Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

To think my boss should have consulted us before doing this??

61 replies

LanaLily11 · 07/12/2019 17:44

I work as a secretary in a GP practice. Let’s call our practice manager ‘Wendy’

We had our Christmas Do last night however there are so many of us that I didn’t get a chance to speak to everyone! Wendy is now on annual leave now until Christmas Eve.

My colleague text me earlier asking if I was aware that Wendy has been approached by a tv production company, and been asked if our practice would star in a ‘behind the scenes’ type programme.

My colleague tells me that Wendy has been in talks for weeks with the crew, and has agreed. They will start filming around September next year. Part of the idea is that the camera crew will have access to all the different areas, including consultations etc (obviously this will need to be agreed by each patient)

My colleague was told by Wendy herself last night, after a few too many. AIBU in thinking Wendy should absolutely have spoken to every single member of staff before agreeing?

OP posts:

Butchyrestingface · 07/12/2019 17:46

God, I would hate that and tell boss lady I’m in witness protection don’t want to take part.

puds11 · 07/12/2019 17:46

YANBU id be very annoyed about that! Not everyone wants to be on telly!

QuestionableMouse · 07/12/2019 17:48

I expect the TV company will have to get each person to sign a release. You can still opt out.

Ellmau · 07/12/2019 17:49

I'm pretty sure you'll be able to opt out of being filmed.

Disfordarkchocolate · 07/12/2019 17:50

Request blurred face. I would never agree to this, I have a very unpleasant X.

Biancadelrioisback · 07/12/2019 17:50

It's not until next September so staff may change between now and then.

All you have to do is say that you don't want to be on TV and you won't be.

TheBigFatMermaid · 07/12/2019 17:50

They tend to fuzz out the faces of people not wanting to take part in things like this!

It's going to be a very boring programme if everyone not involved in the decision decides not to take part!

puds11 · 07/12/2019 17:51

Oooh OP you could be a fuzz

ConfCall · 07/12/2019 17:53

You’re under no obligation to agree. And yes, she should have consulted.

ChesterDrawer · 07/12/2019 17:53

Hell no!

We had a film crew at work (hospital) and I flatly refused to take part in any of it or even be in the background.

DeathStare · 07/12/2019 17:54

I suspect Wendy has probably had to sign an agreement specifically saying that she would not tell anyone about it at this stage. Wendy is probably now absolutely shitting herself because becoming loose-lipped after a few too many drinks at the Christmas Do could have got her in trouble, and could even cause this to be lost. So please don't be cross at Wendy!

As others have said, there is still plenty of time for people who do not wish to be included to opt-out.

Fairyliz · 07/12/2019 17:54

Am I the only one thinking this thread is really outing? I can’t imagine there are many doctors surgeries being filmed next year.
Hopefully you have just changed the setting.

LuluBellaBlue · 07/12/2019 17:56

Sorry but you’re making a drama about this, IF it does go ahead all you say is you don’t want to be filmed and you won’t be. Simple.

Aquamarine1029 · 07/12/2019 17:57

There is NO WAY I would agree to this and there is no way Wendy can force you to participate. The cheek on that one!

WhatchaMaCalllit · 07/12/2019 18:01

Well, if it's anything like the way that they film 24 Hours in A&E, I'd imagine that anyone who doesn't want to be filmed will be pixelated out of the scene.
I do think that a meeting should have been held with all of the staff to see what interest there is amongst the staff in taking part because if the staff don't want to take part, then the show will not get off the ground.

Fallulah · 07/12/2019 18:01

Production company will need a release form from everyone featured. Just refuse to sign and they will blur you, or more easily for them, just not film where you are.

leghairdontcare · 07/12/2019 18:05

There's a lot that can happen between now and September in terms of it falling through. I know someone whose school was on educating Yorkshire etc and they were able to opt out easily.

Kolo · 07/12/2019 18:11

My school were involved in talks with the production company about an 'educating ....' series. We went quite far down the line - interviewing students, parents and staff, sorting out filming locations. But staff were consulted during the process and it was easy to opt out. In the end they went to a different local school. (I'm still gobsmacked my Head was up for filming and I did opt out. Can't imagine anything worse than the general public critiquing my professional work, not least having to see myself on tv).

I'd be quite surprised if filming has actually been agreed without them talking to the staff.

RedLipstickHighHeels · 07/12/2019 18:20

You’ll need to sign a release,you’re not compelled to participate
Nonetheless it sounds really irksome

maddiemookins16mum · 07/12/2019 18:22

I suspect Wendy would have had to get the ‘partners’ of the practice to also be on board but then again I could have been watching too much of a certain daytime soap.

Yetanotherwinter · 07/12/2019 18:23

You can have your face blanked out if you don’t want to be in it. I was featured in a Tonight with Trevor McDonald programme about my job. There I was thinking I looked all professional then saw myself on the tv and was the size of a house. I was horrified!!

Aridane · 07/12/2019 18:25

Meh - television com0any will need waivers from you before you can be shown

Namechanger23455 · 07/12/2019 18:26

You just don’t sign the agreement to be in it, I’ve been filmed for a channel 4 documentary as part of work before but I didn’t sign the document to say I could be used so I was told if they used my footage I’d be fizzled out.

IndecentFeminist · 07/12/2019 18:27

I can't imagine she has the authority to do that without the partners' approval. She's only the manager

You can still opt out on an individual level, but I would absolutely approach one of the partners/GPs on Monday.

SinglePringle · 07/12/2019 18:27

Wendy won’t have signed a NDA (she’ll have discussed it with the Senior Team and Trust) but others are correct, you can refuse to take part. The crew won’t follow any of your ‘stories’ and if you appear incidentally, they’ll blur you.

They’ll take your photo before filming starts and they’ll distribute this to the teams / edit to make sure you’re not featured or are blurred. Then it’ll be someone’s job to watch the final cut with the Blur List to make sure the list and cut correspond.

Flip

1 2 3