Tuesday night I learned that the Entertainment Union Coalition (EUC), which sponsors the Keep California Rolling initiative, is staunchly against including any more unscripted content within SB 630, the film tax incentive bill.  As it stands, that means that within the broad scope of unscripted content, only reality competition shows with a budget in excess of $1,000,000 per episode will qualify.

This is a great policy for those shows that qualify.  Given the EUC’s massive sway in political lobbying efforts, I was hoping to make the case that bringing more unscripted work back to California would be beneficial to union membership.  I really tried.

I’ll be frank, I’ve also reached out to my representatives multiple times with questions and concerns.  They are State Senator Benjamin Allen and District Representative Jacqui Irwin.  I’ve heard nothing.

Many people will benefit from this current proposal and that’s good.  My purpose with this petition is to wield whatever power I can muster and try to get a better deal for those that are disenfranchised.  So what’s next?

As it currently stands, the bill does not define the term “large-scale competition show.”  I think that it is important for us unscripted workers to make sure that term is defined for a broad enough purpose that gives shows a chance to qualify.  The bill excludes “traditional reality,” which is a pretty broad term.  If at all possible, we don’t want shows that spend lots of money here to be defined that way.  Let’s make sure to define “large-scale competition show” as any program in which contestants are eliminated to earn a prize and spends over $1,000,000 in combined production and administrative costs.

An internet search of Big Brother describes it as “a reality game show.”  However, I would think most of us would classify it as a competition show because characters are eliminated over the course of a season and competing for a prize.  The Bachelor is described as “a reality dating show.”  However I think we all consider it a competition show because characters are eliminated and competing for a prize.  Perhaps it was never the bill’s intention to potentially exclude these shows, but let’s dot our “I’s” and cross our “T’s.”

What else can we do?  If you’re an unscripted worker that’s in any organization outside of the EUC, such as the PGA or a broadcast union, perhaps you can raise awareness through that organization.  If nothing changes in this bill and it passes as it is, excluding all unscripted outside of big budget competition shows, I’m told there is a national bill being drafted in which unscripted can fight again.  You can still send your stories and concerns to your representatives.  Hopefully they will address them.  

And if you’re part of an organization within the EUC and you feel like your voice should be heard within that organization, I suppose it can’t hurt to tell them your story.  While the EUC has made their intention clear, no bill has been passed yet.

In summary I wanted to keep everyone that took the interest in signing this petition as informed as I can.  For each of us and our circumstance, we’ll have to decide how to process the information outlined here.  I don’t want to influence you in any way that’s not in your own best interest.  I’m always open to hearing your thoughts, concerns and stories as well.