Equity’s Choreographers and Movement Directors Network (CMDN) held its first Mass Action Day at Friends House in London and online this week (Sunday 28 September), bringing CMDN members together to strengthen their collective voice and strategise around the challenges they face across the entertainment industry.
Founded in late 2023, the CMDN has rapidly grown to more than 200 members and quickly established itself as a formidable voice within Equity’s structure.
Equity President Lynda Rooke joined remotely to praise the growing group. “I’m wowed by the fact that so many of you [CMDN members] have stood for committees and been very, very successful,” said Lynda “Why have we got a collective? Why have we got a trade union?... Because if you’re just reliant on a few individual people eventually that voice gets dulled down to silence. What’s great about activism and building and extending to new faces and new voices is that they can’t ignore you. What we’re able to do, with your voice, is go to The Senedd, Holyrood, Stormont and Westminster and say: ‘This isn’t good enough anymore.’”
Led by Polly Bennett, Chair of the CMDN Steering Group, the day opened with a presentation from Equity Film and TV Official, Amy Dawson, and Dance and Singers Official, Lottie Stables, on the interim results of CMDN’s ongoing sector survey. The data provided a foundation for breakout sessions addressing the shared issues facing choreographers and movement directors across the industry.
We need to radicalise ourselves to start asking for what we need from contracts
Ayse Tashkiran, Equity member and Co-founder of the Movement Directors Association
Later, a panel discussion featuring Amy Dawson, Ayse Tashkiran (Equity member and Co-founder of the Movement Directors Association), Matt Forbes (Equity member and Chair of the Stage Actors Committee), and Tyler Kennington (Founder and Director of Take 3 Agency) brought together perspectives from across the discipline.
Commenting on the collective aspiration of the group, Ayse Tashkiran, said:
“To borrow Equity’s campaign phrase – Professionally made. Professionally Paid. We must expect that of others but also own it and sit with it as professional artists ourselves. And at the moment, speak out loud what is needed at every opportunity.
“We need to radicalise ourselves to start asking for what we need from contracts”.
Open letter to PACT
As part of the day’s outcomes, attendees were the first to sign CMDN’s open letter to PACT (the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television) demanding recognition for choreographers and movement directors within Equity’s film and television collective agreements.
The letter, submitted to support demands being made during current ongoing negotiations, outlines four key demands for fair recognition and parity with other creative team roles:
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Minimum rates: Introduce minimum rates for choreographers and movement directors.
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Royalties and residuals: Ensure choreographers and movement directors are included on the Artists Report and entitled to royalties and residuals in connection with productions, in line with all other artists covered by the agreement.
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Preparation work: Require producers to pay choreographers and movement directors an appropriate fee to cover preparation time.
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Credits: Ensure choreographers and movement directors receive proper credit for their work.
Take action
CMDN is urging all Equity members and industry allies to sign the open letter to PACT in support of fair pay, credit, and recognition for choreographers and movement directors. Sign the letter online now.
To stay up to date with CMDN’s campaigns and events, visit the choreographers and movement directors Network page or follow @cmdn_equity on social media.
