Post by Teddy Bear on Sept 10, 2010 16:19:24 GMT
Imagine for a moment that you are the producer of a particular programme where you are going to use an anonymous character throughout the series on a regular basis.
Would you think about the terms of the understanding and contract that you have with this character so that he/she can perform will full confidence and enthusiasm throughout the production?
Would you ensure them that despite their 'character' being 'replaceable', since they would be unrecognisable in the role of their character, they would have sole 'rights' to that character?
If that anonymous character was an integral part of the series, jointly contributing to its success, would you reward them financially in line with the other recognizable characters on that programme?
I would think that if you are a moral and ethical person, interested in the long term success of your production, you would satisfy the person hired to be that character of their long term security within it so long as that character was deemed an integral part of it. In other words, they and only they will ever portray that character.
However if you are not so ethical or moral, and realise that you have a character that you can have portrayed by anybody, and therefore have a 'hold' on whoever you hire, who you can replace at any time, pay them much less accordingly since you have them by the proverbial 'scrotum', can you expect long term loyalty and enthusiasm?
So any wonder the situation with the Stig has arisen?
Would you think about the terms of the understanding and contract that you have with this character so that he/she can perform will full confidence and enthusiasm throughout the production?
Would you ensure them that despite their 'character' being 'replaceable', since they would be unrecognisable in the role of their character, they would have sole 'rights' to that character?
If that anonymous character was an integral part of the series, jointly contributing to its success, would you reward them financially in line with the other recognizable characters on that programme?
I would think that if you are a moral and ethical person, interested in the long term success of your production, you would satisfy the person hired to be that character of their long term security within it so long as that character was deemed an integral part of it. In other words, they and only they will ever portray that character.
However if you are not so ethical or moral, and realise that you have a character that you can have portrayed by anybody, and therefore have a 'hold' on whoever you hire, who you can replace at any time, pay them much less accordingly since you have them by the proverbial 'scrotum', can you expect long term loyalty and enthusiasm?
So any wonder the situation with the Stig has arisen?
The Stig claims BBC 'bullied' him out of his job and warned he 'would lose everything' if he went public
By Nicola Boden
The racing driver who played The Stig on Top Gear today claimed he was 'bullied' by the BBC and forced out of his job.
Ben Collins, 35, says he was warned he would 'lose everything' if he lifted the lid on his time on the hit BBC2 show.
The father-of-three hit back at the corporation, who have since likened him to a prop like a Dalek or the Blue Peter dog.
He insists he only started writing an autobiography because he feared he was about to be kicked off the programme.
And he accused the BBC of hypocrisy, claiming it was the organisation that effectively 'outed' him as The Stig in an article in one of their own magazines.
The piece in the Radio Times sparked a 'change in attitude', he told The Sun. 'It was becoming clear it was either jump or be pushed,' he said.
The BBC last week lost a battle to prevent Collins publishing his book on the grounds it was a breach of confidentiality.
They had tried to argue that he could not go public because the identity of The Stig was supposed to remain a mystery.
Collins insists he did everything possible to stay incognito, including hiding his car, wearing a balaclava to work and walking around the set 'like a Storm Trooper'.
He admits people at Top Gear had started to work it out but claims it was an article in the Radio Times in November 2008 that really blew it.
The cover proclaimed: 'Who is The Stig?' and then inside was a picture of Collins and 'one unlikely candidate', the driver said.
'I was astonished. I was being outed by the very people I worked for. Yet I knew nothing about it,' he told The Sun.
Collins, who is a former member of the SAS, said he had known nothing about the piece and felt 'this was a snowball that couldn't stop rolling'.
He became more worried he was 'expendable' when he was told someone else could drive as The Stig in his 'dream' contest, the Le Mans 24-hour race.
The driver said the BBC 'wanted him to know his place' and gave him nothing in return for his loyalty.
He claims he had little pay, no long-term contract, no pension and was forced to pay his own insurance.
When a new driver was hired for a series of live Top Gear shows without his knowledge last year, Collins started writing his autobiography.
He told executive producer Andy Wilman in July and assured him it was a 'glowing reference' but the BBC quickly went 'hostile'.
'They said they didn't want it to happen and I stood to lose everything. It was stressful, I felt I was close to losing it all,' he said.
'They just wanted to bully me out of contention. It is a travesty that a state-funded broadcaster gagged my free-speech.'
He welcomed last week's court ruling that his book could go ahead, adding: 'It was hypocritical to suggest I'd done more to reveal myself than they had.'
Collins could now take on his former Top Gear presenters as the host of his own motoring show after signing with a powerful TV talent management agency.
James Grant management is working on new show formats for him and broadcasters will be asked to bid for his services in the coming months.
The Stig's worldwide fame means Collins, who has also acted as Daniel Craig's stunt double in one James Bond film, could become a major star in his own right.
The BBC said in a statement: 'Today's interview appears in a newspaper that is owned by the same company that is publishing Ben's book. It seems to have been designed simply to attempt to generate further sales.
'The BBC categorically refutes any accusations of bullying. Once Ben informed the BBC of his intentions, he was reminded of his confidentiality obligations and it was made clear to him that if he went ahead with the book, he would not be able to remain in his role.'
A BBC source added: 'The Radio Times - which is published independently of the BBC - used a list of possible names supplied by bookmaker William Hill on which Ben Collins's name appeared.
'These were already in the public domain so to say the BBC confirmed all of this is nonsense.'
Host Jeremy Clarkson said earlier this week that he was 'shocked' by Collins' betrayal and accused him of being greedy.
The driver has been paid a reported £250,000 advance for the book, The Man In The White Suit, which is being published by HarperCollins next week.
By Nicola Boden
The racing driver who played The Stig on Top Gear today claimed he was 'bullied' by the BBC and forced out of his job.
Ben Collins, 35, says he was warned he would 'lose everything' if he lifted the lid on his time on the hit BBC2 show.
The father-of-three hit back at the corporation, who have since likened him to a prop like a Dalek or the Blue Peter dog.
He insists he only started writing an autobiography because he feared he was about to be kicked off the programme.
And he accused the BBC of hypocrisy, claiming it was the organisation that effectively 'outed' him as The Stig in an article in one of their own magazines.
The piece in the Radio Times sparked a 'change in attitude', he told The Sun. 'It was becoming clear it was either jump or be pushed,' he said.
The BBC last week lost a battle to prevent Collins publishing his book on the grounds it was a breach of confidentiality.
They had tried to argue that he could not go public because the identity of The Stig was supposed to remain a mystery.
Collins insists he did everything possible to stay incognito, including hiding his car, wearing a balaclava to work and walking around the set 'like a Storm Trooper'.
He admits people at Top Gear had started to work it out but claims it was an article in the Radio Times in November 2008 that really blew it.
The cover proclaimed: 'Who is The Stig?' and then inside was a picture of Collins and 'one unlikely candidate', the driver said.
'I was astonished. I was being outed by the very people I worked for. Yet I knew nothing about it,' he told The Sun.
Collins, who is a former member of the SAS, said he had known nothing about the piece and felt 'this was a snowball that couldn't stop rolling'.
He became more worried he was 'expendable' when he was told someone else could drive as The Stig in his 'dream' contest, the Le Mans 24-hour race.
The driver said the BBC 'wanted him to know his place' and gave him nothing in return for his loyalty.
He claims he had little pay, no long-term contract, no pension and was forced to pay his own insurance.
When a new driver was hired for a series of live Top Gear shows without his knowledge last year, Collins started writing his autobiography.
He told executive producer Andy Wilman in July and assured him it was a 'glowing reference' but the BBC quickly went 'hostile'.
'They said they didn't want it to happen and I stood to lose everything. It was stressful, I felt I was close to losing it all,' he said.
'They just wanted to bully me out of contention. It is a travesty that a state-funded broadcaster gagged my free-speech.'
He welcomed last week's court ruling that his book could go ahead, adding: 'It was hypocritical to suggest I'd done more to reveal myself than they had.'
Collins could now take on his former Top Gear presenters as the host of his own motoring show after signing with a powerful TV talent management agency.
James Grant management is working on new show formats for him and broadcasters will be asked to bid for his services in the coming months.
The Stig's worldwide fame means Collins, who has also acted as Daniel Craig's stunt double in one James Bond film, could become a major star in his own right.
The BBC said in a statement: 'Today's interview appears in a newspaper that is owned by the same company that is publishing Ben's book. It seems to have been designed simply to attempt to generate further sales.
'The BBC categorically refutes any accusations of bullying. Once Ben informed the BBC of his intentions, he was reminded of his confidentiality obligations and it was made clear to him that if he went ahead with the book, he would not be able to remain in his role.'
A BBC source added: 'The Radio Times - which is published independently of the BBC - used a list of possible names supplied by bookmaker William Hill on which Ben Collins's name appeared.
'These were already in the public domain so to say the BBC confirmed all of this is nonsense.'
Host Jeremy Clarkson said earlier this week that he was 'shocked' by Collins' betrayal and accused him of being greedy.
The driver has been paid a reported £250,000 advance for the book, The Man In The White Suit, which is being published by HarperCollins next week.