An Interview with former Idol Staff Member Justin Buckles
Posted by thefunnystone on July 16, 2008 - 7:17pm
Check out this interview in the San Francisco Sentinel with former Idol worker Justin Buckles. He is part of the American Idol Truth Tour, attempting to make sure Idol workers are paid fair amounts for overtime and breaks, as well as receive healthcare benefits. In the interview, Justin outlines how Idol took advantage of him, prevented him from speaking out by threatening to fire any wayward employees, and tried to tell him that California Labor Laws don't apply to reality show workers. Disgusting. It's a great read, so check it out, and support The American Idol Truth Tour. Someone needs to speak the truth, we might as well make sure you hear it!
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What a great read!! Looks like Idol is going to be exposed for what we already knew, a scripted fraud. They'd be wise to just pay up what they owe before this becomes a complete media circus. No matter what happens, though, there will still be delusional fantards out there who think that this show is legit.
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Most Labor laws generally aren't applicable to anything considered inside the "entertainment" industry. If you work at a movie theater, for instance, and you logged 48 hrs the week before .. then that 8 hours extra isn't going to be considered overtime pay. Theaters don't have to pay overtime rates... because ... it falls under the "entertainment" umbrella. That isn't only a California thing.
If you were, say, an electrician hired through a contractor working on the set .. then you could collect overtime - from your employer. It is probably planned into the bid for work.
But if you work directly for a production company? No chance. That isn't just Idol. And, of course, the assumption would be that this dude knew the pay plan before taking the job. Also, normally pay rates are adjusted to reflect lack of benefits if not provided. He may want to have his cake and eat it to.
There are a lot of variables to consider, but I generally do not care for the whiny "victim" tell-all bitches. They almost ALWAYS turn out to be the worthless, back-stabbing POS that none of the competent people could stand anyway.