Representation
Who represents you, and where the going rate comes from.
UK screen crew are represented by unions and craft guilds, and those bodies negotiate and publish the rate cards a production manager quotes from. With the single exception of grip, none of them awards a qualification: a guild is recognition and a network, not an awarding body. None is a partner of ours and none has endorsed us.
The bodies
The bodies.
Main landing pages only. Membership terms, rate cards and eligibility change, so read the current version.
Bectu (opens in a new tab) · Crew, technicians and production staff across film, TV and theatre
The main union for most crew. It negotiates the industry agreements that set the framework rates, runs branches by craft and grade, and will represent you individually if a job goes wrong.
The Guild of British Camera Technicians (opens in a new tab) · Camera department, from trainee upwards
A craft guild, not a union. Its crewing directory is where a number of first calls start.
The Association of Camera Operators (opens in a new tab) · Camera operators
Small and specific to the operating grade.
Directors UK (opens in a new tab) · Screen directors
Collects and distributes royalties for directors as well as representing them.
Production Guild UK (opens in a new tab) · Production, accounts, locations and post management
The body for the office side: coordinator, production manager, accounts.
The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (opens in a new tab) · Screenwriters, and writers for television, radio and games
Negotiates and publishes the minimum terms agreements that underpin most commissioned writing in the UK.
Equity (opens in a new tab) · Performers, stunt performers and supporting artists
Not a crew union. It covers you if you are in front of the lens.
The Film and TV Charity (opens in a new tab) · Anybody who works behind the screen, in any grade
Not a union and not a guild. Free, confidential support with money, mental health and crisis, whether you are working, resting or trying to get in.
Joining
When to join something, and what to join first.
01
Before your first job
Read the relevant rate card. It tells you what your grade is called and what a day is supposed to be worth.
02
Once you are getting paid days
Join the union. It pays for itself the first time a production disputes an overtime claim.
03
Once you have a body of work
Consider the craft guild for your department. Guilds want to see credits first.
Next
Know what you are being offered.
Deal memos, call sheets, timesheets, turnaround and the sixth day are taught on every craft course.