UK producer trade group Pact has published a best practice template for working with crew on films budgeted between £1m and £10m.
Recommendations include the strict prohibition of eight consecutive shooting days, with overtime paid for a seventh scheduled shooting day at double the crew member’s hourly rate; a daily rest period of 11 hours each day a crew member works; overtime payable at a crew member’s hourly rate multiplied by the industry standard of 1.5; and accommodation and per diems to be provided if a crew member is sent to work more than 50 miles from the production’s base.
There has never been an agreement for the engagement of crew on films budgeted under £30m. In the UK, crew agreements and rates for major feature films with budgets of £30m or more are governed by the Pact/Bectu Major Motion Picture (MMP) Agreement, first implemented in 2018. Collective agreements also exist in high-end scripted TV.
The non-binding recommendations have been published in a document titled ‘Red Book: Recommended Terms for Engagement of Crew on UK Low Budget Feature Films’.
They have been developed by Pact’s Film Working Group, which is co-chaired by Julie Baines and Nicky Bentham. While the guidelines were developed in discussion with Bectu, the trade union that represents non-performance workers in the creative industries, a formal agreement was unable to be reached between the two organisations.
Screen has contacted Bectu for comment.
Stumbling blocks
A Pact spokesperson told Screen the issues lie in the low-budget nature of independent filmmaking, making it difficult to agree a deal structure similar to the MMP agreement, which was Bectu’s preference.
A statement from Pact said: “Pact’s Film Working Group has had extensive discussions with Bectu about lower budget films but has been unable to reach an agreement. The Red Book therefore provides guidelines for producers, which are intended to be fair, equitable and appropriate for low- budget film productions. Pact hopes that these guidelines will help to ensure that UK-produced, low- budget films can continue to be made in this country. The terms are not mandatory, and rates are not included.”
“Whilst we would have preferred to reach an agreement with Bectu on the terms, the Red Book recommendations are preferable to the current vacuum,” added Max Rumney, Pact deputy CEO and director of legal and business affairs.
“We are committed to ensuring fair and sustainable working conditions for everyone in UK low-budget film production and hope that these terms will have a positive and meaningful impact.
“The Red Book is non-binding guidance only, and individual productions remain responsible for determining terms appropriate to their own circumstances.”
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