Among the hungry you can’t dream

The aim of a professional television syndicate is focused on two parts. The first is to preserve the profession and the second is to protect the worker’s rights – this includes guaranteeing medical insurance and pensions. When I was working in television in Turkey, I wanted to put the horse in front of the carriage, which means starting with the first mission. I suggested improving the flailing relations with production houses, because problems don’t just arise from within the syndicate or a company, but from both. They must all work together to ensure the survival of the profession. Production companies often lobby to reduce the cost of costumes and locations fees. Instead they should look to the syndicates to develop ideas for extra funding. So I put forward the proposal of modifying the law to loosen the regulation shackles which prevent many talented people from becoming part of the Turkish syndicate. Instead the right is given to those who don’t deserve it. I believe the syndicate should be placed under the control of the minister of culture to prevent this. Annual awards with an objective jury should also be established in the style of the Oscars. This will send a positive message to aspiring creative’s and society as a whole that the arts are supported by the syndicate rather than consistently censored – as some have claimed. The programme should be aired on numerous television channels annually to bring in big revenues.   An acting academy should also be set-up where dancing and theatre dramatics workshops should are taught. As well as a paper and electronic library that plays a movie or play weekly, to be reviewed by an art critic. But all of these ideas have been pushed aside by demands for medical insurance and pensions. “We don’t want a library, we want sugar and oil, if you want books we’ll bring you some,” one colleague shouted at me. So I said to myself: “Among the hungry there’s no place for dreaming,” and left quietly. The views expressed by the author do not necessarily represent or reflect the editorial policy of Arabstoday.