Producer or actor, director or make-up artist; everyone will soon be speaking the same language

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21 January 2023

Producer or actor, director or make-up artist; everyone will soon be speaking the same language

Photo: fairPACCT

Creating a shared basis that workers and clients can refer to when making agreements and when complying with agreements made is high on the agenda of the chain table film/AV. Special attention was therefore given to compiling a framework of terms, which by now already includes more than 250 terms; from “liability” to “sixth and seventh days.” Doreen Boonekamp, independent chair of the chain table, explained the importance of the conceptual framework and how the working group got to work on this comprehensive task:

Learning to speak the same language

Because of the lead time, complexity and labor intensity, the production process of feature films, animation films, documentaries, innovative media productions and series involves many different people with different specialties. These specialties involve the necessary, often industry-specific, concepts. Added to this is the fact that funding for productions is project-based and virtually everyone is self-employed. That means new agreements for each production and thus renegotiation. Currently, terms often still have varying interpretations. This causes misunderstandings and delays in negotiating (assignment) agreements and performing work. A framework of terms will soon enable workers, clients and employers to speak the same language, making it easier to reach unambiguous agreements.

Togetherness in the industry increased

The working group started with a rough list compiled from contributed terms including descriptions by all chain table participants. A split was first made between general concepts and concepts with valuation. In the first phase, which runs through Feb. 23, the working group is focusing on creating a general glossary of terms. Chain table participants often gave different descriptions for the same terms; the working group reformulated these neutrally. In this way, the terms will soon be useful to all disciplines rather than to one specific profession. The chain table participants realize that the outcome of the chain table is important to the entire subsector. The need and interest for improvement is very high. This is also noticeable in the energy, time and attention that all participants put into this process. The collaboration and togetherness within the entire audiovisual production sector has received a huge boost during the corona pandemic and with developments in the audiovisual landscape. That is characteristic of this chain table.

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