Recording Rap
During the month of April, HBO filmed the made-for-cable movie "Havana Nocturne," Arturo Sandoval’s life story. Andy Garcia, as the lead, portrays Arturo’s story of frustration in Cuba and his defection in 1990 with his wife and youngest son. This was a Union project which provided sidelining work for many of our musicians, including Ed Calle, Richard Bravo, and Will Edwards. I’m sure you’ll notice a few of them in the movie. If any members are interested in this type of film work please call me, and I’ll provide you with the agents to contact.
I had the pleasure of attending Jam Miami, the Latin jazz benefit concert at the Jackie Gleason Theater, on May 18. The event raised funds for ARTEC (Arts Related Technology for Entertainment Careers), a program geared toward training high school students for arts-related careers. Those proceeds will be further matched by an Annenberg Foundation grant. Featured along with multi-instrumentalist/emcee/trumpeter Arturo Sandoval were an all-star 30-piece jazz band, Chick Corea and his group, alto saxophonist Ed Calle, flutists Dave Valentin and Nestor Torres, trumpeter Ray Vega, trombonist Steve Turre, percussionists Pete Escovedo and Poncho Sanchez, salsero Willy Chirino, and vocalists Lissette and Oscar De Leon, just to name a few. I spotted many of our musicians in the band and it was a great show. The concert was recorded by Concord Records for release on CD and was taped by public television station WLRN for rebroadcast at a later date. All were done under Union contract for the musicians.
Special Payment Fund...What is it?
The AFM Phonograph Record Special Payments Fund
This Fund pays money to the musicians who have recorded under the AFM National Phonograph Record Agreement during that year. This money is divided amongst these musicians on a pro-rata share based upon how much money they earned that year. This applies whether the recordings that the musicians worked on for that year are released or not. Even if the musician never records again, the participation in that fund will last for five years.
The Motion Picture Special Payments Fund
Other than "underscoring," there are two ways for musicians to get into the movies. One way is through what is known as "sidelining," which takes place when musicians are asked to perform as part of a "scene" in a movie. The other is if your record (hit or not) is used in a movie. If this happens, you could also be a participant in the Motion Picture Special Payments Fund.
Each year, for each of the movies participated in, this Fund distributes to the musicians residuals generated by the movie for its release into media other than that for which it was originally produced (i.e. Theatrical Film to Cassette, Pay TV, etc.). Last year over $34 million dollars was distributed to our musicians!
How To Get It
The following AFM Contracts have provisions for the Special Payment Fund:
National Agreement
Low Budget Agreement
Limited Pressing
Motion-Picture/Theatrical
Rest assured that if a contract is on file, the AFM will make sure that you get all the money that’s due to you!
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