INDUSTRY NEWS

In the first half of 2021, £3.6bn was spent on HETV and Film in the UK. By comparison, the  spend in the first half of 2019 was £1.6bn. The BFI has estimated that the total spend for 2021 will exceed £5bn.*

The result of this was that crew members were in demand last year!

We've crunched some numbers and the following roles received the most Job Alerts last year for Art Department. Art directors were at the top of the list.

1. Art Director

2. Assistant Art Director

3. Standby Art Director

4. Draftsperson

5. Art Department Assistant

6. Art Department Coordinator

For Set Decoration, there was a huge demand for experienced Production Buyers. The following roles recieved the most Job Alerts. 

1. Production Buyer

2. Assistant Buyer

3. Assistant Set Decorator

4. Petty Cash Buyer

5. Action Prop Buyer

With 2022 predicted to be just as busy, the question is, are there enough crew members to sustain this level of production? We now have almost 500 members listed on the New to the Industry Directories, and with the crew shortage, we think it's more important than ever to help skilled and talented people get a foot in the door. If you're an HoD and would like to provide opportunities for some trainees / work experience / shadowing placements on your current production, then we can help with the application process and provide a diverse range of candidates from all over the UK. Just send us an email if you would like further information on how we can help.

* https://www.bfi.org.uk/industry-data-insights/reports/uk-screen-sector-economy

For anyone who's been in this game for more than a year, you'll be aware that there is a season for the Film and TV industry, with more productions up and running over the summer months. The result is a bit of a lull in jobs over the winter months.

For the first time ever, we've now got some data that confirms this for Art Department and Set Decoration. There was an interesting spike in Job Alerts for Set Dec in June, but otherwise, the two departments were quite consistent.

This is based on the 517 Job Alerts that we sent out to Accredited Filmbase members in 2021. This time next year, we hope to have similar data for Props now that we have launched the Props Department Membership.  

A report by the  Institute for Fiscal Studies says that "an individual with a salary income of £30,000 in April 2021 (and post-tax income of £24,060) would need to see nominal wage growth of 7.1% to April 2022 to maintain the same standard of living given the forecast 5% annual inflation rate.”

Off the back of this, Bectu are asking for feedback on the rates cards. If you'd like to feedback, you can do so by filling in this form. The Art Department branch will also do a rates survey next year in preparation for the next issue of the rate card. 

IATSE members have ratified the new agreements with the AMPTP. The voting system is based on an electoral college style system, where bigger locals have a higher proportion of the vote. There was a 56% vote in favour of ratifying the agreements. However, the popular vote was even closer at 52% yes. Many of the IATSE members appear to be dissatisfied with the terms of the new agreement, and it will be interesting to see what is renegotiated in 3 years time when the agreements are due for renewal. 

https://iatse.net/iatse-members-ratify-contracts-with-producers-studios-and-streaming-services/

On Sunday 17th October, less than 24 hours before the IATSE strike was due to start, IATSE members were told an agreement had been reached between IATSE and the AMPTP and that the strike would be called off. The Art Director's Guild told members that 'our priorities have been addressed' in the agreement. However, the agreement must now be ratified by the IATSE members and it is not clear that they will do this.

More details will follow in the next few days. 

The Bectu Art Department is holding a branch meeting on Monday the 18th October at 8pm via Zoom. Click on the link to join.

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81682805997
Meeting ID: 816 8280 5997 

We will be updating members on Bectu-Pact Negotiations and fielding questions about IATSE and how we can create a strong branch together.  Come along with all your questions and the Art Department Committee will do their best to answer them.

Agenda: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U540P98Wan2CCeRjq_od3ChFPIwKM7YJLbxjP_fSvwA/edit?usp=sharing

Minutes from the last Branch Meeting: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xyHCoIgZXOIf1sKJWce8YDTAV3d3gTyinlAjRHDFKK4/edit?usp=sharing

If IATSE and the AMPTP can not agree terms this week, then a strike will commence from the 18th October, 12:01am (PDT) (5:01am in the UK).

Any productions in the UK that are produced under the Basic Agreement or the Area Standards Agreement Productions will be affected if they have employed US IATSE members. (This generally be anything produced by the large studios) Those IATSE crew members will have to stand down for the duration of the strike. 

This is the most recent issue of the Basic agreement.

And the Area standards agreement. 

In light of the recent IATSE strike vote, and the current contract negotiations happening in this country, the Bectu Art Department Committee are holding a branch meeting. Members and non members welcome. If you have any questions about the potential US strike or the negotiations here, this is a good opportunity to find out more and tell Bectu what you want. 

Bectu Art Department Branch Meeting

Monday 18th October 8.00pm

A zoom link will be sent out before the meeting.

IATSE have just announced the result of the strike vote that was held over the weekend. 

90% of the eligible IATSE members voted, and 98% of these ballots cast were in support of a strike.

Click for more information from IATSE.

Please see the Filmbase guidance pages within your members section for background information. 

The members of the 13 IATSE locals, as listed below, will be asked to vote on whether to authorise a strike at the end of this week. The vote will run from Friday morning to Sunday evening, with the result expected to be announced to the AMPTP on Monday the 4th October. If a strike is authorised, it could affect 450 productions in North America. It could also effect UK productions if they have members of the 13 IATSE locals on their crew. Further information can be found in the guidance pages of the members section.

The 13 branches are:

IATSE Local 600 International Cinematographers Guild

IATSE Local 700 Motion Picture Editors Guild

IATSE Local 729 Motion Picture Set Painters & Sign Writers

IATSE Local 80 Motion Picture Studio Grips

IATSE Local 706 Make-up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild

IATSE Local 44 Affiliated Property Craftspersons

IATSE Local 800 Art Directors Guild

IATSE Local 892 Costume Designers Guild

IATSE Local 705 Motion Picture Costumers

IATSE Local 695 Production Sound Technicians, Television Engineers, Video Assist Technicians and Studio Projectionists

IATSE Local 728 Motion Picture Studio Electrical Lighting Techs.

IATSE Local 871 Script Supv/Continuity Coord, Accountants, & Allied Prod Spec Guild

IATSE Local 884 Motion Picture Studio Teachers and Welfare Workers