Taking the temperature: Section 4 – Working overseas

So 68% of those surveyed are leaving the industry, either moving to another country or just getting out of the industry all together..and that’s not considered a brain drain? We wheel out Baz Jane and George as the infinite success stories as the industry putters along in first gear, so if you’re 30, maybe with some film production experience behind you and some higher learning what kind of career could you honestly say you might be able to successfully carve out for yourself in this country?
I think the apathy that’s been talked about is really the first wave we are seeing of this slow “why bother” attitude, unless real and effective measures are taken soon, you’ll see a generation just not bother with trying to build a career in this country. You might get a percentage aspiring in their 20’s, its when they get into their 30’s and start maturing as creative talent that you’ll see a sharp drop off. We can’t afford that brain drain and if government could actually lead and make decisions and create pathways to nurture creative talent that helps develop our culture, we might be able to stem the tide. Every aspect of film production is work like any other, just because we aren’t digging massive holes in the ground and shipping the contents to China, doesn’t mean that the work film makers aspire to do and develop, isn’t worthy work, we need to see ideas for what they are worth in terms of an export. We have a conservative government coming in, we all know what that means..I can smell the despair already. Screenplays take a long time to nurture…if you can’t make a living out of your craft it becomes a hobby..is that what we want..and industry of hobbyist’s?
Its what we’re building towards..we need to stop the brain drain and begin to identify talent and nurture it effectively .

I think there’s actually a much bigger and wider problem – namely, the general cost of living in Australia is now driving young professionals from all industries across the pond to the US in record numbers. It seems that few of those who have made it in America have any intention of coming back

This link may be of interest

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au.....?t=1630354

Agree whole-heartedly with Doug.

I worked extensively overseas in TV and came back to stay with my ill mother – I had a lot to offer in the Industry with my experience overseas but no-one was interested in what i had done or achieved. I am now working back in Oz and it’s depressing to find that Producers lack any script experience and their main job is to make me write faster whether the product is ready or not. They don’t care nor would they know. Total disrespect and might I add, resentment towards writers. One Producer asked me recently ‘why do Writer’s whinge so much…’ People have really given up fighting. They just keep their mouth shut and take the money…tragic really. Loads of talent here.

I worked in the industry UK for 8 years, came home for a year and had the same experience as Victoria. I felt that actually my overseas experience was resented and kind of begrudged by my workmates and supervisors, who took a ‘well you’re not in London now’ attitude. Their thinking and mindset was tiny, focused only on the tiny local ‘scene’ and keeping everybody’s wheels spinning until the next job came in. It was depressing. So I moved back overseas again.