EQUITY CLAIMS ACTORS ‘PUCKOONED’

‘PUCKOON’, a new feature film currently being filmed at The Paint Hall Studios in Belfast, has come under fire from UK actors union Equity.
The union has called on the public sector backers to drop out because of problems with cast contracts. In a statement Equity claimed that actors were being contracted on non-industry standard contracts.
Drew McFarlane, the Northern Ireland Secretary for Equity, has written to Richard Taylor, NIFC’s Chief Executive. In the letter he said: “The company is we believe guilty of misrepresentation in that when offering engagements to actors they say in writing that their terms will be as per those of British Actors Equity yet when the full contract comes through there is a clause which fully states that they do not recognise any Union or Guild.”
McFarlane argues that the Commission as a public body would not wish to lend their support to such a contract, but in giving them funding the Commission is seen to be doing so.
Insight Ventures, the production company, have received funding from both the Northern Ireland Film Commission (NIFC) and the Northern Ireland Arts Council.
Ken Tuohy, the Producer of ‘Puckoon’, said: “Equity will have to answer to the statements that they are making.” Tuohy then declined to comment further on the claims made by Equity.
(CD)