2024-01-02 22:07:44
by Stefania Ulivi
The president of Unita, after signing the text with the producers and unions: «Our profession is now recognized, protection for the weakest»
Gian Maria Volonté tried, our generation can proudly say that it has closed a battle started by him.” On 20 December, the first national collective labor agreement for interpreters in the cine-audiovisual sector was signed in Rome, between Unita (National Union of theater and audiovisual interpreters), the producers of Anica, Apa and Ape and the trade union organisations. It was one of the objectives for which in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, the association was born, of which Vittoria Puccini is president, who commented on it with the Corriere, following the approval of all the regional offices. “It’s a historic achievement.”
Why?
«We are finally recognized as a category of workers. Until yesterday, in fact, we actors did not exist, we lacked fundamental rights and protections for everyone.”
They consider you privileged.
«There is the idea that being an actor is not a job. It’s beautiful, it’s true, but it’s work. And without a collective agreement, the contractual capacity of the vast majority is reduced to the bare minimum. He saw himself dramatically during the pandemic. Many found themselves without a network. Those who earn well are the tip of the iceberg, there is a multitude who work in difficult conditions. With a group of colleagues we asked ourselves how it was possible that only the bargaining power of each individual defined the way in which he works and not common rules. An absurd gap.”
How many are you?
«It all started with a chat, then meetings, in my kitchen, at Vinicio Marchioni’s brother’s restaurant. Then we sat down in front of a notary to found the trade association. From 110 founding members, today we are 1,700.”
From Stefano Accorsi no one is missing: Paola Cortellesi, Pierfrancesco Favino, Edoardo Leo, Fabrizio Gifuni, Jasmine Trinca, Alba Rohrwacher, Claudia Gerini, Pietro Sermonti…
«Among us there are representative and recognizable names, many have spent and are spending themselves to give visibility to others. But strength comes from the team, today I’m speaking but every member is vital.”
Let’s get into the merit.
«The contract regulates the work of actresses and actors, defined as a profession, and guarantees protections and guarantees, including equal pay for men and women. The contractual forms provide a double track: subordinate and self-employed work. Minimum wages and operating methods of performance are guaranteed. Institutes never contemplated are recognized: availability, reading tests, figurative contribution for rehearsal days, hair and make-up, travel, etc.”
And artificial intelligence?
«We have defined some general rules: that the voice and face of an actor cannot be sampled to make something else. But an ad hoc table will be opened to better define the details and monitor developments.”
Did the example of the long US actors’ strike also influence the signing?
«It was a very important example of compactness in the sector. But cinema is a powerful industry there, they are not comparable.”
And now?
«Now the theme that is close to our hearts is “discontinuity”. There is a lack of a welfare system designed for the specificities of our work. The government’s proposal is yet another bonus that does not solve a problem. I don’t speak for myself, I will never perceive it, I am not moved by personal interest. We don’t want more, we want what’s right.”
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January 2, 2024 (modified January 2, 2024 | 9:07 pm)
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