Screen Producers Australia enhance services to industry
Screen Producers Australia will enhance its industry services, including a series of precedent template agreements for contracting and a system allowing access to recently negotiated industry agreements.
The announcement:
Screen Producers Australia has announced a significantly enhanced suite of services to the industry including a series of new precedent template agreements for contracting and a new system permitting access for the first time to recently renegotiated key industrial agreements.
“For more than 30 years Screen Producers Australia has negotiated the benchmark industrial and rights agreements for the benefit of the whole Australian screen content industry,” said Executive Director Matthew Deaner. “We feel it is time for those who are not currently members to be able to access these agreements and we have therefore devised an easy to use licence system for all.”
The initiative is being driven by Screen Producers Australia’s recently appointed Manager, Business and Legal Affairs, Mark Donaldson, who, as part of the organisation’s continued focus on member benefits, along with Owen Johnston, Manager Industrial and Commercial Affairs and Matthew Hancock, Manager, Strategy and Insight, is available to offer commercial and industrial advice to members.
The licensing system provides access to the latest agreements with the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) for performers on feature films – Actors Feature Film Collective Agreement (AFFCA), for performers on television – Actors Television Programs Agreement (ATPA) and Australian Television Repeats and Residuals Agreement (ATRRA), and for crew on both feature film and television – the Motion Picture Production Collective Agreement (MPPCA).
Also included is access to agreements with the Australian Writers’ Guild (AWG) covering the engagement of writers for television – Series and Serials Agreement (SASA), Mini-series and Telemovies Agreement (MATA) and Children’s Television Agreement (CTA).
Mr Deaner said that the suite of production ready documents has also expanded to include precedent contract templates that are compatible with both Screen Producers Australia’s negotiated agreements and standard industry practice. A total of 14 new precedent contracts including a Book Option Agreement, Writer’s Option and Assignment Agreement, Director’s Agreement, Script Editor’s Agreement, Composers Agreement and Producer’s Agreement are available under the licensing arrangement.
“We are seeking to make doing business less onerous for Australian screen producers by providing them with these essential tools, allowing them to focus their attention on the things that matter – getting the best possible Australian stories up on the screen, through their creativity and business acumen,” Mr Deaner said.
Mr Deaner said that as well as the key areas of industrial and commercial affairs, Screen Producers Australia’s enhanced suite of member benefits includes access to its program of strategic and targeted networking opportunities throughout the year, and priority and discounted ticketing to the annual Screen Forever conference, and other events such as Business Classes and the popular Breakfast Briefings.
Additional information for producers
Producers who are not currently members will be able to access the new precedent contract templates for a $1,000 licence fee with a limit of one project per licence.
To access the negotiated agreements (AFFCA, ATPA, ATRRA, CTA, MPPCA, SASA, MATA etc) when a project is fully financed, producers who are not currently members will pay a licence fee of $1,000 or 0.25% of the budget (whichever is more) due on commencement of principal photography. There is a limit of one licence per project.
These single-project licensees will only have access to the agreements relevant to the licensed project (i.e. negotiated agreements for television or negotiated agreements for feature film) and will not have access to the full range of services members receive such as industrial and commercial advice, assistance in union disputes and mediation.
Copyright of the precedent contract templates is owned by Screen Producers Australia. Copyright of the negotiated agreements is owned jointly by Screen Producers Australia and relevant associated party.
Source: Tracey Mair, TM Publicity
