Union & Non-Union Talent Management

Here is how this works in practice. We manage the union and collective-agreement side of engaging crew and talent in the Netherlands, so a production meets its obligations and avoids disputes. The Dutch film-industry collective labour agreement (the CAO) sets the framework for the sector, defining minimum rates, working hours, turnaround, breaks and other terms, and our team makes sure person contracts and shoot schedules align with it.

Here is the breakdown. We set up with the NBF, the Dutch pro association of film and TV makers, where relevant, and we advise shoots — specific global ones less familiar with Dutch industry practice — on what the CAO needs in practice. Engagements are logged clearly, payment terms are tracked, and the schedule is built so that working-hour and turnaround entitlements are respected rather than breached, since the schedule itself is part of the compliance record.

Here is the short of it. Managing talent within the Dutch framework also means handling the practicalities of a structured but workable system. The CAO covers a broad range of roles. Applying it correctly across departments — crew, performers, support staff — needs knowing how its provisions interact with day rates, late hours and rest periods. For co-productions backed by the Netherlands Film Fund or partners such as NPO, compliance with industry-standard labour terms is part of being a credible, fundable production.

Here is what that looks like on the ground. We also keep union and talent running aligned with the production's contract admin, insurance and health-and-safety planning, since labour terms touch all of them. By bringing clear knowledge of Dutch industry practice to the process, we keep crew and cast relations sound, protect the production from disputes and penalties, and let the focus stay on the shoot itself.