The three Norwegian actor profiles Agnes Kittelsen (42), Nicolai Cleve Broch (46) and Jon Øigarden (51), who were sued by their own agent, express great relief over the acquittal on Friday.
Less than 20 minutes ago
–
– I’m very happy now. It is not commonplace to be sued, and even though I was sure that I had not done anything wrong, it is of course nice to have the law on my side as well, says Agnes Kittelsen in a statement to VG.
The trio’s Danish agent company, Panorama Agencyhad sued the three Norwegian actors for breach of contract, partly because the Norwegians refused to pay arrears after they had terminated the contract with their agent.
This meant that Kittelsen, Cleve Broch and Øigarden showed an unhealthy culture in the agent industry.
– This is not just about the three of us. We have been in this because many actors have experienced the same thing. There has been a culture in this company that we could not accept, says Agnes Kittelsen.
The verdict fell on Friday morning, after the trial was held in Copenhagen City Council in mid-May.
The Norwegian Actors’ Association has led the case for the three actors. Secretary General Anders Bredmose tells VG that over 20 Norwegian actors have contacted them in recent years because they are not happy with Panorama Agency.
– We hope Panorama Agency now changes its business. Neither actors nor agents are served by unreasonable agreements and poor cooperation, says Bredmose.
Lawyer Bjarke Vejby has led the case for Panorama Agency. He informs VG on Friday night that they register that the case has been lost on the basis of section 36 of the Danish Contracts Act, and that they now have 14 days to assess whether the verdict should be appealed.
Read his comments on the verdict at the bottom of the case.
Panorama Agency (PA) has a broad stable of the biggest Nordic – and Norwegian – actor names. In addition to the three that the agency has sued in court, PA also represents names such as Kristoffer Hivju, Tobias Santelmann, Ellen Dorrit Pedersen, Anders Danielsen Lie, Marie Blokhus, Mariann Saastad Ottesen and John Carew, just to name a few.
–– This has been important in principle for the association to establish that the agent can not demand payment in retrospect for assignments they have in no way been involved in, Anders Bredmose says to VG.
Nicolai Cleve Broch also believes that the ruling is important for the entire industry.
– I have always wanted to be fair, but have been unsure of the legal nature of this, he says, but at the same time notes with satisfaction that “the court has fortunately established the difference between right and wrong”.
– I’m very happy about that. So I hope this will also help other actors in the future.
–Jon Øigarden, who was first in the witness box in Copenhagen City Court in May, is no less satisfied.
He emphasizes the fact that all three – and the Actors’ Association – have agreed on this.
– That is the most gratifying thing, he says on the phone from Spain, where his work day is right now.
– The court establishes some important principles, including that an agent must actually do what is in the contract, not just demand money afterwards. This has been a culture that I hope it is now over, says the experienced actor, and adds;
– Most of all because there are actors after us who need proper assistance.
Panorama Agency, via lawyer Bjarke Veiby, says the following about the verdict:
“The ruling does not mean anything in principle for Panorama Agency, as the terms of the agency agreements were changed last year.
As is well known, Panorama Agency has changed its terms in 2021, so that in future no remuneration will be paid after the agency agreement has expired.
Instead, Panorama Agency negotiates agreements with the actors where agent fees are paid on the income that the actors receive in the series and options where Panorama Agency has been an agent.
Over the past year, Panorama Agency has offered actors who already have an agreement with Panorama Agency, to simply transfer these to the new terms. This also applies in Norway ».
–
