25 cinematographers from all over the world signed original version of theDeclaration of Cinematographers’ Working Conditions in the Film and TV Industry. In Lodz, the history repeated – the filmmakers, who use ultramodern techniques, demanded an improvement of their working conditions, just like the weavers from the beginning of the XX century.

The Declaration is a result of day long discussion, that took place on Wednesday, as well as the work of the group of cinematographers named the International Assamble of Cinematographers on the CAMERIMAGE Festiwal. In the night from Wednesday to Thursday came into existence the revolutionary declaration’s text, in which cinematographers, for the first time ever, frankly speak that their profession if underestimated and demand equal rights with directors and producers as film authors.

Declaration on Working Conditions in the Film and TV Industry

On November 30th 2005 the International Assembly of Cinematographers at the Camerimage Film Festival at Lodz/Poland stated the following declaration to be communicated to National Government Departments, Labour/Social Security Authorities, Production Companies and to all relevant groups and professional organizations internationally.

* The working conditions on many Film and TV Productions around the World have deteriorated to such a critical degree that immediate action is imperative.

* We condemn the unnecessarily long working days and unsafe working environments to which film and television professionals are exposed, frequently violating existing laws.

* We urge the international film and television industry and governments to support cinematographers in resolving these issues.

* We expect representative film organizations to encourage relevant authorities to cease these exploitative practices and restore acceptable working conditions.

Tony Costa IMAGO - aip - Portugal, Vilmos Zsigmond - ASC - United States, Kees Van Oostrum - ASC - United States, Billy Williams - BSC - United Kingdom, Peter Dubovitz - HSC - Hungary, Jost Vacano - bvk/ASC - Germany, Robert Alazraki - AFC - France, Robert Fraisse - France, Louis Philippe Capelle - SBC - Belgium, Andrzej Jaroszewicz - PSC - Poland, Marek Poray - PSC - Poland/USA, Lance Gewer - SASC - South Africa, Gerry Fisher - BSC - United Kingdom, Nigel Walters - BSC - United Kingdom, Witold Stok - BSC - United Kingdom, François Lartigue - France Sibylle Grunze - Germany, Krzysztof Ptak - PSC - Poland, Mike Southon - BSC - United Kingdom, Kay Gauditz - bvk - Germany, Affonso Beato - ABC - Brazil, Laszlo Kovacs - ASC - United States, Phedon Papamichael ASC - United States

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