Back in acting days years ago I impersonated a lawyer, Hey..3rd degree misdemeanor and a $500 fine..wasn''t too bad.

If I may, tell about Falcon:
Paymasters:
Many years motion pix evolved into TV, radio etc. Pretty much cut checks, unemployment etc. "Employer of record for tax purposes. Some even float large motion picture payroll.

Over years, structure of industry changed. Loss of producers and personnel who understood union and civil employment requirements, union contracts, rates etc. Gone were people who could negotiate with agents, who knew how to structure cost effective buys, on top of the IRS 1995 Market Segment Understanding applicable to commercials and industrials and also several IRS rulings, In many ways 1995 was a pivotal point for the industry…elaborate. Old models began to crumble some old actors too, but mostly old models. Industrials wouldn''t sig, increasing employer safety requirements, sexual harassment, etc. Insurance regs.

Legislation, regulatory rulings and, thankfully, litigation.

About that time I determined that the old model of paymaster as back office needed a new approach so I set up Falcon to be what I call a Production Personnel Partner. Over years have continued to evolve to point where most of my time on front end with producers and agency creatives on determining applicable contracts, celebrity negotiations, training agencies and producers on rates and most recently from our Miami office Latino programs and sound recordings and we have also set up an independent state of the art ISDN/MP3 VoiceCasting studio. Naturally we continue to serve as employer of record  handling withholdings, contributions, etc. We are unique in the services we offer and are pleased that we have grown into a company serving more than 700 producers, ad agencies and broadcasters throughout the US and Canada.

I don''t want to bore you with the myriad details of rate calculations etc. As attorneys, I though you might be interested in an overview of some of the principal government issues and union contracts and the differences and nuances. I will restrict my remarks to the U.S. but similar contracts and issues common to of number of other countries.

First, the issues

Taxes
IRS vs perception in right to work. Confuse non-union with independent contractor. Discrimination among same class of employees.
Technology thwarts immigration. Mexican Voices
Technology thwarts creative and compensation rights. A borderless world. Satellites. Even at local level, low power radio in Miami, draws advertisers from legitimate stations.
Canada VS U.S. They can work here, we can''t work there.

Principal Contracts (Codes)
Television and Cable _ national and Local Made-In/Played In. What is meant by local rates?
Non-Broadcast Industrial/Educational