Personal Managers Association
From Cathy Sweet, Equity
Dear Agents,
You may be aware that Equity has sought legal advice regarding the exclusivity provisions your clients are being asked to agree to. Our solicitors need further information on the practice of these provisions and examples of the detrimental impact this is having on actors. If you have any clients who have worked on or are working on any Netflix productions and been asked to agree to exclusivity provisions â please could you take the time to complete this short survey. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/7XNCFDT (Please note that you do not have to answer all questions – only which are relevant to you).
We’re using Survey Monkey as it’s totally anonymous so any information you’re able to share will not name you, your company or your client.
You will see from the questions set out in the link but all of below are relevant and will help the cause;
– Examples of having to turn jobs down because the exclusivity and option language was too restrictive.
– Examples of not being able to get your Actors other meetings because declaring their exclusivity is too difficult/ complicated for other productions to work with.
– Going to Netflix’s for clearance when your client is under options and exclusive terms and either refusing to give it, even though it’s outside their production window, or taking such a long time to respond it has put the other offer in jeopardy.
– Examples of when you have been unable to negotiate any carve out for British television (for example) or similar, making the terms so onerous it is impossible to obtain significant work for your client’s gaps.
These are all just examples, anything around these ideas is helpful at this stage.
Thank you for taking the time â this will really assist in the negotiations going forward. The deadline to complete the survey is noon Thursday the 13th of December.
Any questions please do get in touch with me.
Many thanks
Best regards
Cathy
CATHY SWEET
Television and Audio Organiser
Direct line â 020 7670 0253
Mobile: 07912341525