Equity East Midlands Branch - 2024 Meetings

Zoom ONLY Jan & Jun

Room & Zoom in Leicester Feb > May | Sept > *Dec

(Nov AGM, Dec with Birmingham & West Mids)

No meeting July

August XR Cyberia Cafe in Spatial - remote Edinburgh Fringe on the PBH Free Fringe "Can't Be There? Be Here!" venue programme.

Join us on Zoom for January's Equity East Midlands Branch meeting. Our February meeting will be our first in-person room & zoom gathering. Taking part in your regional branch is an excellent opportunity for actors, performers and production creatives in the region to network, share experiences, and stay updated on industry news, union camaigns and agreement negotiation.

Next Date: Wed, Jan 10th, 2024

- Guest Speaker: Brendan Bradley

Time: 19:30 GMT

Location: Zoom

Why come? Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your journey in the entertainment industry, a branch event welcomes all. It's a chance to connect with like-minded individuals, exchange ideas, and gain valuable insights.

Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to be part of the thriving East Midlands performing arts community.

Wed 10th Jan, Time TBC, exclusively Zoom.

- Guest Speaker: TBC

Venue TBA (The branch is committee to extending presence across the East Midlands Region... Members will vote over the festive season to determine the location for the meetings 01 Feb, 02 Mar, 03 Apr, 04 May, the 5th meeting in June following the unions annual conference in May will be an exclusively Zoom meeting.

Meeting 1: Wed 14th Feb, Time TBC, Venue TBA

- Guest Speaker: TBC

Meeting 2: Wed 13th Mar, Time TBC, Venue TBA

- Guest Speaker: TBC

Meeting 3: Wed 10th Apr, Time TBC, Venue TBA

- Guest Speaker: TBC

Meeting 4: Wed 8th May, Time TBC, Venue TBA

- Guest Speaker: TBC

EQUITY CONFERENCE 2024 - BIRMINGHAM - 18-20 MAY

Meeting 5: Wed 12th Jun, Time TBC, exclusively Zoom.

- Guest Speaker: TBC

This was the branches 4th speaker in the Equity Branch Talk series this one with a fellow professional. Its as important to hear from our peers as it is our influences and engagers.

Recorded at East Midlands Equity's December Meeting. Uploaded for branch members. Guest speaker disability activist and drag performer Emma "Crip Ladywood" Round.

An inspirational story and insight. We learn about her work in the drag community and as an advocate for marginalised artists. Hear Emma's perspective on issues like discrimination, lack of diversity in the arts, and the importance of unions supporting variety entertainers and vulnerable performers. An compelling talk and Q&A with a leading voice for equity on stage and in society.

Our October speaker is our first “Branch Talks with…Industrial Officials” guest. Liam is joining us on Zoom. The use of Artificial Intelligence across the audio and entertainment industry is on the rise.

Liam Budd is an Industrial Official in Equity's Recorded Media Department, where he supports and organises performing artists working across a broad range of disciplines. He is also the Industrial Official for Audio and New Media, where he supports Equity's audio artists working across Audiobooks, Commercials, Video Games, ADR, Radio Drama, or Podcasts. Liam is the lead on policy, political, parliamentary, lobbying, and campaigning work of the union, across parliament, devolved administrations, and within the broader union.

Liam is a strong advocate for the protection of performers from unregulated technology. In June 2023, he called on the government to “step in with robust measures to properly regulate the use of AI in the entertainment industry”. He has also been involved in the creation of an AI toolkit by Equity, which aims to protect performers from unregulated technology.

Liam has been involved in various campaigns and consultations related to the entertainment industry. For example, he was involved in Equity's submission and supporting evidence to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport open consultation on a potential new public service media organisation to replace Channel.

In a recent interview, Liam highlighted the importance of diversity in the entertainment industry, particularly in the context of AI. He noted that there is perhaps less scrutiny on how diverse the profession is because performers cannot be seen.

Overall, Liam Budd plays an important role in Equity's Screen & Media Department, where he works to protect performers and promote diversity in the entertainment industry.

RESOURCES

“Guidance on Artificial Intelligence work for artists” is one of the resources produced by the department. Equity has also compiled an AI Toolkit to help members begin to give context to this new technology and help you understand how to recognise and manage it as it impacts and integrates into our working lives. It will affect everyone differently.

Our Guest Speaker for September is Coventry based Red Talent Management’s Rob Wilkinson. Established in 2012 by Robert Wilkinson, RED Talent Management has become the Midlands’ premier actors and creatives agency, offering a personal and professional service, providing actors and creative talent for television, theatre, film, radio, and the corporate world. The agency has teams in the Midlands, London and Manchester.

Robert is an actor, writer and producer, with over 30 years’ experience in the business. He was a director of the award winning Tic Toc Theatre Company from the early 80s until 1991, producing and performing in all of their plays, notably Hooligans which won a Fringe First Award.He is also chair of Live and Local, an Arts Council funded organisation promoting rural touring across eight midlands counties.

SHOWNOTES - YouTube link to talk

[PODCAST - AUDIO ONLY] Rob Wilkinson, Red Talent Management's Managing Director, actor and agent gave a talk and facilitated Q&A on getting representation as an actor.

Key points:

- Importance of meeting in person to get a sense of actors' personality and attitude.

- Open door policy at his agency, welcoming diverse backgrounds.

- Increased access to auditions for regional actors compared to the past.

- Voiceover/audio and writer clients are a small part of the agency currently.

- Discussion on helping actors with particular needs or disabilities.

Rob discussed his background coming into the industry and starting his agency in 2012. He emphasised the importance of meeting actors in person to get a sense of their attitude and personality, which he feels is key.

When asked by Carol Leeming about diversity and equality, Rob shared how diversity was a priority when starting the agency. He highlighted black actress Tanya Daley-Campbell as one of the first people he recruited, calling her an ambassador who has helped him greatly.

Tracey Briggs asked about improving regional casting. Rob said there is still a long way to go, giving the example of Curve Theatre rarely holding local auditions. He mentioned his agency's involvement in helping set up Heart Casting, a new casting agency aiming to provide more opportunities in the Midlands.

Regarding taking on new clients, Rob said he is open to actors at all levels, with or without Spotlight. He looks for self-motivated actors who he can meet in person to get a sense of their performance and attitude.

Mel Parker asked whether Rob represents voice actors. He currently has a small voiceover section but is interested in growing this.

Rob spoke about trying to educate actors through workshops and masterclasses with industry professionals. He wants to build an open, supportive community beyond just an agency.

Our November speaker at our AGM is our first “Branch Talks with…Regional Executives” guest. Chris Stafford is the Chief Executive of Curve Theatre who have been home to the branch since September.

Chris Stafford was appointed CEO of Curve in 2015 and in partnership with Nikolai Foster, he is responsible for the leadership of the organisation. Under Chris’ leadership, Curve has developed a reputation as a leading producing theatre in the UK and a destination venue for producers to open major touring productions, recent productions launched at Curve include Matilda, Les Misérables and Miss Saigon.

He is a graduate of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and named with Nikolai Foster as one of The Stage 100 most influential people and partnerships in theatre. Throughout his career, Chris has produced over 80 productions and prior to joining Curve he worked extensively internationally, touring and making work in the Middle East, South Korea, Japan, Barbados, North America and Europe.

W e are delighted he will be sharing his regional insights with the branch.

Questions submitted included focus on local casting, the theatre's policies on where and how casting takes place as well as recruitment to technical areas. Members are also interested to hear about community outreach and how the theatre responds to the cultural and economic diversity of a city like Leicester or whether it sees itself primarily as a 'national' organisation.

In terms of the branch reaffirming of the theatre's commitment to the maintaining of professional standards and conditions through the use of Equity contracts across the board has also been proposed.

T he AGM will be mercifully short lasting 1 hr. There is a buffet for those registering to attend 'in the room' and there will be a 'Zoom in the Room' opportunity for those not able to travel. The branch is taking this alternative approach to AGM facilitation to include a theatre trip. Several regular branch members have tickets to see either one of the two shows playing that night.

Host or Publisher Equity - In the East Midlands