Film crews don’t need job threats from Hollywood A-listers

Bectu has responded to a leaked audio tape that has emerged of Tom Cruise shouting at staff at the Warner Bros. Studios in Hertfordshire, using expletives and threatening their jobs. 

Bectu national secretary Spencer MacDonald said:

“Film crews have worked tirelessly to put in place procedures to ensure that film sets are covid-secure. Indeed, Bectu was one of a handful of organisations that contributed to the government’s return to work guidance for high end film and TV production.

“After a very difficult year for freelancers working in the industry, the last thing crews deserve is a multi-millionaire Hollywood star screaming abuse and threatening their jobs.”

Bectu’s role in the film industry’s safe return to work

Bectu members have worked tirelessly in 2020 to get productions started again and ensure that sets are covid-secure.

Bectu was consulted by the British Film Commission on their Film & TV Production Code of Practice, covering any return to workplaces during the COVID-19 crisis. Bectu have had a seat on the panel that commissioned the work.

This document was signed off by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). It has been sent to every employer in the ‘inward investment in film and high-end TV’ sector with a recommendation that their working practices should be based on it. 

In addition, Bectu has produced very detailed guidance for Scripted Film and TV and what our definition of COVID-19 safe-working practices is.

This work was led by Bectu’s Assistant Directors Branch with contributions from hundreds of Bectu Representatives, representing approximately 15,000 members working in the UK film and TV sector.