Irish actors claim they have been treated like the poor relations in the film industry for decades despite big government tax breaks for maj
'Irish actors claim they have been treated like the poor relations in the film industry for decades despite big government tax breaks for major studios.
LA-based actor Alan Smyth revealed that Colin Farrell, Ruth Negga and Cillian Murphy have signed a petition for fair and equal pay for native performers and crew.
Over 2,500 people have added their signatures online.
It says the Irish diaspora in the US and worldwide strongly support the efforts of Irish Actors Equity, which is in talks with several government ministers to secure a guarantee “that Irish performers will not be subject to lesser terms and conditions regarding their intellectual property rights than international performers in similar roles”.
“This, unfortunately, has been the case for many years,” it states.
The petition is still open as Irish Equity plans to hold a solidarity rally with the striking SAG-AFTRA union and the Writers Guild of America today.
Smyth, who is from Dundalk, has first-hand experience of the set-up on both sides of the Atlantic. He has reaped the benefits of the American system where actors traditionally got residual cheques whenever their performances are aired.
The threat now, he says, is that the so-called “streamer” networks are imposing drastic cuts to the value of the residuals.
Hence, the strikes.
“It’s a lot worse in Ireland,” said the actor, who has starred in a number of big TV dramas, including CSI: NY and Criminal Minds.
“The system in Ireland is that the Irish cast and crew for the most part, unless it’s Colin or Cillian, are put on buyout contracts so don’t get residual payments.
“The awful thing about it is the Irish Government gives tax breaks to film and TV productions. Within the productions, the Irish cast and crew are paid far less than anyone brought over from England or the US. It’s 100pc discriminatory.
“Colin, Cillian and Ruth Negga have got behind the petition. They know how hard it is until you get to a point where you’re doing really, really well. I can really see how hurtful it is in Ireland.”
Actor Gerry O’Brien lodged a cheque for $800 (€735) yesterday for his role as an Irish man in Pirates of the Caribbean years ago. The payment covers just a quarter of the year.
He got a US contract for the job, rather than the typical Irish buyout one.
In contrast, he has earned just €54 in residuals in the last 20 years here. That was for an RTÉ TV series.
O’Brien said Equity wants a contract for Irish actors like that on offer to their British counterparts. The coveted UK contract sets out minimum pay rates, residual arrangements and other terms and conditions.
Irish production companies offer the buyout contracts on behalf of the major international studios when they are in town, he says.
A Dublin-based actor (27) did not want to be named for fear he would be “blacklisted” when going for jobs.
He has been following the Hollywood strike very closely.
“It shines a light on just how unfair the industry is,” he said.
“Those at the top are earning incredible amounts of money and profit. In a large part, it is due to those at the bottom scraping a living.
“I graduated from drama school in 2017. Last year, I made the most money I ever made working as an actor and that was €14,000. Obviously that is not sustainable.
“If you work on an Irish film, you get paid for the day of work and never see another penny. I routinely sign off my rights for €600 or €700 a day.
“I’m delighted that Cillian Murphy and Colm Meaney are coming out in support of small fry actors like myself.”
Actor Owen Roe has won many theatre awards during his career and his film appearances including Breakfast on Pluto, Intermission, Wide Open Spaces and Michael Collins.
He said actors here are “not prepared to go on strike” but it is an opportunity to inform younger ones of their rights.
“It’s far more competitive as well . There is AI and all those things. The whole buyout situation is not good for us.”
He was glad to see Cillian Murphy and other stars walk out of the Oppenheimer premiere in support of their US union.
“They don’t have to financially, I’d imagine,” he said. “It gives confidence to people who feel they are being exploited.
“I think it will be interesting to see what happens in America. If the whole thing of buyouts and residuals gets sorted. The attitude that we’re cheaper is offensive,” he said.'