The
Theatrical and Television Motion Picture Special Payments Fund has been
around in its present incarnation since 1972. So, you might ask “why
is there a need to change the name at this time?” To be completely
accurate, the Fund didn’t actually change its name. This was done
at the most recent negotiation between the Alliance of Motion Picture
and Television Producers (AMPTP) and the American Federation of Musicians
(AFM) in response to a proposal from the musicians working under the Agreement
who felt that the Fund’s name no longer (and in all likelihood never
did) reflected where the payments came from. In fact, over the years there
has been growing confusion as to where the payments came from and what
the actual obligations of the Producers are.
The
payments to the Fund have never been generated as a result of exhibition
in a “primary” market (e.g. theatrical exhibition), and only
come about when a picture is exhibited in and receives revenue from a
supplemental or ancillary market (i.e. a “secondary market”).
Many Producers, however, were still convinced that if they scored their
picture under the AFM Agreement they would be stuck paying huge sums of
money to the Fund out of their “box office” receipts. We all
know this is not true…but try and convince a gun-shy producer of
this fact!
We
all know that the musicians who perform on motion picture and television
scores are “Special,” and we certainly know that they have
very “Special” feelings about receiving their annual payment
from the Fund. However, it is very important that the Producers know that
these are not out of the ordinary or “Special” payments but
only occur when they make money in a secondary market. Hence the new name…Film
Musicians Secondary Markets Fund.
Sincerely,
Dennis Dreith
Fund Administrator
©2003 Film Musicians Secondary Markets Fund. All Rights Reserved.