👀 0:45
Tin Hat Productions
Director: Callum Burn
Cinematographer: Sam Parsons
Composer: Ben Thatcher
Jeffrey Mundell as Captain Henrichsen
If it was easy…
“It was like trying to walk with everybody and you’re the one with the stone in your shoe and everyone else is just floating along.”
…So relatable…Practice, practice, and more practice…onwards and upwards.
Equity vs. Spotlight: the Tax On Hope drama continues
[Spotlight is a UK casting directory, which matches actors with available jobs. Spotlight claims to have around 90,000 members and 99% of projects in theatre, TV, and film are cast through them. Equity is a performing arts and entertainment trade union]
Some fresh developments to this little drama: Equity asked Spotlight to prove how their subscription fees are a fair charge based on the following bit of law:
“the fee charged to the work-seeker [must] amount to no more than a reasonable estimate of the cost of production and circulation of the publication attributable to the inclusion of information about that work-seeker in the publication”
In response, Spotlight says they’re not an employment agency and therefore not subject to the above law and not obligated to prove anything.
Equity is now taking this to the High Court to get a judgement that says the law does apply to Spotlight. More details at Equity – the FAQ section at the bottom is especially interesting.
A few key points:
Since 2020, annual Spotlight subs have risen from £158 to £198 (£216 if paying monthly).
One might argue that the general rise in costs everywhere justifies the increase. However, even at £158 the same questions apply: How much does it actually cost Spotlight to list performers in their digital directory? Are performers being unfairly squeezed? Should performers seeking work be paying for any of it anyway?
My prediction for the next stage in this little drama: Spotlight (now owned by international group, Talent Services) will wrap this up in litigation. Any change will be slow, small and hard won.
Wouldn’t it be interesting if all performers on Spotlight changed to the monthly subscription? Sure, it would cost a little more in the short term, but imagine the entire membership being able to suspend their fees at short notice, all together: that’s 90,000 performers NOT paying £18 – Spotlight would lose £1,620,000 each month. And members would control the on/off switch to Spotlight’s income stream. Reckon that could be mildly compelling.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
I recently watched Nyad. Annette Bening, Jodie Foster, Rhys Ifans and the gang give wonderful performances in this astounding story about the marathon swimmer, Diana Nyad, who in her 60s decided to reattempt a 110 mile open-ocean swim she had failed to complete in her 20s.
A quick read about the actual Diana Nyad reveals a controversial character, particularly in regard to the legitimacy of some of her claims and achievements. I had to think about this before posting – I don’t want to promote exaggeration or dishonesty.
However, I decided to share this blog because, firstly, the film is genuinely enjoyable, well crafted and uplifting. Secondly, the story centres on a person who, well beyond her prime (though I wouldn’t dare suggest this to her) jumped back into an unforgiving ocean, the home of sharks and deadly box-jellyfish, believing she could swim for three days straight to achieve her goal. Whether all the ratifying technicalities were observed or not, the attempt, in and of itself, is simply awe-inspiring. Here is someone who backs her sentiments up with action:
“I just want to say three things. One, never, ever give up. Two, you’re never too old to chase your dreams. And three, it looks like a solitary sport, but it takes a team.”
My efforts to forge a career as an actor come with challenges that often seem insurmountable. I’m grateful for people like Diana Nyad who charge into the unknown, shine their light brightly from way over there and beckon us forward.
“Whatever your Other Shore is,
– Diana Nyad
whatever you must do,
whatever inspires you,
you will find a way to get there.”
Ps. The title of this post comes from the poem, The Summer Day by Mary Oliver, strongly referenced in the film and seemingly a source of inspiration to the actual Diana Nyad.
Jeffrey Mundell 