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EXCLUSIVE: We’ve learned that the crew of Syfy’s competition reality series Face Off walked off the job yesterday in an effort to obtain a contract with IATSE, the union that represents film and TV crew members. Production on the series’ upcoming second season remained dark today. Syfy had no comment but Gemini 3, the company that employs the crew on the show, issued the following statement in response to our inquiry: “Gemini 3 is in the process of negotiating with IATSE in order to work out a resolution.” Face Off, which features up-and-coming SFX makeup artists competing in a series of challenges, was renewed in March after averaging 1.4 million viewers in its first season. Dwight D. Smith and Michael Agbabian of Mission Control are executive producing. The process of unionizing reality series has been slow and not always smooth. The biggest skirmish came last fall, when the crew of NBC’s The Biggest Loser went on strike for two weeks until its producers reached a labor agreement with IATSE.
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They should move this show to NBC. It’s incredible.
Agreed. It’s a good show. Bummer that it may go away…
Isn’t it funny that Local 706 is striking this show and an academy award winning 706 member is renting the warehouse space to production where the show shoots. Wonder if the IATSE organizers know that one.
NO…NBC(No Body Cares), tends to cancel all the innovative shows and just runs the heck out of crap.
Nothing like having those lazy IATSE bums come in and force unionization down our throats. To the crew that walked off – good luck with the pay CUTS.
To the poster who says ‘good luck with the pay CUTS’. Perhaps you don’t realize that when you work on a union show you can qualify for a thing called HEALTH INSURANCE and contributions to a PENSION and a contract that guarantees OVERTIME when worked. Good HEALTH INSURANCE for a family can run up to about $1600 a month, many shows don’t pay OT either.
Congrats to the workers who had the balls to walk out in order to strive for better conditions.
California has labor laws that requires OT paid after 8 straight hours worked. So you do not have be unionized to guarantee OT. Lots of non-union prodcos abide by the law and pay accordingly.
If you are paying $1,600 month for good Health Insurance you should fire your broker.
I have worked in the field of un-scripted TV and often production companies tell you that OT is not paid, and they are rigid about that. Time cards are filled in as ‘worked’ without specific hours noted.
As for the cost of health insurance my comment said ‘good health insurance’ and by good I meant comparable to Motion Picture Health Insurance and the COBRA rate for a family of 4 is around $1600 a month.
The wider point is that TV production companies and even small cable networks can afford to pay for their productions to be Union.
Obviously you are working at rinky-dink companies that love breaking the law. There are lots of companies not doing this and following the law. They just haven’t hired you.
You can get quality health coverage for much less than $1,600. You’re looking at Rolls Royces when you can suffice with a Lexus.
The prodcos can only afford the union payrolls if the networks are increasing their budgets to accommodate – something they rarely do.
It sucks that this company was the target of a strike. I’ve worked for them in the past and was always paid well and treated fairly. They paid overtime after 12 and gave 12 in turnaround time every time I worked. And the pay was about $200 more per day than the union rate. I was able to do a lot with that extra $4,800 per month, including paying for health insurance and investing my own money for my retirement. This was no sweatshop!
If the working conditions are good, why put everyone else’s job in jeopardy? After all, you knew that you were signing up for a non-union job. Now PA’s, producers, wardrobe stylists, art department, actors, editors, medics, etc. are out of work! Why are their livelihoods being held hostage because you took a job when you didn’t agree with the terms?
The rest of the people who work on the show and don’t make $650-$1,000 per day deserve a say in this situation.
Dan Don,
“Lots of non-union prodcos abide by the law and pay accordingly.” Sir, you are wrong. I’ve worked in post for years, and you are flat wrong. Yes, labor laws exist but I live in the real world where labor laws are broken all the time. My salary does not provide me with the resources to take on large production companies in court. I can’t afford the time off of work or the legal fees. Businesses exploit this fact. That’s why IATSE steps in. We’ll shut down work until we get what is fair.
Post? You mean the Spa Job of this industry? You poor thing. 88% of the work force in this country is non-union and they seem to find a way to make it work.
I love the notion that ’tis only “rinky-dink” companies to blame, too. Try BIG money-making, greed monsters… I’m looking at YOU, Nickelodeon! And YOU, Sony!
I worked on three different productions for big companies and most of us were asked to fudge our time sheets in order to keep our jobs. No more. Let’s tell the truth.
Dumb Don, you have no clue. Clearly you’ve never been to a Doctor to have your head checked.
$1600 is nothing for Healthcare. Private Healthcare sucks, it’s too costly and poor service. We want to be part of the Union Group Plan. We are owed that right, we work hard for our employer, they should pay for our Healthcare. That’s why we have trade unions.
Go IATSE!
You do not need $1,600 per month healthcare. You can get by comfortably on much less. If you want to be part of a union health plan then go join a union – but don’t force everyone else to go along with you. No one owes you anything. Such a union mentality. “I’m owed this, I’m owed that”. You’re lucky you have a job. Stop playing cards and get to work. (Oh, wait, the union sent over two people for one job so have that guy do it for you)
what non-union prod cos do this? name them. seriously, i’d LOVE to know which ones pay. because i’ve worked at eight of the top reality prod cos and none of them do.
If insurance costs $1600 a month, you are much better off getting a plan to cover catastrophic costs, then saving the rest for the day to day, if there are no major health concerns. I bet your doctor would LOVE to get cash – he would make more than the insurance company pays and would probably cut you a break.
Hey Jo Ann — Thanks for the BAD ADVICE. Keep it to yourself.
“if there are no major health concerns” — sounds like a typical clueless Conservative who doesn’t believe in science, Healthcare, facts, or that people get sick. We’re NOT INTERESTED in Catastrophic Care, we want real HEALTHCARE, for us and for our families. And yes we do deserve it, we work 12-15 hour days, and for our employers like NBC Universal who have done quite well off our backs, our eyes, hands, feet, bodies. It’s not like they can’t afford to pay us Healthcare. That’s the only way we can get it, through our union. That’s why we have always had trade unions in America, and they are as American as Apple Pie. And we will prevail.
You will not prevail. The show will get shut down. Better to have had a walkout on a show where there are several season under their belt. Hit a fresh show, then it’s likely that the show will end. Hit an established franchise, then there are stakes. This strike was misguided. I feel sorry for these people.
but what if you have a family and you have to get coverage for all of them? or, what if, like me you have a congenital birth defect that puts your monthly cost twice the average?
SAG, AND WAG(wga) take notes. If you do not understand that the capitalist must pay a descent wage then step out on wall street this week.
Dan Don–
You sound like a rabid, gun-tottin’ red state Tea Partiers who actually believes the myths the powerful and wealthy forces spend millions to get you to repeat.
Most post houses and production companies give you a weekly rate, but expect 10 hours per day, computing your base wage per hour as something lower than 1/50 of your week, so the total comes in looking legal.
This is an ethically questionable work around, and there are many other such abuses that stack the cards against labor.
As a producer myself, I do not like to cede control to a union, but the rules are very clear. The contracts I sign assign a cost to everything and it brings a discipline to my line producers that actually saves me moneyt in the long run.
Plus there is employee loyalty and respect. They really put out when it is needed because they want to stay with me. It is a relationship that works both ways…successfully.
Yes, a ten hour work day is the norm so its up to the employee to negotiate an hourly rate that computes what they feel is fair for a ten hour day. This is perfectly legal. If you dont like the rate based on the hours, dont take the gig.
Finally, something good comes out of IATSE. Now if only the rest of SyFy “reality” shows would walk out, maybe they could get back to airing something thats worth a damn.
I bet Universe and Caprica had comparable viewing #s, but they sure weren’t cheap to make.
That is all sy-fy wants now. Cheap shows. In every sense of the word.
I’m a proud member of the Teamsters (I’m a Casting Director). It took a lot of work, and we only organized a handful of years ago, but we are so much better off with a union that has our backs.
Go get em ‘Face Off’ crew! Stand up for what’s right!
I’m 1% and uh… COMCAST IS 99% Rebuild the MIDDLE CLASS AND THE AMERICAN DREAM! Do what’s right Comcast!!!
Parent Comcast (51%)
General Electric (49%)
Divisions NBC, Universal Studios, NBCUniversal Television Group, NBC News, USA Network, Syfy, Chiller, G4, CNBC, MSNBC, NBC.com, MSNBC.com, Current TV (10%), iVillage, PictureBox Movies, Bravo, qubo, Telemundo Television Studios, The Weather Channel, ShopNBC, Hulu, A&E Television Networks (15%)
Hire scabs. Fuck IATSE. THey don’t care about workers. THey just want some money for their shit ass union. There’s thousands of qualified workers out there who would kill for these jobs. Screw you IATSE.
SCABS WILL BE PHOTOGRAPHED AND CALLED OUT.
Don’t ruin your career for a few days work. We will win this strike and scabs will be out on the street with ruined reputations. Do the right thing. Join the Union. Work Union!
Someone else used to blacklist people. Ironic how now it’s the unions that are pulling the same kind of shit. You should all be disgusted with yourselves.
Ah, union intimidation. Who would have thought?
No intimidation at all, it’s a fact of life. If you worked in TV in LA, you would know that you get jobs based on how good you are at your craft, and Who You Know. Your reputation is everything. I would never advise anyone to be so selfish as to benefit from some scab pay on a struck company – struck by your pro colleagues looking to secure a square deal. You may have some day rate in your pocket, but you still will have no Healthcare and you will be known by all as untrustworthy, and therefore un-hireable. Professionals in this town working on all the pro projects are in the unions, IA, DGA, SAG, WGA — don’t ruin your reputation with the pro community that would welcome you as a legit and proud union member.
Great thing about the internet is that your bullying and attempted intimidation is open for all to see. Enjoy wallowing in your mediocrity you bitter person.
It’s a sad day when you say hire scabs! Unions have been around before you where born. They protect our pensions and our salary and health. Film and TV workers work 70 hours a week so you can sit on your ass and watch TV. We all worked hard to get in the union. I will never hire you!
So, you couldn’t get in the union, eh?? Because if you could, you would…and you wouldn’t have such a sour attitude toward IATSE. Let me ask you about your retire plan? Do you have tons of $$ stashed away? Will you have FULL medical, dental, and vision plans for you and your spouse for the rest of your life when you retire?
Well, those of us in IATSE will. Jealous?? Sounds like it to me. It’s always unfair when you’re on the outside looking in…isn’t it? There are strength in numbers. Where one man can’t make a different, thousands can. WORK UNION, LIVE BETTER. -kwest706
When is everyone going to address the truth about anti-union Americans? It’s not that they don’t want fair pay, good insurance and healthy pensions. They are right wingers who don’t want their union dues going to Democratic politicians. The sad thing is… they don’t seem to understand that the REASON their money goes more often to the left is because the left tends to the party fighting in favor of the middle class and blue collar workers. They’ve bought the bull.
Considering Syfy Channel is part of NBC Universal, which is half owned by GE, which made $3 Billion in profit last year and paid $0 in Federal Taxes, I think they owe it to their crew workers to pay for their HEALTHCARE. Thanks to the crew for standing up for a UNION contract. We are with you.
“Workers are People Too”
And “399 and proud”…with ALL that pride, Ms. casting director…what’s your real name?Care to tell us?…didn’t think so.
So is it better that there making little to nothing on strike pay or actually working full time non union, must have been a tough choice.
And everyone wonders why production is running away from Los Angeles in droves. Nice job, guys.
You know how I’ve managed to keep production in the state, not have a unionized crew, and yet not face unionization shut downs? It’s a magic miracle that no big corporation can ever hope to match!
Want to know the secret?
I pay my crew a good wage and benefits, and I build such into the budget I put together before I bring investors in. Plus, doing that means I don’t have to pay travel expenses and logistic support to go film in some state where I could get people to work for peanuts!
Amazing, I know. It’s almost as if I’m crazy enough to not base my profit margins on how much I can swindle out of my workers.
I was going to say, this is the best, most responsible approach, and I commend you, although I’m kind of shocked I’d have to.
There are a lot of cut throat hypocrites wandering around H-wood who want to make a lot of money but don’t seem to understand how to efficiently or effectively.
Hey Smarmy Richard – clearly you work in film if you’re getting “investors.” Television financing is through the network. They set the rates they set the amount in each line. If reality production companies could build into the budget what you’re talking about and get it approved by the congloms they all would. Who wouldn’t want their workers to be happy and treated fairly?
LIE. TV Production is at its HIGHESTin LA now for Reality TV. Unions = Happy Workers = Jobs
LIE. Production for Reality TV in LA is at it’s highest right now. Networks are making booming profits they can afford to pay their crews Healthcare. Unions Create Jobs and Happy Workers.
I think you’re confused. My post did not say that REALITY production is leaving LA. It said production is leaving LA — and this is a fact. The state is doing everything they can to stop runaway productions — and it’s not just about tax incentives from other states or countries. Unions busting in and shutting down shows while causing their budgets to balloon can make LA a very challenging place to work.
The show is a success. Congratulations. Now take care of the people that helped make it a success and give your crew some health care for them and their families, maybe a pension too – what a concept!
I know, so very un-American to take care of one’s own and not go for every last dollar of profit but that’s the shi*ty greedy attitude that has pretty well killed this country and it’s economy for the foreseeable future.
The show isn’t that much of a success. It only gets 1.4 million viewers. There are a lot of shows on the air with MUCH higher ratings. Why isn’t the union going after them?
Dan Don, wake up and smell the coffee you squibb! Rates and hours have taken a backflip in the last 20 years. 8 hours, are you kidding? Film & TV and California art 2 different States who apparently can get away with murder! And you support that??? All we want is what’s right, nothing more, nothing less. Go have a coke and a smile and STFU
Your comment is incoherent. No wonder you are looking for a shortcut.
trying to organize a reality show isn’t what is the cause of driving productions out of L.A….or the main cause of productions shooting elsewhere by any means…the tax incentives Canada, Florida, Louisiana offer need to be matched the California government…period.. Walking off a set because you want to be paid fairly and have OT after a certain amount of hours is not a crazy request, neither is wanting health benefits…
Gee, sounds like corporate welfare to me. I thought you lib were against that!
Workers have a right to stand up for themselves and be unionized, and while we don’t know what the conditions were like for the crew on this show, this strike seems a little misguided by IATSE. Why pick Face Off? The truth is, SyFy’s (Comcast) reality budgets are auditable –meaning it’s not just a license fee to the production company — Syfy controls it. Everyone knows those tightwads at Syfy go over every line in detail. So the fight is not against the production company it’s against the conglomerate. Mission Control is a young company with only a couple of shows under it’s belt, so all this strike does is potentially bury a production company who’s caught in the middle. Then more people are out of work.
So, why target FaceOff? In the big picture it’s not a huge ratings juggernaut (it did well for SyFy), and doesn’t translate into anything meaningful to Comcast’s bottom line. Where’s the leverage? Go after a show like Deadliest Catch, Real Housewives, Jersey, or Pawn Stars. Those are shows that if disrupted the moguls will take notice.
IATSE came down on FaceOff because the workers on the show asked them for representation. IATSE didn’t just pick a show at random.
I’m sure if the crew members of Deadliest Catch, etc, wanted to flip a show and was within the jurisdiction of the IA, there’d be a picket line there too.
You obviously do not work in reality TV production. When Biggest Loser went union, there rates actually went down, although they now qualified for benefits. It’s a mixed bag.
@DonDan unlike you most of us cant afford a broker a broker and if you pay for your own insurance and pay less than that then you probably don’t have kids. Your really gonna deny craftsmen who work on your reality show (which I might add is entirely based on the artistry and craft they create, The producers are just banking it.) ? You’re a conservative who’s really boo-hooing
Cant afford a broker? Most brokers are free sine the get a commission from the insurance companies. Dont pat yourself on the back for the success of these shows. The success is in the idea, producing and story. Not because of unionization. Producers should bank it. Its the producers who put months of work into a show not the IATSE “craftsmen” that work a fraction of the same schedule. Lets face it, you guys will work for 4 weeks on a 8x one-hour order wheras the production staff will be there 3 to 4 times longer. Get over yourselves.
To the person who commented that in CA overtime is always paid after 8 hours. You are dead wrong. My name is Mike Di Ricco and I am one of the lighting techs on the show that went on strike. I have worked 18 hour non-union music videos before for $125 which is under minimum wage. It’s called a flat rate and is something greedy ass producers use to keep wages low. Non-union crews get treated like shit in Los Angeles. We are just just trying to get paid fairly and be able to have a job with benefits. Live better, work union.
Mike, here’s an idea – if you don’t like the rate and you don’t like the beneft situation — DON’T TAKE THE JOB. If your skills and talents are so superior then you should have no problem getting work on union gigs if that’s what you want. But let me ask you this, have you even stopped to think for two seconds about all the people you are affecting who don’t stand to benefit from your actions — PAs, production coordinators, story producers, accountants, etc. If those people are out of work, it’s on your hands. If that’s the case, I hope you can live with your decision.
If the jobs pay so low, why take them? It’s not as if all producers are greedy asses, just like all workers aren’t lazy asses.
So, don’t accept low-paying jobs, then.
saying they ‘pay too low’ is missing the point. these jobs pay illegally. the vast, vast majority don’t pay for overtime, which is a violation of federal law…and that’s just a start.
so yes, no one has to take a job that pays too low. you also don’t have to take a job that doesn’t pay over time. but no one should have to take a job that doesn’t pay overtime because that contradicts federal law.
Are you f’ing kidding?? At a time when unemployment is so high, you would ask people to not take the jobs they’re offered??? Let’s be real. The corps are getting exactly what they want – a population of desperate workers who’ll do anything to pay their rent.
Millions are with you! Way to go, guys. I admire your courage. The way the system is set up, our masters would like us to be too scared of losing our jobs to have the nerve to risk being ostracized by a public suffering from Stockholm Syndrome and actually demanding a dignified workplace. You guys are true Americans. Rock on!
You realize that “your greedy masters” is just an absurd mental projection cast upon you by unions who use a tribalist/mob mentality to keep you (and as a result, THEM) on the pay roll.
Rates are low because companies know they can get away with it, but that’s your choice. Nobody asked you to enter this industry, and if its not turning out how you want, leave it, and work somewhere else.
If you can negotiate better rates, than do so yourself, but asking a Strongarm into the situation is only raising the costs for all involved, which means less employment for you in the future.
Either way, it sounds like you’re just as “greedy” as the people you claim are shafting you–you’re trying to squeeze more money out of the situation then what is reasonable in this job.
Scab
As a current Insurance Broker and a former Local 80 MPSG member I can attest to the abuse that goes on in the non-union world. I am all for getting compensation for your hard work. (Go Unions) And for the gentlemen that said if you are paying $1600 for health insurance for your family that you should fire your broker. Well let me say that you are living in a dream world.
Marshall Valentine
You are a snake oil salesman. If $1600 is the best you can do for a family of four then you are ripping people off. I have a family of four and pay less than $700 per month for ecellent coverage. Stay away from Marshall Valentine!
After 15 years of non union post production work, and making good money, I have to say, I still support unionization… Health insurance is a huge issue, it is simply not affordable if you have a family. And I’d like the see the union try to keep hours under control rather than just force overtime pay. I’d rather have a life than extra money. Working 12-14 hour days is counter productive (whoever said “over time after 8 hours” doesn’t know that a “normal” post day is 10 hours.. no overtime, and I’m sure some of the crew in the field would LOVE a 10 hour day, to them that would be easy!). However, trying to unionize shows one at a time doesn’t seem to be working, something BIG needs to happen.
Your all full it! PA’s will never have a union and they work just as hard but are always assed out of ANYTHING! I never hear anyone stick up for them, so until that happens ABSOLUTLY NO SYMPATHY for you bitching girls!
Wow mike, that’s a PA’s wet dream, try doing 20 hours at $112 cause that’s what PA’s get and they show up before you and leave after you.
Quit your bitchin
If you think working $112 for 20 hours with no benefits is fair, then go ahead and keep taking those “wet dream” jobs. There are some of us out there who know we deserve more than that and are exercising our right for unionizing.
And another note, I’m not doubting that P.A.s work hard and are the first to arrive and last to leave, but jobs like grip, electric, camera, etc, generally fall into the “specialized skills” category. THAT’S why you guys get the short end of the stick. Don’t like it? Unionize and quit your bitching.
To the PA with an attitude. You are obviously a PA for a reason. We have all paid our dues and work shit jobs with long hours. I, like Mike have done jobs that pay me less than minimum wage for my skilled trade. Any idiot who wants to start a career in hollywood can be a PA and yell “Cast Walking!” at the top of there lungs. Try pulling 4 ott all day, troubleshooting a dimmer system, dealing with electrical fires that weren’t electrics fault, or many of the other things electric has had to deal with on “Face Off” and on every show on a daily basis. I get that PA’s put in long hours on set, but there is a reason to be a qualified set electrician you have to take 13 safety classes so that the PA’s on set don’t get hurt. We are not day labors out side of home depot, we are trained in a specialized craft and deserve for our hard work and skills to be compensated accordingly, whether it be union or non union. In terms of your 20hr day comment, if “Face Off” flips and goes union, you will be guaranteed your turn around time so that you are less of a zombie when you drive home and dont kill anyone on the freeway from running on 4 hours with of sleep after back to back 18 hour days. So even though PA’s are not unionized you too will benefit froma union contract.
Bravo, Job On Hold! Non-union shows DO benefit from Union talents! Time for them to pay the piper. This isn’t TV 101 anymore.
actually, YOU will be guaranteed YOUR turnaround. The rest of the staff will not. so shove it.
You’re right. Only unionized workers are guaranteed a proper turnaround. But the big picture is that although MOST of the crew will get a proper turn around (which is a big “YAY!” in itself) the chances are that the non-unionized crew will benefit as well. Why keep a P.A. around as long as they did before a show flipped if the day now ends four hours earlier?
Part of the IA contract is to provide a decent meal when meals are needed. It doesn’t really make sense for production to keep the P.A.s from eating “the good catering”.
Etc, etc.
mr. shiney shoe union bossman is having his lunch up on santa monica with the dues money from the hard working rank and file union members. meanwhile, the unionized workers are actually taking less money home and are told they have benefits when the majority of them do not because the union won’t be covering part time employees. union infectious turds. healing scabs.
I’ve worked both union and non-union jobs, and the union ones are almost always better. It’s not always about the money or benefits, although those do play a part. It’s also about being treated fairly, having proper turnarounds, a safe working environment, being paid on time, etc.
By working union, I’m promised all those things and as long as they hold up their end of the deal (and they haven’t let me down yet) then I don’t give a rats ass where “Mr. Shiney shoe union bossman” is lunching.
Have you seen where Mr Shiny Shoe Reality Producer is having it’s lunch? Open your eyes.
Unionization always leads to higher costs and then to layoffs. Go for it!