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« on: Apr 04, 2011, 10:08 pm »
Hi Everyone,
Did a search on here and didn't find anything about Periodic Performance contracts that relates to my questions, so here they are:
I'm about to do a LOA Periodic Performance contract referencing the Bay Area Theatre Contract. My director (who's acting as the producer) forwarded me the Letter of Agreement/Periodic Performance Approval she got from AEA yesterday. Aside from the items listed on that letter, everything else we do should abide by the contract that is referenced, correct? {Question 1}
[A quick run down of the situation: we have 12 hours of actor rehearsal time, which is spread over 3 days, 4 hours a day, and one of those 3 days is our tech/performance day. We only have 1 performance. This all starts on April 15. The show will be performed like a staged reading; the 3 actors and I are all AEA. We will be recording the audio of the performance (under AFTRA guidelines) as it will be rebroadcast on NPR 3 times (AFTRA limit is 4 times).]
My issue is that she has listed our 1 tech/performance day with a 1 hour meal break (food provided) between the end of rehearsal and half hour. According to the the referenced contract (BAT), the cast can vote by secret ballot whether that meal break is 1 hour, 1.5 hours or 2 hours. (Which means she's either ignoring the vote option or assuming they will vote for 1 hour.) There is a rule 2 paragraphs above the the rule I'm quoting that says the meal break on a TWO performance day can be 1 hour, as long as a meal is provided. Even though she is providing a meal on the tech/performance day, I still don't think that counts. It's not a 2 performance day.
With all of that in mind, she wants me to announce to the cast the schedule now. I don't want to do that until we settle this issue of the tech/performance day meal break. I assume I can do my Equity Business in the 10 minutes prior to our first rehearsal (day of) and settle the issue then, since the vote must be by secret ballot. That seems like the logical thing to do. If she can't wait and needs it settled now (or in the next few days) - has anyone done a vote prior to the first rehearsal, via email or phone? Granted, the "secret" part is completely shot, but I don't know any other way to get it done early. {Question 2}
Sorry if this is confusing, but it is for me too. I've never worked under a LOA before, and the referenced contract is a bit more lax that the LORT contract I'm used to working under. I appreciate any/all feedback.
Thanks so much!