{"id":7961,"date":"2025-02-18T15:33:13","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T15:33:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/?p=7961"},"modified":"2025-12-23T13:58:36","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T13:58:36","slug":"how-becs-helps-performers-get-additional-pay-for-overseas-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/the-essentials\/how-becs-helps-performers-get-additional-pay-for-overseas-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Your Audio-visual Work Shown Overseas? Get Additional Payments from BECS"},"content":{"rendered":"

How the British Equity Collection Society (BECS) helps performers get additional payments when their film and TV work is shown overseas.<\/span><\/i><\/h2>\n

If your work is being shown anywhere in the world, you may have the right to receive additional payment (additional to what is provided for in your contract with the producer) \u2013 and that\u2019s where The British Equity Collecting Society (BECS) comes in.<\/span><\/p>\n

BECS is a membership-based organisation who work on performers\u2019 behalf, collecting money which is due to them (per the law of several countries) when their films and TV shows are shown across the globe. Established in 1998 as a not-for-profit organisation run by performers for performers, BECS <\/span>is the UK\u2019s only collective management organisation for audio-visual performers and has around 30,000 members.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since 2017, BECS has collected over \u00a358 million for distribution to their members. If you’re a performer working in the audio-visual medium it’s well worth looking to sign up for free BECS membership.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Does BECS Do for Its Members?<\/span><\/h3>\n

BECS negotiates and maintains an ever growing network of international agreements with other overseas collective management organisations to secure payment for members when their work is shown overseas. BECS will claim performers\u2019 dues from across the world and pass this on to their members bi-annually.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBECS is like a fabulous truffle hound rooting out what is due to you,\u201d says Joanna Lumley, star of <\/span>Absolutely Fabulous<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>Motherland<\/span><\/i>. \u201cI love them and rely on them. And when a small, sometimes large, sum of money suddenly turns up, I raise my glass to them with gratitude.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

BECS also works to protect and improve the rights of performers in the UK and abroad with lobbying and educational activities. Some of the lobbying they\u2019re currently involved in are:<\/span><\/p>\n