Reality Fights Back… Remember where you were.
January 23, 2009
Further to my post of last week, this week a long running David / Golliath story just got wrapped up with a settlement of over $4M dollars being paid to Reality staffers for just the sorts of practaces I mentioned in last week’s blog.
The class action law-suit was brought by a bunch of reality crews against FOX, CBS and ABC for the illegal failure to pay cash due for working overtime, working through meals and at weekends.
The repercussions of this decision to settle are already beginning to have an impact… a memo went around the office yesterday instructing the crew on the show I’m running now about the company’s (sudden) decision to adhere to several ’newly implimented industry standards’. And then just this morning - amazingly - a timecard turned up on my desk with a note to “please fill in hours worked accurately and fully” for the first time in my career.
Read this story…
http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/01/reality-staffers-win-class-action-lawsuit.html
I’ll let you know as soon as I hear any more news from the front. (Or if this gets swept under the carpet).
I have recently been offered to do a reality tv show. What should I look for in the Deal Memo and be sure I add if it’s not there? Is there anything you feel I should know about the Deal Memo that would ensure I receive the best deal?
Thank you for your time.
LF
Hi there LF,
Great! Glad you’ve been offered to do a show. Come on in, the water’s lovely… once you’re in.
Deal Memos - what to look for.
First I want to say that I’ve only been getting deal memos regularly within the last six months - before this they simply were not standard. This is a step in the right direction.
1) Make sure you get it/sign it BEFORE you start work.
2) Your RATE and TITLE are the primary reasons for his document. Make sure both are clear and that you’re happy.
3) NEGOTIATE if you’re not happy - it’s ok - it’s business - they can always say ‘no’.
4) Most importantly - list your OUT DATE. If you want to add a penalty for going beyond that date you can - but you won’t make any friends!
Apart from that - you’re in reality TV - and like I said in the blog - we’re not unionized - so just be open and honest with your producers about what is expected of you, and feel free to be tell them what you feel is fair. (I recently had a discussion where I made it clear that just because the executives feel they have to stay at the office until 8.30 every night to prove they’re working I don’t feel I have to. They took it well - could have gone the other way though.)
Good luck with it!
I have always had to sign a deal memo, but never had to log my hours. It has been my experience that the line producer filled out time cards for us. I can remember on lots of productions signing time cards ahead of time, and turning them in only to be filled in by the LP. I never saw that time card again, nor did I get a copy of it either. It’s long over due that these production houses take responsibility for getting producers and other workers at a discounted rate and not having to answer to any sort of big brother. I mean those poor PA’s that are making 100 bucks a day and logging in 15 hours or more!!??
As a PM, I ask the crew to let me know their wrap times. I trust them because I’ve worked with them often and would never dare not pay them their full overtime.
That said, I often have to ask everyone to cut their rates for our shows because our shows would literally not be possible to make without that. That goes for me as well before you ask!!
The o/t though is only for cam and sound though, PA’s like PM’s work as muh as they’re needed.
In answer to your question L F, I would ask them directly what their policy is on time off in lieu so you can ensure you get at least one day back from your weekend to catch up on well needed sleep etc.
I’d also them whether they reimburse for phone expenses so you’re not left out of pocket
I’d also ask them straight out what the schedule is like and whether it is set so you can get an idea of what they’re asking of you.
Eventually you will get the hang of knowing whether a production is likely to be a nightmare or not.
My usual rule is, if they tell me in the interview that the budget and schedule are ‘a bit tight’, that usually means they already know it doesn’t work and the team will be expected to kill themselves on the show to bring it in.
Hope this helps!
p.s. reality producer, I wonder if we know each other - my being US & UK reality too….
Thought you might find this interesting as a follow up to the exploitative hours in reality programming:
http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/2009/03/fremantle_us_faces_exstaff_lawsuit.html?tmcsTrackingInfo=m8sHaZxU9YipqISg79vM0×1i-26oyw3n5Fc5BPPJoEO51R0AnlvHO-Kq-P-aqQ6LtLT7VbXuK27
I have never been asked to fill out my actual hours. The last show I worked I never received a deal memo. My rate get’s crunched every year. Last year I did a show for my regular rate! I though, “Yeah! I’m not effected by the recession!” Nope… I soon found out it was in 1/2 the time. I recently got offered 1/2 my rate to do a 1 hr show in 1/3 the time. My jaw almost hit the floor but working in reality gives you get a poker face.
Come on people! it’s trash because no one want to pay, they hire last season’s PA to write…. I mean “produce” the show. The other sad fact is that most of the network executives all have Communications degrees. When I went to college this degree had nothing to do with art or writing and was the easiest degree to get in the entire university. The networks have become a big frat party, it’s sad but true.
Maybe I should put keg stand expect on my resume? Get it together TV industry peeps or you’ll face the same fate the music industry did…