SYNOPSIS

With an invited panel of specialists from Equity UK, Spotlight UK, the British Film Commission and the worlds of casting and agent-ing this session is all about today’s industry in the UK. If you want to know how it fits together, what is different or new from working in LA or where you can find information or support if you are thinking of heading back to the UK, coming over to work for the first time or thinking of getting a project off the ground in Britain, then this session is for you. Bring your questions and get some answers. Moderated by Equity General Secretary, Christine Payne, this is a rare opportunity to get real information from the insiders. 

Event co-sponsored by Equity UK, Spotlight UK and the SAG Foundation.

PANELISTS BIOS

John Barclay, Head of Recorded Media, Equity UK
John has worked at Equity since 1991 and his current position covers all areas of the audio visual industries (film, TV, radio, games, internet, TV and radio commercials) John leads all negotiations with all the employers’ groups: BBC, ITV, Chanel 4, 5, BSKYB, Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT) S4C, IPA etc. Equity has long-standing agreements with all of these, in some cases going back as far as 1948. When John started at Equity there were effectively 4 television channels and the film industry could only be consumed via a TV set, cinema screen and eventually VHS tapes. The industry is now unrecognisable from then and will again be unrecognisable in 3 years’ time. Equity’s challenge is to negotiate modern agreements that recognise and identify new means of consuming audio-visual productions across a plethora of new platform delivery systems. The nature of the business has changed enormously from being insular to one of international co-productions. UK Equity cannot operate in isolation and John works closely with our colleagues in SAG-AFTRA, American Equity, ACTRA and Australian and New Zealand Equity.

Pippa Harrison
Pippa is Head of Casting at Spotlight where her work involves liaising with the UK’s top Agents & Casting Directors and Performers. Pippa is a regular speaker & guest presenter on the casting industry (London Film Festival, Dublin Film Festival, Edinburgh Festival). Prior to Spotlight Pippa ran Union Dance Company, The International Theatre Forum, The Tristan Bates Theatre and is a founder member of Fecund Theatre & Film Projects. www.spotlight.com

Kattie Kotok, Executive Vice President of US Production for the British Film Commission (BFC)
Kattie leads the effort in the US to build upon the excellent levels of international productions coming into the UK and ensure the US film & television industry continues to utilize the UK's world-class production infrastructure and talent base. Kattie works with studios, producers, agencies and executives to identify projects best suited for the UK and fully support them throughout their time in Britain. Kattie functions as a key liaison between the UK and US film & television industries on a number of other levels by participating on panels, attending festivals/markets and partnering with relevant organizations to support the BFC's mission. Prior to her work at the BFC, Kattie spent nine years working with National Geographic Films (NGF) as Vice President of Acquisitions and Production. Kattie’s early film career included working in development at Fox Searchlight Pictures and in marketing at Paramount Pictures.She began her professional career in Chicago as a consultant with Andersen Consulting after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia. www.britishfilmcommission.org.uk

Moderater: Christine Payne, Equity UK General Secretary
In November 2005 Christine was elected General Secretary of Equity and has recently been re-elected unopposed for a third five year term. Christine joined Equity in 1979 as an Organising Assistant in the Recorded Media (RM) department. In 1982 she became the Television Commercials Organiser and negotiated the first agreement covering the use of commercials on TVAM and Channel 4. In 1991 she took over as the Assistant General Secretary (RM) and negotiated the first collective agreements to cover the use of television programmes on UK cable and satellite channels. In 1999 she took over as Assistant General Secretary of the Live Performance department and led theatre negotiations covering west end, subsidised repertory, small scale and commercial theatre. Christine is on the PPL Performer and Main Boards and is a member of the Boards of Skillset and the Educational Recording Agency. She is a Vice-President and Treasurer of the FIA (Federation of International Artists). She is Chair of the Creative Coalition Campaign formed in August 2009 to address the threat that online copyright infringement, including illegal file-sharing, presents to future content creation and jobs in the creative industries. She is a member of the TUC General Council

LIVESTREAM & ARCHIVE

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If you would like to attend this event in person you must RSVP as seats are limited.