Johannesburg – M-Net's brand new soap opera The Wild has barely been on air for two months and has already delivered more drama off set than on.
Two of the three producers of The Wild, Bronwyn Berry and Richard Nosworthy, gave their three months notice last week due to "personal" reasons, said spokesperson Lani Lombard.
"The reasons are a personal matter between M-Net and the producers. The resignations will have no effect on broadcast timelines."
Rebroadcasts
In addition, the Creative Workers Union (Cwusa) are breathing down M-Net's neck over the "unfair and discriminatory contracts" that their actors have to sign.
Cwusa labelled it as a "reproduction of inequality during the apartheid regime".
This comes after actor Tony Kgoroge suggested that the clause in his M-Net contract which states that actors do not get a profit share for rebroadcasts bothers him.
"Artists are suffering, "said Kgoroge.
"Our employers don't provide medical-aid or pension. The profit sharing will be used for that“.
Better paid
According to Lombard, this is standard practice for all freelance employees.
“M-Net works the actors' profit into their contracts. This is a standard clause. The income M-Net recieves from local productions that are rebroadcasted is so small that it is used to cover future compensation when the series is being shot.”
"Contrary to what Tony Kgoroge told the media, actors are often better paid than the industry standard. Kgoroge was offered R80 000 per month. In the meanwhile, the issue has been reffered to the Labour Court."
Lombard commented about the lawsuit saying that the various legal advisers of M-Net and Kgoroge interpret copyright differently.
"According to our legal advisers we are not violating copyright."
Two of the three producers of The Wild, Bronwyn Berry and Richard Nosworthy, gave their three months notice last week due to "personal" reasons, said spokesperson Lani Lombard.
"The reasons are a personal matter between M-Net and the producers. The resignations will have no effect on broadcast timelines."
Rebroadcasts
In addition, the Creative Workers Union (Cwusa) are breathing down M-Net's neck over the "unfair and discriminatory contracts" that their actors have to sign.
Cwusa labelled it as a "reproduction of inequality during the apartheid regime".
This comes after actor Tony Kgoroge suggested that the clause in his M-Net contract which states that actors do not get a profit share for rebroadcasts bothers him.
"Artists are suffering, "said Kgoroge.
"Our employers don't provide medical-aid or pension. The profit sharing will be used for that“.
Better paid
According to Lombard, this is standard practice for all freelance employees.
“M-Net works the actors' profit into their contracts. This is a standard clause. The income M-Net recieves from local productions that are rebroadcasted is so small that it is used to cover future compensation when the series is being shot.”
"Contrary to what Tony Kgoroge told the media, actors are often better paid than the industry standard. Kgoroge was offered R80 000 per month. In the meanwhile, the issue has been reffered to the Labour Court."
Lombard commented about the lawsuit saying that the various legal advisers of M-Net and Kgoroge interpret copyright differently.
"According to our legal advisers we are not violating copyright."