WOMEN BEHIND THE CAMERA

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The Camera Branch is delighted to support Women Behind The Camera, a showcase for the many women working behind the camera in the UK film and TV industry. Please have read & check out the website:

We want to let you know about an exciting new website that we’ve created, called ‘WOMEN BEHIND THE CAMERA’

https://womenbehindthecamera.co.uk

This has been put together with the intention of highlighting the vast number of women working at every level of the camera department in the UK Film & TV Industry. At one time a very male domain, camera departments can now be truly diverse in terms of gender – some studios are now demanding this equality in crews. We are hoping that as a database, this website will help Directors of Photography, Producers & Directors to put together camera crews that are genuinely 50 / 50 male/female…..not just the token woman as trainee or central loader!

‘WOMEN BEHIND THE CAMERA’ has been created by three women who are camera operators – still an area where women are very under represented. Lucy Bristow, Ilana Garrard and Agnieszka Szeliga are hoping that by making this female talent more visible, it will encourage and inspire more 1st and 2nd A/Cs to choose camera operating as a career.

In time we hope that this website will become a networking site, a way to pass on work and to publicise events, a research resource ……and more! ‘WBTC’ is not intended as a diary service or agency – if you’re thinking of hiring crew from the website, please contact the individual directly to obtain a recent CV, or look at the IMDB link to assess their level of experience in the film industry.

The list of crew isn’t complete – we are still gathering names each month. We would be really grateful for any help that you can give us to spread the word about ‘WOMEN BEHIND THE CAMERA’.

MANY THANKS.

THE CAMERA BRANCH GUIDE TO THE TV DRAMA AGREEMENT

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The Pact/BECTU TV Drama Agreement has been broadly welcomed by crew, and while it’s not perfect, it has led to significant improvements over the ‘take it or leave it’ conditions of the past.

However it’s a wordy document – not exactly a gripping read – and as a result some crew still aren’t aware of exactly where they stand on certain issues. The Branch gets lots of inquiries relating to differing interpretations of the Agreement, so we’ve produced this ‘plain English’ guide to help members with the most important terms. It’s designed as a smartphone-sized pdf file to cut out & keep download to your phone for easy reference on set – you can find it here: TVDA GUIDE – PHONE.

We recommend saving it to your phone (for iPhone users, ‘Books’ is the best option) so you can refer to it on location even when there’s no signal. If you’re viewing it on a laptop browser it’ll appear to have huge print, so there’s also an A4 ‘leaflet’ version here: TVDA GUIDE A4. 

If there’s anything you think is missing, or if you still have queries about the agreement – please let us know: info@camerabranch.org.uk. The agreement is also due for review, so we want to hear from anyone who’s had problems arising from it, or who has changes they want to suggest. It’s your chance to directly influence negotiations with Pact.

 

General Meeting & Social, Saturday 2nd March

Camera Branch General Meeting, 2nd of March

 

The Camera Branch General Meeting and Spring Social is on Saturday the 2nd of March from 2pm. It’s in The Orchard Room, The Green Man, 36 Riding House Street, Fitzrovia, London. W1W 7EP.

A month before the new financial year, we’ll be starting with some presentations on matters important to your bank account. BECTU Research officer Tony Lennon will update on the ‘Making Tax Digital’ changes that are coming up. Branch Official Sean Kelly shall introduce the auto-enrollment pension scheme that will soon be extending to the self-employed. Our Chair will then focus on rates, including our key tool, the branch Rate Card.

Also, we will have short introductions to some branch projects. We’ll be presenting our Low-budget action plan, our new Script Supervisors Association, a Factual sector survey and a guide to the the TV Drama agreement.

After general updates on the industry, it will be time for general chat, socialising, networking etc. Members get their first drink free (bring your card / number). There will be buffet food on the side. If you could use this eventbrite link to register, that will help us estimate the numbers and provide accordingly.

We can confirm that we will be running a reduced sign up fee on the day for any non-members who would like to join. £7.50 per month for the first year.

You can download a copy of the agenda here. We look forward to seeing you!

Peter Skarratt Seminar (For Script Supervisors)

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The Peter Skarratt Seminar

At short notice a seminar was arranged with renowned 1st Assistant Editor Peter Skarratt who was on a fleeting visit to London. Places were limited due to the intense nature of the Seminar and first priority was given to Peter Skarratt template users & Script Supervisors wishing to trial his templates.

The branch Script Supervisors hope to conduct similar smaller courses for beginners next year. Peter Skarratt has flagged up the possibility of another seminar during the summer next year.

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Peter Skarratt

Peter Skarratt is known for his work as 1st Assistant Editor on The Matrix, Chappie and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. We were privileged to have him conduct a one day seminar/ workshop, demonstrating the formats of his 4 x template system.

Peter devised his digital system when dealing with rushes from 10 different locations in New Zealand on The Lord of the Rings. Since then, Peter’s system has evolved and Script Supervisors in the US, Australia, UK and other countries use his system.

Peter is very supportive of Script Supervisors and explained very clearly how his 4 templates work. We also got an introduction to the new breakdown system he is developing.

After a Q&A session, we rounded off the day chatting over drinks & snacks.

If you’d like to try the system, there is a 90 day free trial. Find out more at http://peterskarratt.com/

Ratecard Meeting

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RATE CARD MEETING Weds 12th Sept at the City Pride pub, 28 Farringdon Lane EC1R 3A. Aim for 7.30pm and the meeting proper will start at 8pm. Open to non-members.

Like last year, we will be asking you to check the Branch Ratecard is an accurate reflection of the real world.

We will also be seeking advice on the best way to obtain accurate data over the coming year and deciding how best to use the data to help members set their rates.

If you are interested in maintaining and improving pay rates, whatever production sector you are in, then this meeting is for you.

Pay-related issues for discussion include:

– Negotiations with PACT on TV drama rates.
– Concerns about overtime for junior grades on Major Motion Pictures.
– Clarifying ‘customary’ Prep & Wrap time for various grades will help standardise this area & which should be accounted for when setting rates.

Whether or not you can make it, don’t forget to regularly put some information into our Rates Survey.All information is welcome, but we could do with more from ‘non-drama’ sectors such as Light entertainment and Factual.

See you on Wednesday 👍

MAJOR MOTION PICTURE AGREEMENT

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The Major Motion Picture Agreement has been in place for feature films with a budget of £30m+ since April this year. It’s due for its first review in 2019 & the union is very keen to get feedback from members, especially if there’s anything about the agreement that isn’t working for them. In particular there has been some criticism that changes in overtime rates have led to a reduction in income for runners & other trainee grades: Spencer MacDonald, the BECTU National Secretary, has written an open letter in response & you can read that here.

If you have feedback about the MMPA please contact either the Branch here or BECTU directly here – thanks.