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How long of a notice does an actor have to give when leaving a soap? |
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#1 |
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Join Date: Jul 2011
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How long of a notice does an actor have to give when leaving a soap?
I'm wondering more about the actors who play the most popular and high profile characters.
When Katherine Kelly and Michelle Keegan were leaving Coronation Street we were told well over a year in advance that they would be leaving at the end of their current contract. Something of which I thought was very strange as plans can change in the space of a year. And you would think TPTB would try and use a major percentage of that time to try and negotiate a new contract with them rather than to announce it to the public so long in advance. Look I know being an actor is a completely different ball game than a normal job. But could someone like Steve McFadden or Alison King announce to producers of the respective soap that they would like to leave at the end of their contract just weeks before their current contract expires? |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Feb 2014
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Quote:
I'm wondering more about the actors who play the most popular and high profile characters.
When Katherine Kelly and Michelle Keegan were leaving Coronation Street we were told well over a year in advance that they would be leaving at the end of their current contract. Something of which I thought was very strange as plans can change in the space of a year. And you would think TPTB would try and use a major percentage of that time to try and negotiate a new contract with them rather than to announce it to the public so long in advance. Look I know being an actor is a completely different ball game than a normal job. But could someone like Steve McFadden or Alison King announce to producers of the respective soap that they would like to leave at the end of their contract just weeks before their current contract expires? like a standard contract of employment they will have notice periods in them. I very much doubt it is the standard 30 days. Even in my occupation 8-12 weeks notice is common. I think cos most of the soaps are on 12 month contracts they may tell them I will sign this one then I am not renewing. like any job I am sure tptb will know if they can comvince someone to stay or not, because of storyline planning it would be a very limited time they would have to do that. sometimes if they can offer a good exit they will extend. Like with sam strike, his contract negotiations will have been in aug, he didnt want to renew and so therefore leaves at the end of the contract |
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#3 |
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I think there is a standard of about three months but when you've been in the show a while, I imagine it's a case of doing it with respect. If I was ever in that position, as an actor myself, I'd like to give at least six months notice or I'd tell them as soon as I knew.
The show evolves and they plan so far in advance that out of respect for that team, I'd want to give them enough time to plan ahead. |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Aug 2006
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Yes I think they can. It works both ways too. You can be called in weeks before new contract negotiations with your agent and producers to be told your contract isn't being renewed.
Some people especially new characters have short term contracts initially and then they are extended. I would have thought most actors contracts are yearly. But there are maybe more established actors who can negotiate longer contracts. Having a good agent always helps. Last edited by textpest : 27-12-2014 at 13:32. Reason: Spelling errors |
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#5 |
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Quote:
I think there is a standard of about three months but when you've been in the show a while, I imagine it's a case of doing it with respect. If I was ever in that position, as an actor myself, I'd like to give at least six months notice or I'd tell them as soon as I knew.
The show evolves and they plan so far in advance that out of respect for that team, I'd want to give them enough time to plan ahead. |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Jan 2011
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Quote:
Yes I think they can. It works both ways too. You can be called in weeks before new contract negotiations with your agent and producers to be told your contract isn't being renewed.
Some people especially new characters have short term contracts initially and then they are extended. I would have thought most actors contracts are yearly. But there are maybe more established actors who can negotiate longer contracts. Having a good agent always helps. |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Oct 2009
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Coronation street are now in the habit of announcing their actors are leaving more than a whole year before they go. Hayley, Tina and now Katy we were told were leaving a full 12 months before their departures. What is the point in this? Corrie are doing themselves a disservice IMO announcing this information so far in advance. I lose interest in a character once I know they're going, I no longer care what happens to them there's no point investing time and interest in somebody whose leaving. Why not keep exits a secret until they air to give viewers a surprise and keep them interested. The others soaps aren't half as bad they manage to keep exits a secret until at least a couple of months before transmission it just seems to be corrie with the problem.
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#8 |
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Join Date: Sep 2013
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I've noticed that the exits on Corrie are generally announced much further in advance then Eastenders. Zainab's exit was announced in December and left in February but it was said that she told producers much earlier that year. I'm sure its the producers decision when to announce but I'm not sure why they do it so far in advance or so late?
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#9 |
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Join Date: Feb 2014
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Quote:
I've noticed that the exits on Corrie are generally announced much further in advance then Eastenders. Zainab's exit was announced in December and left in February but it was said that she told producers much earlier that year. I'm sure its the producers decision when to announce but I'm not sure why they do it so far in advance or so late?
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#10 |
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Join Date: Nov 2009
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Quote:
like a standard contract of employment they will have notice periods in them. I very much doubt it is the standard 30 days. Even in my occupation 8-12 weeks notice is common. I think cos most of the soaps are on 12 month contracts they may tell them I will sign this one then I am not renewing.
like any job I am sure tptb will know if they can comvince someone to stay or not, because of storyline planning it would be a very limited time they would have to do that. sometimes if they can offer a good exit they will extend. Like with sam strike, his contract negotiations will have been in aug, he didnt want to renew and so therefore leaves at the end of the contract So, the least they'll have to work with is 3 months, more likely 6 months. But very considerate, long term actors probably tell them even earlier, they'll say that they don't intend to renew at the end of their current contract a year in advance or that they are only signing a 12 month extension and will leave at the end of that. Certainly Guy Henry and Tina Hobley both did that with Holby. It allows the storyliners time to come up with a really good exit storyline for them which also benefits the actor if they want to leave with something high profile. |
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#11 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 23,466
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Quote:
I've noticed that the exits on Corrie are generally announced much further in advance then Eastenders. Zainab's exit was announced in December and left in February but it was said that she told producers much earlier that year. I'm sure its the producers decision when to announce but I'm not sure why they do it so far in advance or so late?
Also, sometimes, they want to drum up interest in the exit storyline which might run over as much as a year as was the case with Michelle Keegan and Tina's affair with Peter. |
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