A pronoun problem

A pronoun problem

The passage below comes from a book, Film Production Technique as follows:
https://books.google.co.kr/books?id=HwfxlkeYgMQC&pg=PA47&lpg=PA47&dq=%22Arranging+as+much+time+as+possible+for+rehearsals+is+a+good+idea%22&source=bl&ots=iP6xESW-C9&sig=RG3Zeu2MeEA6j8k0XHFRt9dleXs&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-jJOFiuHLAhUKlJQKHXQiBFwQ6AEIGjAA#v=onepage&q=%22Arranging%20as%20much%20time%20as%20possible%20for%20rehearsals%20is%20a%20good%20idea%22&f=false

Arranging as much time as possible for rehearsals is a good idea, but in reality they are rarely afforded as much time as the talent and the director would desire. It is not uncommon for a project to have no rehearsal time at all, particularly for actors with smaller roles. This is particularly true when actors work for free, as is often the case in independent projects.

I'd like to know what the underlined 'they' refers to?
It seems that 'they' refers to 'the talent and the director' in a sense.
But it can also seems to be able to stand for 'rehearsals' in another.
I'm in a dilemma.

Regards.