British Directors Call on Streamers to Fairly Negotiate Residuals: A Plea for Recognition and Support
British Directors Call for Attention to Residuals in Open Letter
In an open letter, prominent British directors, including Asif Kapadia, Andrew Haigh, and Otto Bathurst, have expressed frustration over the reluctance of streaming platforms to negotiate residuals for their work. The letter, orchestrated by Directors UK, highlights the urgent need for dialogue on this critical issue more than 18 months after the organization threatened to withhold copyright from these services if a deal was not reached.
Directors UK, representing over 8,500 British directors, voiced concern that there has been no substantial progress in negotiations regarding royalty agreements. Their latest communication serves as a last resort to seek acknowledgment and respect for directors’ rights amidst an evolving industry landscape.
"We want to send a clear message to you all: royalties are a lifeblood for directors, however successful we may be at some point in our careers," the letter asserts. It emphasizes that other countries, including the U.S. and various nations in Europe and Latin America, have adapted practices that ensure ongoing payments to directors, highlighting a disparity in treatment.
The letter critiques streaming companies for their enthusiasm in leveraging UK tax incentive schemes while dragging their feet on establishing an adequate royalty scheme. In contrast, it commends public broadcasters and Sky for their longstanding commitment to a system of copyright royalties for UK television directors over the past 25 years.
Over 150 directors, including distinguished names such as Kapadia (Amy), Bathurst (Peaky Blinders), and Haigh (All Of Us Strangers), have signed the letter, reinforcing the gravity of the situation.
The lack of engagement from streaming services in the UK stands in stark contrast to practices in the U.S., where the Directors Guild of America (DGA) is preparing to negotiate a new contract that previously resulted in a significant increase in foreign residuals for major platforms.
"Behind every programme you commission is a director whose creativity, craft, and vision are integral to that success. You know the value we directors bring – now we need you to show it," the letter emphasizes.
Andy Harrower, head of Directors UK, stated, “Royalties aren’t a luxury or a bonus; they are recognition of the continuing value of the shows that our members direct. This needs to be fixed, and the streamers need to address this with more urgency.”
Streaming giants such as Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Paramount, Apple, and Warner Bros. Discovery have been approached for comment on the matter. The call for attention to directors’ rights raises critical questions about the sustainability and fairness of compensation practices in the streaming era.
