Spoke TV/Northern Dragon Media. Andy Lewis
Unpaid workers on YouTube production “Shaun & Bez: Call The Cops”.
Are you interested in working in Film?
No experience? No contacts? No worries – here’s a great place to start. “Set Ready is a training and employment programme that supports the next generation of film and tv talent as they take their first steps into production and on to set.”
Root2Fruit Media.
Please note that a considerable number of people have recently been left unpaid after working on a production for Joe Gaffney, Jermaine Pinnock and Root2Fruit Media.
Charlie Southall. Dragonfly.
It seems that Southall has also achieved some local notoriety in his home town of Brighton. The Brighton and Hove News also got up to date with some of his activities over the years, including those who have taken him to court over unpaid bills and had other entanglements. Particularly unpleasant…a long history of bilking freelancers - and plenty more besides…
TVCrewFinder – another site to avoid.
It’s not acceptable to charge freelancers for the right to apply for jobs. We’ve asked the company how this fits in with the regulations that forbid any company from charging job seekers for work finding services…
No pay, but you are allowed to take the dog for a walk…
Sherry Roberts and her Shitzu. I asked Sherry why she was not paying this person at least the minimum wage for their work. She replied by denying that the work was ever offered as unpaid (rather odd, given the presence of the words “non paid” on the advert).
New review in for the National Youth Film Academy.
They have a major issue with answering their own phones. If you manage to get through to them, there isn’t much further conversation other than “I don’t know his schedule”. All in all, I cannot help but feel as though they have preyed upon my eagerness to enter the industry.
A new low for the National Youth Film Academy.
The National Youth Film Academy has been a regular feature on the pages of The Watercooler over the past few years. Unsurprising when there are so many ex-customers who have had poor experiences of the over-priced and under-delivering “courses” they offer. More individuals with poor experiences of the over-priced and under-delivering “courses” the NYFA offers.
John Pavlakos – AVOID.
Every time this individual sets up a company or production, he leaves a trail of unpaid people behind, and it is still happening. WARNING: there is a strong chance you will not be paid if you work for or supply kit to this individual.
Ascendant Fox Films. Bart Ruspoli, Hester Ruoff.
This company has recently employed a number of freelancers on terms which look to be in contravention of HMRC’s guidance on taxation of junior workers (including Runners). A warning for any freelancers working for (or intending to work for) a company called Ascendant Fox Films.
Vice. The Cowboy Kings of Crypto.
There is very little which irritates freelancers in our industry more than not being paid on time. And it’s particularly aggravating when big companies do it, given that they usually have ample funds and should know better.
Rick Taylor.
“Sports TV entrepreneur and Fashion Show personality”, lately Rick has taken to wandering around industry employment pages on Facebook touting for workers, but not ones he would actually like to pay thank you very much.
Chatterbox Media and their treatment of freelancers.
Dozen of complaints have been lodged against the company over a 12-month period, including for bullying. Worth remembering if you find yourself a victim of companies which engage in this kind of thing. There is always a willing ear and free and confidential advice to be had.
Get up, stand up…
In the olden days, way back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and the TV picture was made up of 405 black and white lines, employers in the TV industry had developed the bad habit of using unpaid workers to staff the junior levels of their productions on the basis that it was “good experience” for them.
Are you neurodivergent and working in the media?
The Neurodiverse Media Community aims to connect, engage and support anyone with a diagnosis of (or experiencing) autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia or any other neurological condition who works in the media.
Looking for a job at one of the UK’s biggest production companies?
A great opportunity to hear about jobs at Fremantle as soon as they are posted.
Mark Forstater. Matthew Critchfield. Nathan Neuman. Swipe Fever.
They made a film called “Swipe Fever”. Freelancers were taken on in good faith that they would be paid for their work and then discovered that the cupboard was pretty bare when they presented their invoices.
Luke Elkins.
Luke Elkins runs a Facebook page called UKTV Runners, copying and pasting jobs from other sites. Employers are not happy. Elkins is by all accounts also a sometime freelancer in the business. Hopefully employers will remember the name and behaviour when he comes around looking for work.
Production Hive – leeching off unwary freelancers.
Sites that charge freelancers are doing little more than sucking money out of the pockets of industry workers while providing precisely zero value along the way, given that almost all the jobs they advertise are also available on free-to-use social media sites.
How Much Should I Be Paid?
We thought it would be a good idea to show the minimum you should be paid per hour. Find out about the National Minimum Wage rate for your age, internships, apprenticeships, holiday pay entitlement and what to do if you are not being paid it! Rates are updated every April 1st.