Entertainment columnist and talent manager Lolit Solis gave her opinion on the cut in artists’ fees in the showbiz industry as she expected it due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In her Instagram post, Solis said that show business is in a sad state due to pandemic and artists do not have bargaining power because of this. She also expects that price cut among artists in the entertainment industry is possible.
“Alam mo Salve iyan price cut na hiniling ng ABS-CBN imposible hindi rin hilingin ng GMA7 at mga movie producers. Hindi mo puwede sabihin na binigyan mo discount ang ABS kasi may problema ngayon, dahil tiyak isasagot sa iyo hihintayin nyo ba magka problema kami bago kayo magbigay discount sa main?
“At huwag na tayo mag ilusyon, wala ngayon bargaining power ang mga artista dahil nga nasa sad state ang showbiz.”
Due to the current situation, she said that box office returns would be affected because they were only allowed to have limited seats in the cinema.
The advertising industry also declared that buying of commercials is based per program unlike before the pandemic when ads were bought by block. She also had noted that replays of shows have a strong impact on the viewer.
“Affected ang box office returns ng mga pelikula dahil sa limited seats ng mga sinehan, nag declare ang mga advertising company na per program na bibili ng commercial, hindi na by block na gaya ng dati, naranasan na rin ng mga TV station na malakas ang appeal ng mga replay at pinapanuod parin, so who can stop them to show all the replay for a year?”
In her opinion, artists should adapt to the current situation of the TV network and film producers.
“What the talents need is job, work, so kung ito ngayon ang standard, can you go against the flow? Pumayag ang mga managers sa hiling ng ABS na price cut, so imposible hindi ka pumayag kung hilingin iyan ng GMA 7, Viva, Regal at Star Cinema. Tanggapin na natin ang real situation, wala ngayon puwede magmalaki, dahil masikip ang mundo, hindi open field ngayon ang trabaho, kulang na kulang,” she said
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Even with the artists, she is managing, Solis gives them the right to decide on accepting projects with the rate of talent fee.
“Honestly, alam mo at nakikita mo kung gaano kahirap ngayon ang trabaho. So iiwan ko ang sagot sa mga alaga ko, dahil sila naman ang gagawa ng trabaho, desisyon nila masusunod. Kung ayaw nila, ok. Kung kaya nila hintayin hangga bumuti ang sitwasyon, ok. Pero kung talagang hindi kaya, bakit hindi pagbigyan iyon hinihingi na price cut?” she said in another Instagram post.
She also urged artists to be more practical and make a little sacrifice to survive until the industry gets back on its feet.
“Lahat ngayon dapat mag sacrifice dahil sa mga nangyayari. Ngayon ang panahon na dapat tulungan sa isa’t isa para mag survive. Huwag ng mag ego trip kundi kaya, dahil ang importante trabaho. Maging practical sa realidad ng buhay. Huwag mabuhay sa ilusyon,” she added
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PAMI President June Rufino and other managers present at the meeting had agreed to the discounted talent fees proposed by ABS-CBN.
“Alam ng lahat ang sitwasyon sa showbiz ngayon, siguro dito mati-test ang tolerance level ng mga artista, dahil hindi lang basic ang babalikan mo sa trabaho, balik din ngayon sa dating talent fee before nauso ‘yung sky rock high na asking price ng mga artista.
“Now is the moment of truth, parang starting uli ang showbiz, panahon na regular pa ang payslip at wala ang mga nauso na personal make-up artist at stylist.
“Welcome to the real world,” said Solis.
However, the price cut is not only happening at ABS-CBN. Abante Tonite said that there are rumors that GMA Network artists have also reduced their talent fees.
“Hindi naman binarat kasi matataas naman TF nila. Binawasan kasi walang taping, walang bagong show na iniere.”
But artist still receive their salaries even they don’t have tapings due to COVID -19 pandemic.
“Kumbaga, wala silang ginagawa, e, guaranteed contract sila. Kahit hindi magtrabaho ay sumusuweldo pa rin sila. Win-win situation ika nga. Lahat naman affected sa COVID -19 crisis.”
The Film Development Council of the Philippines and Inter-Guild Alliance have released their safety guidelines on set. Under the general community quarantine (GCQ), networks were allowed to have tapings of their television shows and movies.
