Payment for auditions?
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Yesterday an acting acquaintance told me he got paid for auditions he had attended and he claimed this is an equity ruling. He said this only applies to T.V. castings but every casting he had been to via spotlight he was then able to claim £50. I had an audition for The Bill recently which was via spotlight so according to him I can now write to them and claim £50. Has anybody else heard of this because it's news to me?
Covering audition expenses and payment are not the same thing! If the production company are in Liverpool and you are in London it is only fair that you aren't 70 quid out of pocket, but it is hardly payment!
Extras get about £30 for attending a 'casting' but even if the get the job the rate is much less than an actors day rate!
Extras don't go to castings unless it is for more featured work than being a basic 'extra'.
Actors don't get much more salary wise for the same job.
I think it's vastly unfair that actors don't get paid for castings when extras who are being given a bit more to do, do.
Why make it up?? to me it just sounds like a stupid thing to makeup or to lie about me as a person I do not at all see the point in lying but it does seem possible as I had heard of Granada paying me people to attend recalls, but it must depend on one the company and secondly the production as some productions get more money then others so I guess it depends on how many people they decide they want to see and secondly if the have their money in their budget, does that make sense? Or am I rambling again.
lilo xox
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I don't think any company is 'liable' to pay for recalls. Equity does not have any agreement in place that covers commercial/ident casting, BUT there are guidelines covering what Equity believe is 'current practice'.
We need to be very careful about what we start to tell people about what we should and shouldn't be 'entitled' to. Whilst it would be wonderful to be paid for all castings and auditions, the reality is that this is not going to happen. However, recalls are a different matter entirely, and should be paid - but it's up to your Agent to know when to ask and when not to, and Equity's guidelines say that £24 is the starting point, but my Agent doesn't seem to have any problem getting £50 for recalls. If you don't have an Agent, get wise to this reality.
All this info, including guidlelines, agreement rates etc, is posted on Equity's website, so is available for paid up members - yet another really good reason to join!
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And of course, you can claim the travel costs to auditions against tax (unless your expences have been covered)!!
Or in certain circumstances as a 'Travel to Interview' payment from Job Seekers Allowance. Which I found out very recently!
what, !! no way Alan, how can you get that when we are "self employed ?" I would like to see that bit of info looked at closer. wonder if you could back date the claim, lol
You can't backdate a claim but you can claim it. At the Jobcentre you are self employed for tax purposes but employed for Benefits. We are classed as contract workers. So every time we get work we notify the Job Centre and they suspend our benefits only for the term of the work. With a new 'Fast Restart' system you don't have to wait the six weeks again.
I only found this out two weeks ago. But the Equity Benefits helpline is available on Tuesday's and Thursday where you can get more help.
I found that the Benefits people are a lot more understanding and a lot more helpful than they ever were. They even make recommendations on how they can be more helpful. I am delighted with the way they don't look on actors as spongers. I've made friends with the two ladies who are my 'Advisors' at the Job Centre.
If you have no income (or very little) I would suggest to anyone that they get in touch with their nearest office straight away.
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