Latest news with #PaulFleming
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Equity responds to Trump's film tariff and says it is ‘industrial action ready'
The leader of performing arts and entertainment union Equity said the threat from Donald Trump's proposed 100% tariff on international films will not lead to a change in their 'demands'. General secretary Paul Fleming said the body is 'industrial action ready' during the trade union's annual conference in Londonderry on Saturday. The union has put forward a claim for better pay, as well as regulation around the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) from the UK screen sector trade body, Pact. 'Trump's threat of tariffs on film was met with hysteria from producers, and sent Netflix's share price tumbling', Mr Fleming said at a speech during the conference. 'It revealed the fragility of our own industry – how it is more dependent on cash from the US than strategy from the UK. 'We're not changing our approach or our demands. The message is simple: we have put in the most ambitious claims for our TV and film agreements in a generation. 'Our union is industrial action ready. On dignity at work, on royalties, on artificial intelligence, on casting, and on pay: Pact and the streamers need to deliver.' Pact, Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television, is the UK screen sector trade body for independent production and distribution companies. Mr Fleming said: 'Our members will not wait for a global stability which will not come, or a government strategy which doesn't exist to save them. 'Our claims stand, tariff or no tariff, inflation high or low: Pact and the streamers need to meet their ambition, they don't have a choice.' Also at the conference, members passed a motion to campaign to save Scottish soap River City after BBC Scotland announced it would be axing the drama in 2026. Earlier in the month, Mr Trump said he had authorised the Department of Commerce and the Office of the US Trade Representative to impose a 100% tariff 'on any and all movies coming into our country that are produced in foreign lands'. Tariffs are taxes charged on goods imported from other countries. It is not clear how a tariff on international productions could be implemented and whether such a tariff would also apply to American film companies producing films abroad.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Equity responds to Trump's film tariff and says it is ‘industrial action ready'
The leader of performing arts and entertainment union Equity said the threat from Donald Trump's proposed 100% tariff on international films will not lead to a change in their 'demands'. General secretary Paul Fleming said the body is 'industrial action ready' during the trade union's annual conference in Londonderry on Saturday. The union has put forward a claim for better pay, as well as regulation around the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) from the UK screen sector trade body, Pact. 'Trump's threat of tariffs on film was met with hysteria from producers, and sent Netflix's share price tumbling', Mr Fleming said at a speech during the conference. 'It revealed the fragility of our own industry – how it is more dependent on cash from the US than strategy from the UK. 'We're not changing our approach or our demands. The message is simple: we have put in the most ambitious claims for our TV and film agreements in a generation. 'Our union is industrial action ready. On dignity at work, on royalties, on artificial intelligence, on casting, and on pay: Pact and the streamers need to deliver.' Pact, Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television, is the UK screen sector trade body for independent production and distribution companies. Mr Fleming said: 'Our members will not wait for a global stability which will not come, or a government strategy which doesn't exist to save them. 'Our claims stand, tariff or no tariff, inflation high or low: Pact and the streamers need to meet their ambition, they don't have a choice.' Also at the conference, members passed a motion to campaign to save Scottish soap River City after BBC Scotland announced it would be axing the drama in 2026. Earlier in the month, Mr Trump said he had authorised the Department of Commerce and the Office of the US Trade Representative to impose a 100% tariff 'on any and all movies coming into our country that are produced in foreign lands'. Tariffs are taxes charged on goods imported from other countries. It is not clear how a tariff on international productions could be implemented and whether such a tariff would also apply to American film companies producing films abroad. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
The Independent
10-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Equity responds to Trump's film tariff and says it is ‘industrial action ready'
The leader of performing arts and entertainment union Equity said the threat from Donald Trump's proposed 100% tariff on international films will not lead to a change in their 'demands'. General secretary Paul Fleming said the body is 'industrial action ready' during the trade union's annual conference in Londonderry on Saturday. The union has put forward a claim for better pay, as well as regulation around the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) from the UK screen sector trade body, Pact. 'Trump's threat of tariffs on film was met with hysteria from producers, and sent Netflix's share price tumbling', Mr Fleming said at a speech during the conference. 'It revealed the fragility of our own industry – how it is more dependent on cash from the US than strategy from the UK. 'We're not changing our approach or our demands. The message is simple: we have put in the most ambitious claims for our TV and film agreements in a generation. 'Our union is industrial action ready. On dignity at work, on royalties, on artificial intelligence, on casting, and on pay: Pact and the streamers need to deliver.' Pact, Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television, is the UK screen sector trade body for independent production and distribution companies. Mr Fleming said: 'Our members will not wait for a global stability which will not come, or a government strategy which doesn't exist to save them. 'Our claims stand, tariff or no tariff, inflation high or low: Pact and the streamers need to meet their ambition, they don't have a choice.' Also at the conference, members passed a motion to campaign to save Scottish soap River City after BBC Scotland announced it would be axing the drama in 2026. Earlier in the month, Mr Trump said he had authorised the Department of Commerce and the Office of the US Trade Representative to impose a 100% tariff 'on any and all movies coming into our country that are produced in foreign lands'. Tariffs are taxes charged on goods imported from other countries. It is not clear how a tariff on international productions could be implemented and whether such a tariff would also apply to American film companies producing films abroad.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
British Equity Backs Amendment Attempting To Stop Casting Directories Charge Out-Of-Work Actors Upfront Membership Fees
British actors union Equity has ramped up its public battle with casting directories like Spotlight by backing an amendment in parliament that it says would stop them charging upfront fees to those looking for work. On Tuesday April 29, the House of Lords will start debating amendments to the Employment Rights Bill, one of which Equity says would prevent casting directories like Spotlight – and other recruitment platforms for creatives – from charging upfront membership fees to work-seekers. This specific amendment will likely be heard in a couple of weeks' time. More from Deadline BBC & ITV Fail To Negotiate AI Safeguards In New Contracts With Actors Union Equity But Broadcasters Say Provisions "Remain Firmly On The Table" Equity & BBC Ink New Agreement Increasing Pay For Actors & Introducing Regulations On Minors And Royalties Payments Equity Calls On Government Regulator To Punish Mad Dog Casting After Agency Collapsed Owing Creditors $2M Equity General Secretary Paul Fleming said: 'This is an important step towards ending the tax on hope for performers and creatives who have for too long faced unfair financial barriers to seeking work. If successful, this amendment would pave the way to end upfront fees for casting directories and creative recruitment platforms for good. ' Supported by a specialist employment rights lawyer, the amendment will be laid down by the Earl of Clancarty Nicholas Trench, a self-employed artist and writer who sits in the House of Lords. The amendment specifically relates to the performing arts and entertainment sectors and calls to 'repeal the rights of employment agencies to charge work-seekers for inclusion of information about them in a publication.' When presented with Equity's plan, Spotlight, which has been singled out by Equity and is also facing legal action from the union, pushed firmly back on the notion that it is behaving improperly and pointed out that it has been invited to discuss the amendment with Clancarty and others. 'Spotlight is not an employment agency, and our subscriptions are not upfront fees – just like Equity's dues,' said Spotlight CEO Matt Hood. 'Spotlight is confident the High Court will reach this conclusion in the coming months.' Hood added: 'We are working with Peers and MPs across political parties, and Ministers and civil servants in multiple departments, on a variety of subjects that will have a real impact on UK performers and the wider industry, including performers' rights, AI, welfare & opportunities for child performers, work in the EU, and safeguarding actors' self-employed status.' Currently making its way through the House of Lords, the Employment Rights Bill is one of the new Labour government's flagship pieces of legislation and deals with areas like working hours, freelance rights and the gig economy, all of which relates to the film and TV industry in some way. Equity has been at war with Spotlight over membership fees for months. The union launched legal action against the well-known directory for 'exploiting its monopoly position in the industry' early last year and Deadline understands this action will be heard in the UK High Court in July. The amendment, we are told, is distinct from the legal action. The practice of charging for membership to directories is illegal in some sectors but not film and TV, Equity says. While UK law allows the likes of Spotlight to charge for membership, it states that a subscription charge should be 'no more than a reasonable estimate of the cost of production.' According to Equity last year, Spotlight had 90,000 members and was earning income in excess of £1.25M ($1.66M) a month. 'It is implausible that this figure represents a reasonable estimate of the costs of production and circulation of the directory,' Equity said last year. Spotlight has previously vowed to fight the legal action while describing Equity's claims last year as 'disingenuous and factually inaccurate.' Best of Deadline Francis Ford Coppola's Career In Photos, From 'Apocalypse Now' To 'The Godfather' Everything We Know About The 'Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' Movie So Far Everything We Know About Netflix's 'The Thursday Murder Club' So Far
The Guardian
03-03-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
UK unions call for action to protect creative industry workers as AI develops
Action is needed to protect workers in creative industries amid huge changes in technology and artificial intelligence, unions have urged. The TUC said there was an urgent need to put in place 'proper guardrails' for workers ranging from artists, writers and journalists to teachers and academics. The union organisation said government proposals for copyright and an AI framework, which are under consultation, needed to go further to protect creative workers. The TUC called for transparency of AI training data to ensure workers know whether their data or image are being used, an opt-in system to protect creative work from commercial data mining unless workers give their permission and consent, and for measures to ensure creative workers are paid fairly for their work when their creative work is used to train AI models. The report also called for an independent regulator to oversee the integration of AI into society and work. The transformative potential of AI was huge, but without adequate regulation, 'rapacious tech bosses' would be able to exploit creative workers and cash in on their work, the TUC warned. Its general secretary, Paul Nowak, said: 'AI has huge transformative potential – and if regulated properly, workers could benefit from the productivity gains created by this technology. 'UK law is simply failing to keep pace with the rapid speed of technological change and proliferation of AI at work. 'Writers, actors, performers, teachers, journalists and other creatives must have a say over how their work and image is used, and they must be paid fairly. 'A new taskforce should be established, bringing together creative workers, unions, technologists and government to manage the risks and maximise the opportunities of AI. 'The government should change direction on current proposals and go further to protect creative workers and safeguard the future of the creative industries. The sector is a jewel in the crown of our economy and vital for growth. 'The clock is ticking. Without proper guardrails put in place, rapacious tech bosses will continue to cash in on creatives' work without their consent.' Paul Fleming, the Equity union's general secretary, said: 'The industrial-scale theft of performers' and artists' work by big tech must stop. 'Equity's groundbreaking TV and film negotiations show that empowering workers can help deal with the challenges of AI. 'The government's proposals undermine an entire industry – bosses and workers alike – and threaten the efficacy of bargained solutions through unquestioning support of big tech. 'The government should embrace this AI manifesto in place of their misguided proposals and recognise that it is people who make our creative industries successful.' Emma Reeves, the chair of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain, said: 'Writers' work is already being stolen on an industrial scale to train AI systems, without permission or payment – infringing 300-year-old copyright protections. 'Without stronger protections for writers, big tech could be allowed to take what they like, when they like, without any requirement to share the profits with writers or other creators. 'This will not only harm creators themselves, but will likely deal a serious blow to the emerging AI market and harm the creative industries too. Alternatively, the voluntary licensing of work for AI training offers a potential for growth.' Peter Kyle, the secretary of state for science, innovation, and technology, said: 'Securing Britain's future as an AI leader and safeguarding the rights and rewards of people at work must go hand in hand as we navigate the complex and challenging technological revolution facing us all. 'Our consultation into AI and copyright closed this week and we are now considering the full range of the thousands of responses we have received. 'Let me be absolutely clear – no changes will be considered unless I am completely satisfied that we are delivering a solution which works for creators. That is my firm red line.'
