – just the desire to make things better for everyone in the department, and an attitude that says, if there’s a job to be done, it might as well be done by me!

The committee posts that will be elected at the meeting are listed below. Most roles also have people in deputy positions, though there are vacancies. Deputising is a great first step. The committee are all busy working crew-members who volunteer their own time, so don’t let the idea that you’ll be too busy to come to all the meetings put you off – it’s rare for the whole committee to be able to attend every meeting. The deputy position allows for job sharing arrangements also. If you have any questions please contact info@camerabranch.org.uk. The branch usually holds four committee meetings & four general meetings per year. We hope to soon resume live meetings, while retaining an online element for those unable to attend in person.

Posts labelled * are currently vacant, or expected to fall vacant at the AGM – but all posts are up for election, you’re not limited to standing for one that’s empty.

Chair
Vice Chair*
Secretary*
Vice Secretary
Branch Treasurer*

Officers:

Branch Membership (and Recruitment) Officer*
Branch Equality, Inclusion & Diversity Officer
Branch Communications Officer (website, social media)
Branch Climate and Sustainability Officer
Branch Health & Safety Officer*

Branch Training & Standards Representative
London Production Division Representative*
Young Member’s (under 35) Divisional Sub-Committee Representative*

Sector Rapporteurs:

Branch Advertising Representative
Branch Entertainment Representative*
Branch Factual Representative
Branch Film Representative
Branch Low-Budget Representative
Branch Outside Broadcast Representative
Branch TV Drama Representative

Grade Rapporteurs:

Cinematographers Representative
Camera Operators Representative
DITs Representative
Focus Representative
Loaders Representative*
Playback Representative
Script Supervisors Representative
Stills Representative
Trainees Representative

Hope to see you there!

In this two sessions online course, Kate Antoniou, will give an introduction on how to work with and train Trainees during productions.

This course is aimed towards 1st and 2nd ACs, Focus Pullers and other members of camera departments who deal, directly manage and supervise Trainees on film, TV and commercial production sets. The program is split into two sessions over the course of one day.

Maximum participants: 10
Zoom account details will be sent after successful registration directly to the email address provided by the person who wishes to attend.

Date: Saturday, October 10th, 2020
Time: First session 10 am – midday, second session 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Email training@camerabranch.org.uk to register. It is first come, first served and you will be sent a zoom link to participate.

This is an open meeting on the 12th of October at 6.30pm. We will discuss the LGBTQ+ community’s situation in Poland and Camerimage’s response to it. We will also have a talk from the LGBT+ Network at BECTU on ways to make camera more welcoming for LGBTQ+ people. Please register for the meeting with the link below.

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIlcOGqrDwiGd3zpX7PwQrng6WZIUivm7vp

The Camera Branch Equality and Diversity Working Group was concerned with Camerimage’s silence on the Polish Government’s actions against the LGBTQ+ community. We wanted to know the festival’s position, and if it would take any action of support or steps to ensure the safety of LGBTQ+ camera people attending the festival. We will discuss the festival’s response in the meeting. 

The situation in Poland is becoming increasingly dangerous for LGBTQ+ people, with a third of the country declaring itself “LGBTQ+ free” creating LGBTQ+ free zones through local government votes. It is state sanctioned discrimination and scapegoating designed to limit LGBTQ+ people’s human rights as much as possible.

President Duda has called LGBTQ+ rights an “ideology more destructive than communism” And stated that “LGBTQ+ is not people it’s ideology” .

He has signed declarations whose stated purpose is to ban “propagating LGBTQ+ ideology in public institutions.”

He is also the Honorary Patron of Camerimage.

Many members who work through their own limited companies have run up against an issue with furloughing themselves for the PAYE portion of their income, because their accountants have set up an annual scheme rather than a monthly one.

HMRC have clarified their advice to say that these people can furlough themselves as long as their accountant submitted an RTI before 19th March 2020 for income in the 19-20 tax year.

Members who do qualify should speak to their accountant, as it appears it may be necessary to call in to HMRC & over-ride the system manually. We’ll share more information about that when we have it.

The HMRC info is here (scroll down to to the heading ‘Company directors with an annual pay period’): https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

The relevant text says:

Those paid annually are eligible to claim, as long as they meet the relevant conditions. This includes being notified to HMRC on an RTI submission on or before 19 March 2020, which relates to a payment of earnings in the 19/20 tax year. The requirement for there to be payment of earnings in the 19/20 tax year applies for any employee being claimed for under the scheme, irrespective of how frequently they are paid (e.g. weekly, fortnightly or monthly). This will be relevant for those on an annual pay period if the last payment notified to RTI was before 5 April 2019 and no further payments were notified until after 19 March 2020.

An employer can make their claim in anticipation of an imminent payroll run, at the point they run their payroll or after they have run their payroll.

This is the meeting where we elect the reps who help to run the Branch and make decisions on policy when it’s not possible to consult the entire membership. The branch is a democracy & it’s important that the committee genuinely represents the membership – so please turn up & vote!

Engagement from members has increased substantially since the lockdown, which is great to see – and we’d like to encourage people to get more involved with representing the interests of the camera department within the union, by standing for election to the committee.

You don’t need any special skills or experience – just the desire to make things better for everyone in the department, and an attitude that says, if there’s a job to be done, it might as well be done by me!

The committee ‘posts’ that will be elected at the meeting are listed below – if you have any questions about them please contact info@camerabranch.org.uk. The branch usually holds four committee meetings & four general meetings per year, although naturally the current situation has meant a few more meetings than usual. The committee are all busy working crew-members who volunteer their own time, so don’t let the idea that you’ll be too busy to come to all the meetings put you off – it’s rare for the whole committee to be able to attend any meeting. It’s possible to share a post with a deputy to increase the chance that one of you will be able to make it.

Posts labelled * are currently vacant, or expected to fall vacant at the AGM – but all posts are up for election, you’re not limited to standing for one that’s empty.

Chair
Vice Chair
Secretary*
Vice Secretary
Branch Treasurer*

Officers:

Branch Membership (and Recruitment) Officer
Branch Equality, Inclusion & Diversity Officer
Branch Communications Officer (website, social media) *
Branch Climate and Sustainability Officer
Branch Health & Safety Officer*

Branch Training & Standards Representative*
London Production Division Representative*
Young Member’s (under 35) Divisional Sub-Committee Representative

Sector Rapporteurs:

Branch Advertising Representative
Branch Entertainment Representative*
Branch Factual Representative
Branch Film Representative*
Branch Low-Budget Representative
Branch Outside Broadcast Representative
Branch TV Drama Representative

Grade Rapporteurs:

Cinematographers Representative
Camera Operators Representative
DITs Representative
Focus Representative
Loaders Representative
Playback Representative
Script Supervisors Representative
Stills Representative
Trainees Representative

Hope to see you there!

This is from Paul Evans, the BECTU official who looks after all the London Production Division craft branches:

Hi all,

Here’s the briefing that has gone to MP’s, the BFI, the BFC and CIF to help us with our continued lobbying efforts.

Tom Railton, (Bectu/Prospect’s political officer) has been heavily involved with this work. In addition to this, Spencer MacDonald has been talking to the British Film Council and the Head of Bectu Philippa Childs has been involved in discussions with the Creative Industries Federation and the BFI Covid-19 task force.

Yesterday, Philippa took part in another call with the Creative Industries Federation and a couple of Treasury officials. Later this afternoon she has a further call with the BFI Task Force that will involve DCMS officials and Mike Clancy (Prospect General Secretary) also has a call involving different Sectors with BEIS.

We are also inputting data from our surveys to all of these bodies and others to help with getting the message across that more must be done to help freelancers working in the Sector. As you will know, progress appears to be slow but I think we’re possibly expecting more on the SEISS over the next few days, in line with the proposals we’re suggesting in the attached paper.

However even good progress will only potentially solve *some* of the many issues our members are experiencing so we must keep up the pressure.

A reminder too that the Film and TV Charity/BFI Emergency Support Fund (supported by Netflix, the BBC and others) is now open for applications but only between 8-22 April and that the Charity is also offering repayable grants of up to £2k grants for freelancers and that scheme opens on 15 April.

Again, we couldn’t do any of this without the really dedicated feedback loops along with the ideas that have come from our reps and members. Philippa has asked me to pass on her thanks to everyone who is helping us to make this case as loudly as we can…

Once again, the briefing document is here.