Industry calls for ‘borderless’ market amid clampdown on illegal foreign TVC directors
Ritchie
A leading production house executive has called for the international market to become “borderless” to allow staff to work around the world, amid a crackdown by the Australian Directors Guild (ADG) on foreign TVC directors working illegally in Australia.
ADG CEO Kingston Anderson told Mumbrella they have already amassed “significant evidence that we have been passing onto the immigration department” during the crackdown, which is being run with union the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and Department of Immigration.
But Revolver’s executive producer and managing director Michael Ritchie said while he was not aware of anyone who was breaking the law in this way the industry needs more cross-border cooperation on the issue, adding: “If we put borders in, we’ll kill our industry.”
Out of those 2076 and 2058 visas issued what number were for work on tvcs? And then that of director?
I imagine the above figures includes long form, stage and theatre.
I have no problem with those requiring visas to obtain them before commencement in this country as we are required when working internationally.
The process and approval hopefully is dealt with in a timely manner that is required for this fast pace turn around industry.
I am certain that agencies working with production companies representing o’seas directors would assume they have in place the required working papers. If not, charge them and name and shame so we know who is not complying and creating this issue.
Maybe they can also look at all the 457 visas issued to agency / production personnel at the same time. Directors think they have a problem. Nowhere as bad as other areas of the industry.
We work in a global market. Hold up the process and watch it fracture this struggling industry further.
You know what? You guys seem not to know what the hell you do, and do not want.
The entire Australian film industry is suffering today from outside intervention in the past. There is a badly skewed view of film making and entertainment generally, caused by intervention. We talk about “World Class” and “US Approved” and “UK Accolades” as if we are somehow growing up and occasionally meeting the approval of the real film world.
They used to keep us out of their back yard and rule us economically, today they let you in to their playpen to have a shot with their toys and go home with a show bag.
But we are no better off than we were then. US film and television, once innovative, has been in decline for decades, this is the first time in the history of film and television that we have had a chance to do great things unhindered.
Borderless? Really Michael? How about we apply the same tests and administrative hurdles to foreign directors working here as are applied to Australians working overseas. Lets take the USA. Months, reams of references and paperwork and approx $US5,000 for an O1 visa. Virtually compulsory unionism, at a cost of entry of over $US6,500.
I don’t think the ADG wants anything more than a level playing field. Why should we be borderless when noone else is? And how will requiring work visas destroy the industry? Why is that one segment of the Australian workforce be ‘borderless’, yet all others be afforded the protection (yes lets call it what it is….work visas are a form of protectionism) of work visas?
That’s Revolver’s singular view..They’ve sponged off American talent rather than building local directors. Michael’s opinion should not be seen as representative of our industry.