Actors v producers: the relationship that doesn’t work

How faulty employment contracts result in exploitation within entertainment industry

KARACHI: The creative community and financiers have never gotten along too well. In the entertainment industry, it is always the former fighting for their rights and freedom to create, against financiers who are apparently looking for ways to cut costs and save money.

Unfortunately, this is where exploitation of rules comes into play. In the film industry, the phenomenon manifests itself as a battle between actors and producers. Interestingly, this was the topic of the ‘Actors v Producers’ session at the recent FocusPk 2016, a production and entertainment conference spearheaded by Atiqa Odho.

The panelists of the session included Sarmad Khoosat, Angeline Malik, Jamal Shah, Hameed Sheikh and Hina Bayat, along with former DG Pakistan National Council of the Arts Naeem Tahir and theatre actor and director Omair Rana.



Faulty employment contracts and how actors and producers often exploit one another based on them was the subject of the day. Khoosat highlighted the necessity of having two original contracts signed to ensure a film-maker’s rights. “It used to be just fine but now, I have to make sure there are two original contracts which we agree and sign upon, because if you don’t have proof of what contract you signed on, your rights are compromised. Even having a photocopy of the original doesn’t matter,” he explained.

Bayat argued that the session should not be called ‘Actors v Producers’ but rather, “creatives working with finance people, who are essentially television channels.” According to the actor, the exploitation stems from long working hours. “There is a reason they have an eight-hour shift in other countries,” Bayat said, recounting an incident where she was supposed to work four continuous days on 16 to 18-hour shoots. “I was working on a project once where we had extremely long shoots and I fell sick after two 18-hour shoots back to back. How can you look fresh and give 100% when you haven’t slept in days?”

Rana added that, besides long hours, the contracts don’t even have a clause for the actors or producers to terminate them, should they ever wish to. The legal document merely becomes a trap for the party that wished to opt out as they have no option but to serve under any circumstances. The Manto director also recalled an incident where a colleague demanded a clean toilet while signing a project. “At first, everyone laughed. But then, when they thought of it, it was clear that a clean toilet would be good for everyone. It’s sad because this is a basic necessity and you have to specifically ask for it.”



Nonetheless, Rana believes exploitation is a two-way street. “It wasn’t just the producers or financiers exploiting actors but also the other way around as well,” he stated. “The contract clearly prohibits them to come on set under influence of any substance, yet a lot of actors arrive intoxicated. If nothing else, they even have drinks while on set! Not to mention they often come late and then demand to have their shots done first.”

All of this results in poor working conditions. Tahir suggested that all industry stakeholders a consensus on the matter and then stick to it. The panelists agreed that contracts should be carefully put together and do justice to all those involved. “We need to standardise the contracts so neither the actors nor producers can exploit them,” said Bayat.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2016.

Like Life & Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.