MMVP Productions and SABC give their side to Generations saga

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MMVP Productions and SABC give their side to Generations saga --

Fri, 22 Aug 2014 14:22

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On 22 August the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and MMVP Productions, the company responsible for producing the country s most popular soapie Generations, held a press conference to engage with the media about the show s recent dispute with its actors and the 16 contract terminations which occurred.

SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng began by saying that the SABC took pride in having resolved some of the previous issues that had arisen between the production house and actors in 2013 when the decision was made to increase the contractual period with MMVP Productions from one to three years. This meant that cast members would also be able to receive a three-year contract and the production company would be better equipped to strategise operations accordingly. Added to this, Motsoeneng claimed action was taken to ensure that inflation and royalties be considered when allocating performers rates. However, the three-year contracts are yet to be signed, due to on-going disputes surrounding the rate which the actors requested. Following another stand-off by the Generations cast, MMSV Productions stopped production and terminated 16 contracts on Monday, 11 August.

Disputes with employees will always happen and we always want to engage in these circumstances, but we won t allow anarchy. You can t not go to work no one is allowed to do that, not even permanent SABC staff that is anarchy, remarked Motsoeneng.

He continued, I agree in principal with some of the issues that the actors are raising, but they need to go to work. They can t hold the SABC at ransom.

Mfundi Vundla executive producer at MMVP productions claimed the terminations were as a result of MMVP Productions trying to comply with their contractual obligations to the SABC which requires that they deliver episodes on time and in accordance with a pre-approved budget. Further to this, the production house stated that reports that the cast members were getting paid peanuts were to the contrary.

Producer Friedrich Stark said that they could not reveal the individual salaries of each of the 16 terminated contracts but claimed, On average, taken from the 16 actors earnings, a Generations actor gets R55 000 per month. He added that some of the actors seemed to want the rights and benefits of being both an independent contractor and permanent employee and commented, You can t have your bread buttered on both sides.

Motsoeneng highlighted that there was a need to establish an independent panel to deal with such issues, and that the SABC would works towards appointing such a body. Some of the actors are using lawyers, some are part of an orgainisation - they are not using one voice, he explained.

To claims that actors were mistreated or made to work under unfair conditions Stark said that the cast members had received three meals a day, had their own dressing rooms, were given an average of six weeks production break a year and were always treated with respect. Vundla added that he felt betrayed to an extent and recalled an incident when one cast member was rushed to hospital with a life-threatening condition and, as the actor had no medical aid, he had paid for the medical expenses out of his own pocket. To be painted as this avaricious person who doesn t care, I feel betrayed, he said.

As fans of the show wait with baited breath to determine its outcome, Vundla maintains that, There is a risk we face but it s an exciting risk. We ve got creative ideas and when we come back, man we re going to give you something.

Motsoeneng maintained that he would like to see the issue resolved with the 16 actors and is a fan of the show himself.

When asked about the possibility of cast members with terminated contracts staying on, or returning to the show, Vundla responded, Whoever we engage with must be congruent with our plans for the future.

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