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Mark Milsome Foundation

This foundation was inspired by the achievements, character and unique nature of our respected friend and colleague, Mark Milsome

News

Lords Discuss Health and Safety Issues

Last week Samantha Wainstein (Chair), Andra Milsome (Founder) & Rory Kinnear (Patron) attended a debate led by Lord Melvyn Bragg in the House of Lords which focused on the contribution of the arts to the economy and society.

During the session, Baroness Angela Smith of Basildon Labour leader of the Lords, spoke about how Mark was tragically killed, saying ‘Its shocking and devastating, as it’s clear that it could and should have been prevented.’ She raised questions around the ‘serious health and safety issues to be addressed for those working in film and TV, including the need to look at training, current legislation and the role of the HSE.’

The Baroness asserted that ‘those that work in the industry deserve better. Could this be addressed through more effective monitoring and inspections, or is fresh guidance or new legislation needed? Are the existing training requirements adequate and how are they assessed? Why can’t this apply to UK employed staff working in other countries? So, it’s not just about money – so much effective work could be done in terms of the above issues and the will, commitment, and support from both the industry and Government, it could make a real difference.’

In response to the enthusiastic debate, the Foundation calls for a cross party strategy to protect and empower those working in the film and tv sector through updating of the law, enforcement of training and a renewed focus on accountability.

Baroness Angela Smith concluded her speech by expressing hope that 
‘the minister will agree to meet me with campaigners to take this forward.’

Delightfully, Lord Parkinson, Minister for Arts and Heritage agreed, signalling a step in the right direction!

Samantha Wainstein says ‘I’m deeply grateful for Baroness Angela Smith of Basildon’s remarkable efforts in driving groundbreaking changes to the laws governing health and safety within the film and TV industry. The Baroness stands as a fantastic advocate for our cause!”

To read the full transcript of the debate click here

A Year in Review

Mark Milsome Foundation Year in Review

The Foundation has had a fantastic year advocating for better health and safety practice, actively participating in events to help spread awareness of our mission, forging new relationships with production companies and education/training providers. The overwhelming support from all of you has been truly inspiring and we look forward to your continued support in the coming year. Below are a few of the 2023 highlights.

Mission Digital / illuminatrix Fundraising Event – This event was held on behalf of the Foundation at 100 Wardour Street. A diverse range of our merchandise was available for purchase with all proceeds directly contributing to fund our mission.

Cinegirl Event at CVP – A panel discussion with speakers Laura Smith (Director), Abbi Collins (stunt coordinator), Annabella Wood (stunt performer) and Andra (MMF Founder) focused on stunts and safety.

First Aid Course for Guild Trainees Applicants – one day course at the Guild of British Camera Technicians, sponsored by the Foundation.

Health & Safety Talks for Film London – we guided various groups of students, who were doing a week long film course at Film London, through our Skillset level 2 production safety passport course.

Mark Milsome Memorial Cup – the annual football fundraiser was held in a bid to raise money for the Foundation and featured teams comprised of production crew.

Mark’s 60th Birthday – we commemorated Mark on what would’ve been his 60th by bringing back the much-loved green cap and launching a bottle green t-shirt and sweatshirt.

‘Foot in the Door’ – we interviewed a number of Film and TV students from different educational institutions at Panavision for our ‘Foot in the Door’ traineeship programme and selected Lily Coney, Stephanie Chao and Louie Walters.

Mentor for ‘Foot in the Door’ Trainees – Agnieszka Szeliga, a seasoned camera operator, assumed the role of mentor for the MMF trainees, offering guidance, support and invaluable industry insights over the next year.

Screenskills Level 2 Production Safety Passport – many production companies and colleges took up the MMF H&S course, providing an opportunity for thousands of current and aspiring crew to learn essential safety knowledge.

HSE Working Minds – In honour of World Mental Health Day the Foundation partnered with the HSE Working Minds campaign to assist businesses and employees in understanding effective methods for preventing job-related stress and promoting mental well-being.

Mark’s Gift – The annual gift of £2000 was awarded to Zara Trott, someone we believe Mark would’ve wanted to support.

Health and Safety Survey – The Foundation, in collaboration with Bectu, launched a health and safety survey, entitled ‘A Few Minutes for Mark’, with the aim of assessing and improving the safety of UK film and TV crews.

Cameraimage Festival – The Foundation attended the Cameraimage Film Festival in Poland to explore how other countries are tackling health and safety. During the festival, we took the opportunity to launch our 2024 calendar, “Our Planet’s Perspective,” at a special event.

Mark’s Six Year Anniversary – we commemorated Mark’s six year anniversary since his death on 18th November and highlighted the importance of strictly adhering to health and safety guidelines.

Mad Dog 2020 Casting Fundraiser – Mad Dog organised a fundraising hike through the Forest of Dean on behalf of the Foundation which was attended by members of the Milsome family.

BBC News Piece – The BBC ran a compelling news piece, widely covered in the media, drawing attention to health and safety on set and raising questions about the risks involved for actors and crew.

Pinewood Futures Festival – The Foundation participated in the exciting annual careers event held at Pinewood Studios for those looking to embark on a career in the Film and TV industry.

 

 

 

Bectu and Mark Milsome Foundation Release Findings From Crew Safety Survey

On the 6th anniversary of the tragic death of respected British camera operator Mark Milsome, The Mark Milsome Foundation and Bectu have released the findings from a survey of film and TV crew about current views on health and safety training and protocols on British sets.

Alarmingly, nearly three quarters of respondents said they have felt their safety or that of a colleague has been compromised at work.

The survey highlights a worrying trend regarding crew’s reticence to speak up about their safety concerns – all those who reported incidents asked to remain anonymous for fear of jeopardising future employment.

The survey findings reveal an overwhelming consensus that safety training and protocols need to be improved and that production companies should take ultimate responsibility for issues affecting shooting crew on a film/TV set, even when there are freelance contractors involved in the work.

Over two-thirds of survey respondents identified real concerns regarding people being promoted to positions of responsibility without adequate experience or safety qualifications. 33.6% agreed that this is a problem and 34.0% strongly agreed.

Given the dynamic nature of freelance work on film and TV sets, the survey highlights the crucial need for all crew to feel assured that they are collaborating with competent and safety-conscious individuals. Key safety-critical roles must meet established standards of competency and must have objective and transparent craft-specific qualifications supported by recognised training and work experience structures.

Overall, there is a clear need for enhanced safety standards and qualifications and the industry should work towards making the achievement of such qualifications, and an adherence to these standards, a pre-condition of working in the sector. Basic safety training and orientation for all crew members should also be a prerequisite.

For these reasons, Bectu and MMF are calling for a commitment from the industry to ensure that everyone working on a production has completed a Level 2 Production Safety Passport, and that everyone in a supervisory role has completed a Level 3.5 Passport.

The survey also highlighted the need to address a culture of long working days, which result in unsafe working and commuting situations. 96.3% of respondents had a 10+ hour day as their most recent experience of a normal working day, not including travel, overtime or other unpaid working time (49.5% of respondents had worked a day of 10-12 hours, and 46.4% had worked a day lasting 12 hours or more).

Two thirds of respondents reported that they would work longer-than-standard hours at least once a week (23.5% said that long-days-plus-overtime were the norm).

72% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “I am sometimes so tired, that I am concerned about my safety on the road travelling to and from work, and/or the possibility that I will work in an unsafe way.”

Approximately 80% of respondents’ daily journeys to and from work took more than one hour and more than half took longer than 90 minutes (roughly one third took longer than two hours and more than 10% took longer than three hours).

When asked about their longest ‘door to door’ day of working/commuting in the past 12 months (i.e., the longest day that they had worked during the last year, the actual ‘working day’ including overtime, but not including the commute), over 96% of respondents had worked days that lasted longer than 12 hours.

Samantha Wainstein, Chair of the Mark Milsome Foundation commented:

‘Mark’s death serves as a poignant reminder of the critical importance of strictly adhering to health and safety guidelines. The Mark Milsome Foundation was established in his memory, and one of the core aspects of our mission is ensuring that no one on a film set dies for the sake of a shot again. This survey has gathered data on first-hand experiences from crew, allowing us to assess the progress in health and safety practices since our last survey and providing strong evidence that safety training for all is a necessary requirement. We are committed to advocating for safer sets until substantial and effective change is realised.”

Spencer MacDonald, Bectu National Secretary, said:

“This survey has shown that shooting crew have serious concerns about the standards of safety on UK film and TV sets. This is a dynamic industry where people are often working with hundreds of crew members that they have never worked with previously. It also has a dangerous long-hours culture and people are routinely working many months where scheduled working days last more than 12 hours, and the workers concerned are expected to drive long commuting journeys.
Many crews have never had even the most basic training or advice on safe working. Many departments don’t even have established safety protocols, training, or certification – and where they do, productions don’t always enforce them. Because of skills shortages, crew are often promoted to safety-critical roles without having the required training or experience.”
Bectu and the Mark Milsome Foundation, are calling on the industry, and their representatives, to establish industry norms on safety training and to work together to find solutions to the long working hours culture.

   

 

BBC News Feature About the Foundation, Highlights Issues of Health & Safety in Film & TV

The Foundation is thrilled to announce that BBC News has done a piece about health and safety, raising questions about the risks involved for actors and crew members whilst on set. There are growing calls for health and safety to be made a priority.

Featuring Rory Kinnear (Patron), Andra (Founder), her daughter, Alice and Samantha Wainstein, (Chair). 

In the words of Chris Ross (President, British Society of Cinematographers):

“There have been too many incidences and close calls. The industry is scaling up in a way that has never been before. If the status quo stays the same there will be more injuries there will be more deaths and I’ll be back here in 20 years time having the same conversation.”

 


BBC TV NEWS ITEM – SETS ARE STILL NOT SAFE

6th Anniversary

Six years ago today, Mark Milsome, the cherished husband, father, friend, mentor, and colleague was killed whilst filming a car stunt on a set in Ghana. His death serves as a poignant reminder of the critical importance of strictly adhering to health and safety guidelines in the film industry. The Mark Milsome Foundation was established in memory of Mark driven by two guiding principles at its core

One crucial aspect of our mission is dedicated to ensuring that no one on a film set loses their life for the sake of a shot again. We are committed to advocating for safer sets, tirelessly working until substantial and effective change is realised. Additionally, inspired by Mark’s dedication, another vital aspect of our mission focuses on supporting and mentoring young talent, helping them break into the film industry. Much like Mark did during his lifetime, we aim to provide opportunities and guidance for aspiring individuals seeking a foothold in the film and TV industry.

 

Launch of Latest Health and Safety Survey

We are pleased to announce the launch of our latest health and safety survey today!

As the 6th anniversary of Mark’s death approaches and the industry prepares itself for a full return to work after the strikes, our goal is to ensure that all crew are returning to a safe work environment and that employers are committed to improving on-set safety. 

We have joined forces with Bectu to conduct an all important new survey regarding the safety of all cast and crew working in the UK film and TV industry. The survey, entitled “A Few Minutes for Mark,” is of great significance, as its findings will help us evaluate whether conditions have improved since our last survey, thereby helping to inform our future advocacy efforts. 

We invite all on-set crew who work within the UK film and TV industry to dedicate a few minutes in honour of Mark and share their insights on the safety measures in place on productions that they have worked on.

Please share the link to the survey with all of your colleagues in the film and TV industry. bit.ly/fewminsformark

This survey is being launched on Friday 27th October and closes at 9am on Monday 13th  November, 2023 and the survey results are being published ahead of Mark’s 6th anniversary on 18th November.

We sincerely appreciate all of your support and interest in the Foundation’s work.

Mark’s Gift 2023

Every year the Foundation gifts £2000 to someone we believe Mark would have wanted to support. This plays an important part in our commitment to help young people break into the industry. 

We are pleased to announce that Zara Trott has been selected as the recipient of Mark’s Gift 2023. 
 
Zara, a recent film school graduate from the University of Westminster, is embarking on her first filmmaking project as a producer since completing her degree. Collaborating with fellow University of Westminster graduates and friends, she is working on a short film, entitled ‘Salt Line’. 
 
The film is an interrogation into matters of the heart and the lengths we go to for love and acceptance. This story creates a haunting portrayal of two individuals navigating the complexities of their relationship against the backdrop of a world turned against faith. We follow Connolly who tries to reconcile his feelings for Tim but loses himself in the process. Set in a fictional seaside English town during the 60s, Salt Line explores themes of morality, sexuality, and faith.
 
Mark’s Gift will enable Zara and her crew to bring this moving film to life and help all involved achieve their filmmaking aspirations.

Zara Trott says: “Mark Gift will help fund the first short film I am producing outside of academia. ‘Salt Line’ is not only special to me because of the nature of the script, a film about the challenges of faith and love, but also because it’s a film being made by young creatives who are kickstarting their professional careers. Thanks to Mark Gift’s we are all able to be creative and make something we really care about.”

Mark Milsome Foundation Joins HSE’s Working Minds Campaign on World Mental Health Day


On this World Mental Health Day, the Mark Milsome Foundation is excited to announce its partnership with the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Working Minds campaign. In a collective effort to combat work-related stress and prioritise mental health, the Foundation are now joining other Working Minds partners across different industries to raise awareness of the support available and the campaign’s key messages.

In an industry known for its fast-paced, often unpredictable nature, the film & TV industry faces unique challenges. Freelancers, self-employed individuals, and those on fixed-term contracts frequently deal with uncertainty, irregular and long working hours, and work-related stress, potentially leading to safety issues. A recent survey by the Film and TV Charity, titled the Looking Glass ’22, revealed that only 11% of participants considered the industry a mentally healthy place to work.

The Working Minds campaign emphasises the critical need for employers to address work-related stress and mental health. Regardless of a company’s size or nature, it is legally obligated to assess and mitigate stress-related risks and support employees’ mental well-being.

This collaboration between the Mark Milsome Foundation, HSE, and other partners underlines the growing recognition of the importance of mental health in the workplace. By joining the Working Minds campaign, these organisations are taking concrete steps to create safer and more supportive environments. World Mental Health Day serves as an important reminder of the ongoing need to address work-related stress and prioritise the well-being of all workers in the UK.

Samantha Wainstein, our Chair, says: “At the heart of our mission is the commitment to make film and TV sets safe for all cast and crew, by advocating for better health and safety practice across the industry and collaborating with partners to raise awareness about key issues that need to be addressed. A fundamental part of our advocacy is emphasising the importance of wellbeing and happiness on set, as this plays an integral role in ensuring the safety of both cast and crew.”
 
The Foundation’s Level 2 Production Safety Passport Course (Screenskills) has a dedicated chapter on Mental Health and Well-being, further highlighting our commitment to promoting mental health awareness and support in the industry. 

Please click here to view HSE’s press release about the campaign.

MMF Fundraisers

The Foundation extends its heartfelt gratitude to the individuals and organisations that have been fundraising for us.  On September 10th, Jack Mealing and Seb Barraclough successfully completed the London to Brighton Cycle Ride, successfully raising funds for the Foundation. Looking ahead, there are exciting events on the horizon, including a hike in the Forest of Dean on November 18th organised by Mad Dog Casting, the eagerly awaited Santa Fun Run facilitated by Pinewood Studios in December, and Andy ‘Elvis’ McGovern’s London Marathon run in April 2024.

We really appreciate the incredible dedication and unwavering support from all those participating. These initiatives are a vital part of generating funds for the Foundation, with every contribution directly helping to further our mission: to promote better health and safety practices on all film and TV sets, as well as providing opportunities for young individuals in the industry. Your contributions play a pivotal role in helping us achieve our goals.

Please donate to these fundraisers by clicking here.

Thank you so much for your support.

 

 

 

Foot in the Door Trainees 2023-24

The Foundation is excited to be kicking off the new academic year with three new Foot in the Door trainees. We welcome Stephanie Chao, Lily Coney and Louie Walters to the MMF family and look forward to the year ahead with them. They started the mentorship programme on Tuesday and have had an action-packed week so far at Panavision, where they were joined by former MMF alumni Daisy Allen and Scott Nolan. Their week featured a first aid course run by First Aid Matters and a camera workshop held by trustees and veterans of the film industry, Phil Sindall and Dermot Hickey.

Looking ahead, the trainees will soon be paired with mentors who will provide regular guidance, support, and invaluable industry insights. Furthermore, the Foundation will continue to offer ongoing training and support in various ways. This includes mentorship and support from MMF Trustee and FiD alumni Daisy Allen and the Foundation’s secretary, Mona Benjamin. Together, they will cover essential topics such as handling bullying, accounting, maintaining well-being, and exploring job opportunities.

This scheme plays an important part in fulfilling a core part of the Foundation’s mission – to help young people get a foot in the door of film and TV industry. Its primary objective is to bridge the gap between full-time education and careers in the film and TV industry with a particular focus on those who may not have otherwise had the chance to access training, gain experience, or benefit from mentorship opportunities.

If you are interested in mentoring our trainees or providing work experience opportunities please email secretary@markmilsomefoundation.com

Rory Kinnear Urges Film Courses to Include Production Safety Passport in their Curriculum

 

 

As colleges begin preparations for the new academic year, the Foundation is launching a campaign, led by our Patron Rory Kinnear, urging them to include a health and safety course in their curriculum. By offering the MMF course to educational institutions at a discounted rate, our goal is to ensure widespread accessibility, thereby empowering and protecting new entrants into the film and TV industry.

To facilitate this effort, each college will have access to a specially designed dashboard to track progress and monitor course completion. The course delivers a level II Production Safety Passport which is valid for 5 years from ScreenSkills and aims to ensure that no crew, production or cast member is ever injured or killed again. As Rory emphasises,  “No one should die for a shot. And nor should it even be a possibility ever again.”

According to Jon Wardle, Director, National Film and Television School “It is by far the most engaging, modern and relevant Health and Safety course for students we have found.”

Sean Savage (Game of Thrones) says “The Mark MIlsome Health and Safety course is the best thing to happen to UK film crew for a long long time.”

Andrew Dunn. BSC. AMPAS. BAFTA. (Gosford Park, Precious, Crazy Stupid Love, The Butler) urges “all of you to complete the MMF Online Health & Safety Course, it will prove invaluable to you and deliver a long, happy and safe journey along your chosen route to filmic nirvana.”

To learn more about the Foundation’s efforts to encourage schools to adopt our course, please visit www.mmfonlinetraining.com/education

Mark’s Gift 2023

Calling for submissions!
Every year, on Mark’s birthday, the Foundation gifts £2,000 to someone we believe Mark would have wanted to support. In Mark’s 60th birthday this year, we hope to provide the opportunity to apply to a larger group of individuals including those that are not known to us. To be eligible for the gift, applicants must be starting their career in film and TV, have a keen interest in the camera department and have a specific film project in mind that they are seeking funding for.

If you are interested and think that you might meet the application criteria, please email contact@markmilsomefoundation.com for an application form.

Mark Milsome Memorial Cup 2023

 

The Mark Milsome Memorial Cup 2023 took place last Saturday 20th May at AFC Wimbledon’s Cherry Records Stadium. The sun shone and a great day was had by all!

Huge congratulations to Trooper FC for winning the Cup, to Gershwin FC for securing 2nd place and to Middle Earth Wanderers for coming third.

 

 

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the sponsors  – Bickers Action, Panavision, Facilities by ADF, Panalux, Camera Revolution, ACO, Pholex, Bloodline Effects, Green Voltage, Audiolink – whose generous support made this event possible.

Furthermore, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who organised, supported and participated in the match. Your contributions ensured the resounding success of MMMC 23.

All the proceeds from this event will go to the Foundation and play a crucial role in supporting our cause which is to advocate for better health and safety practice and help young people get a foot in the door of the film and TV industry.

 

After ‘Rust’ shooting, California moves closer to impose film set safety rules

(Article from the LA Times)

California legislators are advancing a bill aimed at codifying film set safety rules in the wake of the accidental shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Since the 2021 fatal shooting of Hutchins by actor Alec Baldwin on the New Mexico set of the low-budget western “Rust,” there have been several failed attempts either to ban ammunition or establish safety rules.

However, unions and studio representatives have been working on amendments to a new California measure, Senate Bill 735, which late Wednesday received unanimous bipartisan support at a hearing of the Senate Labor Committee and moved one step closer to the governor’s desk.

The proposed legislation is a narrower attempt at imposing legal safety requirements on film production than previous bills, and would create the first state regulations around the use of firearms and live ammunition on film and TV sets.

The new rules wouldn’t preclude the use of real guns or blanks, but would require prop masters or armorers handling weapons to have a specified state permit and complete training in firearms, as well as have certain federal documents for the possession of weapons. The use of live ammunition on sets would be prohibited, except in limited cases.

Introduced in February by Sen. Dave Cortese (D-San Jose), chair of the Senate Labor Committee, the bill also would establish a safety pilot program for productions that have received California state tax credits.

Under the program, a safety advisor would be hired to assess any risks associated with filming, conduct daily safety meetings and provide a post-production safety evaluation report to the Industry Wide Labor Management Safety Committee, which establishes safety guidelines for Hollywood. The program would run from July 2025 to June 2030.

“While other industries also have significant dangerous situations in the workplace, very few have as many and as varied threats all in one place — and where using firearms is a common part of the job,” Cortese said in a statement. “It is a credit to film studios and their unions that they were willing to come together for the greater good.”

The Motion Picture Assn., which represents Hollywood studios, isn’t opposing the bill.

“There are a few little things to fix, to iron out, and we are moving forward,” Melissa Patack, vice president of the MPA, said in Wednesday’s hearing. “This is something that will create a landmark pilot program for a safety advisor and also incorporate our best practices into law on the safe handling of prop firearms and blank ammunition.”

Under the proposed legislation, cast and crew working near guns would also need training and prop masters or armorers could have no other duties while preparing to use firearms.

In the case of the “Rust” armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed worked both in assisting the props department as well as being in charge of the weapons. The “Rust” production denied wrongdoing. Both Baldwin and Gutierrez Reed have pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter.

Producers of the movie were set to resume filming at Yellowstone Film Ranch in Montana on Thursday.

“The safety advisory/risk assessment has always been our goal,” said Thom Davis, president of the Entertainment Union Coalition, which includes SAG-AFTRA, the DGA and other unions backing the bill.
A similar framework is used in other countries, he said.

“This year, we hope the major production studios will fully join with us in this historic initiative to once again make California a leader in the workplace,” Davis added.

Last year, unions and the MPA backed rival bills that ultimately failed to advance because of disagreements. .

One sticking point had been the scope of the role of the safety advisor. In a previous iteration of the legislation, every production would have required a set supervisor for safety with the power to shut down productions.

In the new bill, only productions receiving state tax credits would be required to retain a safety advisor with the power to shut down production in rare circumstances, according to the revised language of SB 735.

At least one trade group is opposed to the bill.

The Alliance of Special Effects and Pyrotechnic Operators contends that the Industry Wide Labor Management Safety Committee is more qualified to implement and develop industry safety standards than the legislature, and that the bill could push more productions and their jobs out of the state, according to a letter seen by The Times.

Following Hutchins’ death, California legislators had announced plans to ban guns outright on film sets. However there was a backlash from armorers, some of whom called the effort “misguided.”

https://www.markmilsomefoundation.com/2023/04/21/21238/

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