70% of Israel actors can't make ends meet
Israeli Actors' Guild elects new executive committee, launches campaign to protect performers' rights. Actors Dvir Bendak and Shahar Botzer tell Calcalist why actors demand social justice as well
The organization held its annual general meeting last Friday on the backdrop of the social protests sweeping across the country. The top item on the agenda was the demand to stand up for actors' rights.
The annual election for the executive committee placed actors Moshe Ivgi, Dvir Bendak, Ohad Knoler and Oz Zehavi among the committee's elected members. Zehavi presented a document with a detailed vision for future.
During the assembly, participants expressed clear and harsh opinions. Actress Sarit Vino said, "People in the industry, who have a 12-16 hour work day, can't even begin the month, not to mention finishing it, with money in the bank. We must learn to say no to jobs that pay less than what is stipulated in Shaham's agreements, to cancel performances if we are not paid as agreed. We must be strong and clear in order to get what we deserve".
Shaham was established 11 years ago and currently has 1,700 members. Director Shahar Botzer, 29, was appointed director of the organization six months ago. Botzer has vast experience in heading NGOs and social-political activity: already at the age of 13 he appealed to the high court of justice on rights for the disabled which led to a precedential ruling by Justice Aharon Barak.
In an interview to Calcalist, Bendak and Botzer explain the circumstances that led to a state of affairs in which employers pay actors such low salaries.
What is Shaham's most important achievement to date?
"Our first and most important achievement did not happen in one certain time," says Bendak. "It is the fact that actors now have a voice. There was a time when they were disregarded. Gradually, our presence was requested more and more in debates – even in the Knesset's finance and education committees. There is an entire sector that has something to say and the fact that actors associated is a miracle."
"The organization's power stems from the fact that its members are known and the people who can go to the Knesset and make a difference are those who are famous," add Botzer.
Self respect
According to Bendak and Botzer, theater managers can employ actors for any payment agreed on between the two and even employ the actors for no pay at all in return for the exposure.
"Actors show up on the set and just accept the fact that everyone's salary is a given. There is a feeling of uneasiness to demand what is rightfully ours", says Botzer.
Perhaps because they fear that the job will be given to someone else who agrees to the pay?
"I too was in a place in which I couldn’t make demands," says Bendak. "This was precisely the impetus for the foundation of Shaham."
Are there any successful actors in Shaham? It would appear that such actors don't need your help.
"Among Shaham's members are front line names such as Moshe Ivgi, Sasson Gabai and Yona Elian," says Botzer. "They understand Shaham's importance as a guild that upholds the reputation of actors and the trade and which is not to be taken for granted. It was less than a decade when things were different and they remember those times well.'
"These actors realize that there is an organization that can protect and help them," says Bendak. "I think that at all times the we should have someone with power in the Industry at the helm so as not to give anyone a reason to claim that we are disgruntled actors with nothing else to do this year other than fight the system.
"It takes a lot of decency to get a fat check in the morning from the television network for acting in a series and in the afternoon to appear in a court hearing against that same network."
David Galanos, chairman of the actors' union at the Histadrut labor federation, said in response: "I call on the actors not to split forces; however, the actors' union in the Histadrut is the legal actor organization and no any other organization.
"As far as I'm concerned, as long as the management and workers/actors fulfill the agreement, it's acceptable. But if they do go to court, there might be a problem because they are not the representing body".
Click here to read this report in Hebrew
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