Of all the add-ons and bonus fees outlined in the FAA/PACT rate card, nothing creates more misunderstanding and confusion than ‘Creative Reaction’ found in Category D of the Supplementary Fees.
The 2023 FAA/PACT Agreement defines the Creative Reaction as such:
“An Artiste receives creative direction as an individual or in a group of not more than four Artistes to react in a specific way either to a cast member or in close-up to camera or when the footage is to be copied electronically to create group or crowd scenes.”
This is worded vaguely to cover any eventuality, any mundane or bizarre instruction that a Supporting Artiste (SA) may be given throughout the fictional worlds of Film & TV.
Naturally, there is a margin of difference of interpretation between Crowd Assistant Directors (AD), especially as this is a creative field and no AD is the same. Performing the same action across different productions may yield different compensation depending on how featured you were in the frame or how significant your action was to the success of the shot.
Therefore the aim of this blog is to minimise any difference of interpretation across both ADs and SAs, and ensure that you leave each filming day confident that you’re being paid correctly for your contributions.
The key phrase from the definition above is, “as an individual or in a group of not more than four Artistes”.
Are you or a small group of SAs being given specific instruction that the rest of the crowd isn’t? This key here is what you are doing relative to what everyone else is doing.
If twenty of you are told to start cheering excitedly to something the main cast says or does, you are indeed reacting and you may even be reacting creatively, but you are doing this as part of a crowd.
No single SA is standing out individually due to this instruction. This does not qualify for a creative reaction.
But even if you are doing something individually or as a small group, is your role being elevated to prominence in the scene because of this instruction?
Some SAs believe that merely being given any specific instruction qualifies them for a creative reaction fee. This isn’t true, since you will always be given an action to perform on every film and TV set.
Rather, it entirely depends on the context of the scene.
If the scene is a mediaeval village, the crew need to create believable street-life. A few SAs will become market stall sellers. Another will be a butcher, pretending to cut meat. Another couple will be drunkards, enjoying conversation and being merry. Another may be a knight, a squire, a pageboy. There will be a few passerbys, some from high society and some from the working class.
Each of these individuals will be given specific actions pertaining only to their role, but have any of them been elevated to prominence in the scene or camera frame?
No.
Their individual actions combine to create general street life. Their individual actions may not read on camera and none of them affect the sequence of events or interact with the main cast.
Now, let's say the protagonist charges into the scene on his horse and he dismounts, hands the reins of his horse to an SA playing a stable boy, with a word or two about feeding the horse some hay.
This interaction is due a Creative Reaction because the stable boy is now interacting with the main cast in a way that elevates him to prominence in the scene.
This instruction will require collaboration between the main cast and the SA, and the SA will likely receive these instructions from the 1st Assistant Director or the Director themselves.
Being in close proximity to the main cast doesn’t automatically warrant you a creative reaction.
If they brush past you in a crowded street, then there’s nothing special about your contribution. But if they brush past you and hand you a prop or deliver a line, or if the director asks you specifically to deliver a facial expression as they brush past, then the creative reaction is due.
Simply opening a door for the main cast doesn’t warrant a creative reaction either. Only if the cast interact with you in a more involved way, such as delivering dialogue or swapping props, would your contribution warrant a Creative Reaction.
You may be far away from the main cast or the main cast may be entirely absent, but the action you’ve been given affects the scene.
Perhaps after the hero has dismounted from his horse, you and a small group specifically have been instructed to boo and throw tomatoes in his direction. The camera then captures the hero's face sour as he realises he isn’t welcome here.
In this instance, you specifically have affected the sequence of events and your performance is key to the logic of the scene. You weren’t interacting directly with the main cast, but your action still elevates you to prominence amongst the general street life.
Sometimes you may not be interacting with the main cast but a creative reaction is still owed due to how much focus you are receiving from the camera.
If you are prominent in a close-up, or if the camera operator is following your movement to bookend the shot, you would be due a creative reaction because of the attention you are receiving in the frame. It is assumed the audience will be watching your performance closely and therefore what you do will affect the success of the scene or shot.
A good tell tale sign is that a high-ranking crew member, usually the 1st AD or director has approached you specifically to achieve something from your performance. This person won’t usually interact with the crowd but instead gives most of their attention to the main cast, so you know it means something when they collaborate with you.
“I would give a creative reaction when the artiste is spoken to by the director individually and asked to perform in a certain way. As well as if the artiste is featured in a single shot of themselves either on their own or in a small group of no more than 4 - next to an actor and reacting to the action of the scene.”
- Demi Coulson, Crowd 2nd for ‘One Day', ‘Embankment’ and S2 of ‘Avenue 5’.
Here is a checklist to determine whether you are due a Creative Reaction:
As an individual or in a small group of no more than four SAs:
Are you interacting with any of the main cast, either through miming, dialogue or action?
Has your action specifically affected the events or logic of the scene?
Are you very prominent in the camera frame either due to your proximity to the camera, the camera movement or your action?
Has the Director spoken to you directly to achieve something from your performance?
Fulfilling any one of these criteria will likely mean that you are due a Creative Reaction fee.
“A Creative Reaction can only be granted if you are clearly featured in the shot performing a specific action outside of general background work with less than 4 other artistes.
A good tip is to check with the 3rd AD on set as they will know from looking at the monitors, and they are the crew member who marks down who is featured.
After the takes are done and it's a conveniant moment to ask or have one of the crowd PAs ask on your behalf whether you were featured.”
- Steve Griffiths, Crowd 2nd AD for ‘Strike’, ‘Essex Serpent’, ‘Bodies’ & ‘Mary and George’.
If you are unsure about whether your contribution is worthy of a Creative Reaction fee and were unable to ask at the time, make sure to speak to the Crowd 2nd AD when they sign you out at the end of the day. They will be able to confirm either way and ensure you are paid correctly.
As of the 2024 FAA rate card, a Creative Reaction is worth £35.17.
As of the 2024 Equity rate card, Creative Contribution is worth £31.82.
If you forget to speak to the Crowd 2nd AD at sign out, and your Job Review makes no mention of a Supplementary Fee, make sure to query the Job Review so we can liaise the production to confirm either way.
Querying job reviews may slow the process of being paid, so make sure that you remember to confirm with the Crowd 2nd at the end of the day to save any hassle.
Be sure to check out our Job Review blog to learn more about queries.
We hope that this article has helped you understand the Creative Reaction a little better, and if you enjoyed this article, feel free to check out others on The Advice Centre.
Many thanks,
The Extra People Team.