It’s an agreement made between Bectu (the media and entertainment freelancers' union) and PACT (the producer’s union) to apply a set of terms and conditions to all contracts for feature film productions over £30m. Singular productions (not series) for streaming services are now included within the agreement as well.
The agreement was implemented in April 2018 and since then, contracts for the Art Dept on films over £30m have included the agreed terms.

The full MMP agreement can be downloaded directly from Bectu here.

As a result of the agreement, many conditions were improved for shooting and off set crew. However, for the Props Department, a significant impact of the agreement was that working hours are now clearly stated. Previously, contracts had often only specified hours for the shooting crew during principal photography. As a result, the Props Department (along with all off set crew) is now contracted to work 11+1 hours each day. (11 hours work, 1 hour unpaid for lunch)

In the negotiations, the producers acknowledged that this was true for the Art Department and conceded that although the contracts would specify 11+1 hours, the Art Department and Set Dec could continue to work their traditional hours, under what was described as the 'gentleman’s agreement'. The hours for the Props department was not discussed in the same details, however, many Props Masters on the larger budget productions schedule shorter days, for example: 8am - 6pm. This of course, is problematic as it differs to the terms in the employment contract.
In the meantime, the BECTU branch committees have been campaigning to change the contracted hours for the branches defined as 'workshop departments'. Props is included in this. PACT has agreed to discuss this in the next round of negotiations.

The PACT-Bectu UK independent Television Drama Agreement was implemented in 2017. Similar to the MMP Agreement, it was the result of years of negotiations between Bectu (the media and entertainment freelancers' union) and PACT (the producer’s union). It covers a set of terms and conditions for contracts produced by production companies that are members of PACT.

In January 2023 a new version of the Agreement was implemented by all productions who are members of PACT. The larger studios and streamers are also expected to follow the new Agreement. This Agreement was voted in by BECTU members at the end of 2022.

The 2023 PACT-BECTU TV Drama Agreement can be found here.
There is also a comparison document with the 2017 Agreement here.

The Agreement will be regularly reviewed. A team has been set up by the Bectu Art Department Committee to attend the negotiations on behalf of the Art Department.

IATSE is the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. In other words, the union for crew working in film and TV. It is the equivalent of BECTU in this country.

However, it’s set up slightly differently. In the UK, BECTU is split into a London division and a regional division. These BECTU divisions then have branches that represent each film department; Camera, Props, Art Department, Costume etc.

In the States, IATSE is divided into ‘locals’. These are branches that represent different job roles in different areas. If you work as a set decorator, carpenter or propman in LA, you can apply to join the ‘Local 44’ which represents ‘Affiliated Property Craftspersons’ in California.

Where as anyone can join BECTU, and BECTU does not control who can and can't work on any jobs, the situation in America is very different. You have to apply to join IATSE and demonstrate relevant skills in order to be accepted. You can also only work on certain productions if you are an IATSE member. This has advantages and disadvantages. It means that rates are much more highly controlled in the States than in the UK. However, it can be harder to get into the industry and once there, more of a closed shop.

In October 2021, IATSE was in negotiation with the Studios, to improve working conditions for crew:

• 13 Hollywood union branches (known as the Hollywood Locals) united to negotiate better terms with the studios.
• This includes the Locals representing Props Department members.
• On the 4th October 2021, the members of the IATSE Locals, that were involved in the negotiations, were asked to vote on a strike authorisation. 90% of eligible members voted, and 98% of the votes were in favour of strike authorisation.

The main points that the branches were negotiating on were living wages for the lowest paid crew, humane and sustainable working hours, reasonable rest and meal breaks and equitable compensation from streaming projects now that those Studios are profitable.

The latest BECTU Props Department rate cards, for Dressing and Props modellers, can be found, alongside job descriptions, on the Rates page.

If you would like to contact the BECTU Props Branch about the rate card, you can email them on thepropsbranch@gmail.com.

IR35 is used to describe tax legislation. It was set up to prevent tax avoidance by a) workers who are supplying services through a LTD company, and b) the companies who hire the workers. For a film or TV engagement, if a worker is said to fall 'inside IR35', then they should be employed directly by the production company and pay income tax and NI as an employee (PAYE). If the worker is 'outside' of the IR35 legislation, then they can operate through their own LTD company and loan themselves out to the production company, or operate as a sole trader (self employed).

The reason that IR35 has moved into the Production companies’ consciousness is because of a change of tax responsibility. Previously, if a worker was found to be working under an incorrect employment status (i.e. Self-employed or LTD when the worker should be employed), the worker was liable for the unpaid tax. In April 2021 the tax liability became the Production Companies’ responsibility.

HMRC produces a list of film and TV grades, called the Film, Television and Production Industry Guidance notes Appendix 1. The list states which roles are believed to be ‘accepted self-employed grades’ and are used by production accountants when checking a crew member’s employment status. The appendix can be found on the HMRC website here. Please note that there is an *asterix on the list that applies to the information on this HMRC webpage.

HMRC have always stated that the list of grades is a guide and is not definitive. There are many further factors that can be used when deciding whether a worker should be engaged as an employee or not. The four main tests of employment status are: Supervision, Mutuality of Obligation, Substitution and Multiple Engagers. Further indicators are: Substantial supply of equipment, working away from the client’s premises, and running a business in your own right.

You can also use an HMRC tool called CEST (Check Employment Status for Tax) to check your correct tax status. More details are below.

HMRC has an ‘Employment status for tax’ checker that you can use to see if these indicators apply to you. If you belief that you should be classified as outside IR35, even though you are not on the list, you can present the findings of the online checker to the production accountant as evidence that you should not be classed as an employee.

HMRC say that they "will stand by all determinations given by the tool, as long as the information you give remains accurate". This means that if the CEST classifies you as outside of IR35 (Self employed / Ltd) then the production should follow this result in assigning your tax status.

It is also becoming more common for production companies to use their own tax status test. If you take a production company test and receive a different result to the CEST test, you should ask to see the answers that the production company put in for you. If you disagree with the answers, then you should provide your CEST test results to the production company and go through the answers with the Accounts department.

If the production still won't accept your self employed / LTD status and you believe you have been allocated the wrong tax status, then you should contact the BECTU Props Department Committee with the results of your CEST test, the production company test and your job title. BECTU are currently in a dialogue with HMRC to add more job titles to the appendix.

HMRC has always said that "This list is not exhaustive. If the individual is not on this list it does not necessarily mean they are an employee." As explained above, if you are not on the list, you should do the CEST test and present the results to production. If they will not stand by the results, then you can discuss this with your BECTU officials.