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Turn Up Charlie – advice from Equity re: requests to sign contracts before audition

By Catherine Considine

All,
The following advice is from Claire Hood at Equity. If you need further clarification I suggest you contact her directly, her email is at the end of this message:
Dear Agent Colleagues
I wanted to write to you in relation to the request that the contract for Turn Up Charlie must be signed in advance of the ‘Test'( hereinafter referred to as the Audition).
It is Equity’s stance that there is no requirement under our collective agreements or in law for a contract to be signed before an audition has taken place. Contracts should only be signed after the audition and upon acceptance of the role. Further, this should only occur when the agent and actor are in absolute accord with the terms offered within the contract.
I would urge our agent colleagues to question and challenge any practice whereby they are faced with requests to sign contracts before the audition stage. As always you should feel free to contact me in confidence. I am happy to provide assistance.
Warm regards and thanks to all our PMA colleagues
Claire Hood
chood@equity.org.uk