Alliance E-Mag 21-May-2006

Welcome to your Alliance equity e-bulletin. This week:

- Residual Cheques In The Post - Charity Work - Join The Union Bus
- Equal Entitlements For All - No Agreement In AWAs - Auckland's New Theatre
- Bibi Bulak Fundraiser - Correction - Changing Global TV Trends

Residual Cheques In The Post - Members across the country will receive well-earned recognition for their work on television and film when 1036 residual cheques are posted this week, totalling $2.95million. Residual payments are in addition to the upfront fee and represent the performer's share of proceeds made by the production's sales. Some of the productions contributing to this year's payments include Mask 2, Ghostship, the Matrix movies, Scooby Doo, Darkness Falls, Inspector Gadget II and George of the Jungle 2.

Charity Work - Equity was recently contacted about a request for performers to work on a commercial for free. We contacted the producers, who confirmed that the commercial was for a registered charity. Equity does not object to performers or crew working on an ad for free for a bona fide charity. While we would do nothing to encourage or assist this to occur, it is a matter of individual choice. If you do donate your time to work on a charity advertisement, it is a good idea to request a receipt for the value of the services that you donated for income tax purposes.

Join The Union Bus - Book your seat on the Alliance bus now to attend the Sydney National Day of Action rally at Blacktown Showground on 28 June. Join thousands of workers across the country in sending a clear message to the Howard government that you oppose these laws and their affect on working people's lives. Members are asked to gather at the Sydney Alliance office at 7.45am for an 8am departure. Seats are limited, call Nicole on 02 9333 0951 or email nicole.scardino@alliance.org.au

Equal Entitlements For All - The Alliance has made a submission to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's inquiry into discrimination against people in same-sex relationships. In calling for amendments to the Marriage Amendment Act 2004, the Alliance says current definitions of marriage can limit access to working and other rights through legislation that ties entitlements to the nature of an individual's personal relationship. Read the full submission at http://www.alliance.org.au/images/stories/pdf/heriocsubmissionjune06.pdf

No Agreement In AWAs - The commitment to abolish Australian Workplace Agreements by Labor leader Kim Beazley is good news for Alliance members. In our industry, there's been little that's been individual in these sort of individual contracts. They're been used as a substitute for collective agreements, only with worse conditions. Read more at the Alliance blog www.alliance.org.au/blog

Auckland's New Theatre - The New Theatre Initiative is building a new theatre at 305 Queen Street - right in the heart of Auckland's performing arts district. So far money has been raised, draft designs drawn up and an opening date set for 2008. Interested members can find out more about plans for the new theatre at a meeting on 29 June and again on 13 July at 6pm at the Classic 321 Queen Street, Auckland. For more information visit www.nti.org.nz

Bibi Bulak Fundraiser - Port Phillip community group Friends of Suai is hosting a night of film, poetry, music and talk to raise money for the Dili-based drama troupe Bibi Bulak (the Crazy Goats) to perform in refugee camps. The fundraiser will be held on Thursday 22 June, 7pm, at Theatreworks, 26 Acland St, St Kilda, VIC. The evening will include a talk from Annie Sloman, Bibi Bulak's arts administrator and a short performance from Bibi Bulak on film. Admission is by gold coin donation and tickets are available at the door.

Correction - A Queen's Birthday Honour was presented to Bruce Martin not Bruce Gordon, as reported in last week's e-bulletin. Equity apologises for this mistake and would like to congratulate Mr Martin on receiving his award.

Changing Global TV Trends - New technologies - high definition television, ADSL, digital players and video pod casting - are forcing producers to experiment with both entertainment formats and content style according a new study on international TV trends. According to the report by Mediametrie entertainment has dabbled in sociological, mystical, physical and recreational experiments. Read more at http://www.mediametrie.com/resultats.php?resultat_id=24