RE: Latest episode. Jackie's thoughts on character integrity

[jcb]

You might want to dig through the union contract first before you say that. Nothing is ever that simple when it comes to Union Gigs for performers.

Current WDW union contracts are available online: http://www.uniteherelocal362.org/wdw-ft/

 

[Princess Jes]

Current WDW union contracts are available online: http://www.uniteherelocal362.org/wdw-ft/

We can always count on you to bring us the info Jack!!

 

[k5jm]

Current WDW union contracts are available online: http://www.uniteherelocal362.org/wdw-ft/

Ah, but those are for Florida and not California.

 

[ojeight]

I don't think anyone should be fired on their first offense. But if you think about it, the face characters only have one job. It should not be that difficult to do.

 

[Andrea1973]

Last year on our trip to MK I encountered a few staff just hanging around chit chatting when they should have been working (on Pirates ride as one example) there was four CM just talking about some party they went too the night before they were not paying attention to their job tasks at hand and showed little to no interest in the public waiting in line waiting to get on the boat.

Then also in MK, don't recall what ride, there was a cast member playing with his phone. Again not paying attention to guests. I'm sure it can get boring but no excuse to ignore the basis of a job in Disney... Meaning the guests.

Granted they were not Character actors but regardless they have a job to do.

 

[disneysteve]

It should not be that difficult to do.

Actually, I think face characters have an incredibly difficult job. Just think about what they have to deal with every day dealing with the public, kids, guests from all over the w

Last year on our trip to MK I encountered a few staff just hanging around chit chatting when they should have been working (on Pirates ride as one example) there was four CM just talking about some party they went too the night before they were not paying attention to their job tasks at hand and showed little to no interest in the public waiting in line waiting to get on the boat.

Then also in MK, don't recall what ride, there was a cast member playing with his phone. Again not paying attention to guests. I'm sure it can get boring but no excuse to ignore the basis of a job in Disney... Meaning the guests.

Granted they were not Character actors but regardless they have a job to do.

I'm glad you mentioned this. We have encountered this as well, and I actually wrote to Disney to report it. We were in the shop near Gaston's Tavern (the name escapes me at the moment). Three or 4 CMs were standing around the register area while one of them spoke all about a recent work injury she had and what the doctor had done and such. I expect that at WalMart. I expect far better at Disney World.

 

[Princess Jes]

Actually, I think face characters have an incredibly difficult job. Just think about what they have to deal with every day dealing with the public, kids, guests from all over the w

The thing is, no one is forcing them to do this incredibly difficult job.
If they're unhappy with it, unable to do it, or just don't want to commit to it, I'm sure there's be 1,00 others waiting in line to gladly do the job

 

[JJZMgailey]

The thing is, no one is forcing them to do this incredibly difficult job.
If they're unhappy with it, unable to do it, or just don't want to commit to it, I'm sure there's be 1,00 others waiting in line to gladly do the job

This is my feeling on it too. Playing a face Character at Disney is a VERY special job - I mean, I realize it's still a job, but there has to be certain requirements in place with zero tolerance and people accepting those positions just have to understand that and also be willing to comply with it if they accept the job.

 

[Angel Ariel]

The thing is, no one is forcing them to do this incredibly difficult job.
If they're unhappy with it, unable to do it, or just don't want to commit to it, I'm sure there's be 1,00 others waiting in line to gladly do the job

I agree that if anyone is unhappy with being a face character, unable to do it, or not wanting to commit, then they shouldn't be a face character. I just don't agree that one break in character equals someone being unhappy with it, unable to do it, or being unwilling to commit to it. I don't know what Disney's actual contracts say on this, so it may be moot. I just think people should be given a chance to learn from their mistakes. I don't think they should have unlimited chances by any stretch, but I do think they should be given *one* warning, not just immediately fired.

 

[disneysteve]

The thing is, no one is forcing them to do this incredibly difficult job.
If they're unhappy with it, unable to do it, or just don't want to commit to it, I'm sure there's be 1,00 others waiting in line to gladly do the job

Oh, I completely agree (and my response got posted accidentally before I had finished it). I was only responding to the comment that their job isn't difficult. I don't think that's true. I think their job is quite difficult. I sure wouldn't want to do it, and I have theater experience.

 

[Andrea1973]

The thing is, no one is forcing them to do this incredibly difficult job.
If they're unhappy with it, unable to do it, or just don't want to commit to it, I'm sure there's be 1,00 others waiting in line to gladly do the job

Exactly Jes!.

The character actors went into the job knowing full well (or should have) what the position is all about. You don't just stand on a float for 20 minutes and wave to people and then go home, you have a part to play like in a movie. Actors on a movie don't just play a part for half a movie and break character because they have to tell their friend about a party they are going to.

 

[Princess Jes]

I agree that if anyone is unhappy with being a face character, unable to do it, or not wanting to commit, then they shouldn't be a face character. I just don't agree that one break in character equals someone being unhappy with it, unable to do it, or being unwilling to commit to it. I don't know what Disney's actual contracts say on this, so it may be moot. I just think people should be given a chance to learn from their mistakes. I don't think they should have unlimited chances by any stretch, but I do think they should be given *one* warning, not just immediately fired.

The discussion on whether someone should be fired or not was started because Dustin mentioned that they would be after that encounter.
It was more about Thor contractual obligations, not whether we think that contract is just or not.

I don't necessarily think a minor slip in character should warrant termination, alas, if that's what their contract says, it is moot.

However, I'm firmly in the camp of "what someone posts on their personal facebook account should have no bearing on their job as a face character"
As I've mentioned earlier in this thread: say I'm a friend of belle's, I can't post photos of myself in character.
But, what if my husband takes a picture of us together and posts it on HIS facebook account and says something like "got to see Jes at work today, she makes a great Belle" how is that any different from me doing it?

In the park: don't braak character.
Outside of the park: it's your life. Do as you will.

 

[mytripsandraces]

Here's my story about a CM breaking character. In 2010, I ran every Disney race and went to every Disney park around the world. I made two copies of a photo book of my year (one for my nieces and one for the daughter of friends) and spent the first part of 2011 getting it autographed by characters. When I had just two autographs left, I had one day to get both autographs. I went to Animal Kingdom's Conservation Station to get Pocahontas' signature and planned to go to MK to get Tiana afterwards. As I waited on line for Pocahontas to sign her picture, I watched her flirting with her handler. She signed my book and I went to the bird show to see it before I left for MK. While I waited for the show to start, I went through the photo book to make sure I had all of the other signatures and I had, except that on the Pocahontas picture, Pocahontas had signed "Princess Jasmine" right across the picture in each book (if she'd done it in the margin, I could have stickered over it, but, no, she signed the picture itself). I was so sad. The photo books were ruined. All that work and all that time wiped out with the stroke of a pen. I couldn't believe she was so disengaged that she signed her name as Princess Jasmine, even though she was looking at a picture of Pocahontas and she was dressed as Pocahontas and in Animal Kingdom.