Comments on: Ugly side of S’pore showbiz (Part 2)

By: john 117

john 117 — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 02:02:50 +0000

I totally agree with you. As a foreign actor I experienced the same abuse, still run for about 3K outstanding money.
I’m totally shocked about such disrespect.
The last cheque was paid after 4 month and several emails and calls where I even got screwed, from an among actors well known production house.
Yep, low or no pay causes low or no quality, that’s markets law.
2 things will happen if this continues (and it will get worse as long there is no actors protection): Foreign actors will come to Singapore and take over the cepter or nobody will come (more certain) and Singaporeans will have to accept The Noose and 80′s Rewind as their highlights in local productions.
(The so successful movie 811 does not even appear on the first pages of Google Singapore)
Besides of that, local director talents will go overseas or skip their dreams in the name of staying with the family.
Solution for yourself? Don’t relay on an income only from your show biz.
Harrison Ford has worked as a carpenter not to be forced to take any role just to survive.

By: naeboo

naeboo — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 20:55:40 +0000

ask the ppl who book u to email the details agreed upon if the contract cant be signed. once there’s communication btw parties of the conditions set for the agreement and acceptance of the conditions set upon it, it’s a valid contract, verbal or written.

but of coz verbal harder to prove la. but email shld be fine for the time in between agreement and (non)execution of the agreed terms.

By: JayWalk

JayWalk — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 08:06:24 +0000

I would just just walked away. The $200 really isn’t worth the crap thrown in your face.

By: A Great Weak : My Reelity

A Great Weak : My Reelity — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 02:52:54 +0000

[...] yesterday, a casting agent approached me to go audition for a gig that would pay more for the one I lost. Audition’s today, so wish me [...]

By: Qiaoyun

Qiaoyun — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:54:23 +0000

chong: *clap clap clap* You should comment in my blog more often. Don't be a miser! :P abraxis: Haha, ok. But like I said, most agreements are made over the phone, so it won't help, either. :P Jesta: I suppose that works. modchip: Well, of course one has to try. But I believe now that trying does diddly squat. Ok, maybe it does 5%. The rest is all just random.

By: modchip

modchip — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 01:26:54 +0000

But you always have to try yah?

By: Jesta

Jesta — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:27:31 +0000

While most deals are done on the phone, I’d say that a fax (or scanned PDF) would work pretty well to get things signed.
You agree, I send my contract you sign, scan and email back to me.
That would work…

By: abraxis

abraxis — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:16:11 +0000

I meant to say that everyone in your field of work should carry around Pay or Play Contracts when agreeing to a gig. Assuming they’re legal under Singapore law, of cors.

The Animaniacs reference was made because in their opening song, there’s that line that specifically refers to Pay or Play contracts. And there’s only three of them so if they were to go with all your actor frens, they’d be pretty busy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animaniacs

Here’s a YouTube of some of their better bits. They’re very script intensive and very fast.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsBq_K1WLsE