Key creatives from Australia’s film and TV industry in front of and behind the camera will today urge federal politicians from all parties to act to ensure Australian stories continue to be told on Australian screens.
A group of actors, directors, producers, writers and crew will be in Parliament House for a series of meetings about the threats to the Australian industry’s future as part of the Make It Australian campaign.
Actors Judy Davis, Richard Roxburgh and Deborah Mailman, directors Phillip Noyce and Gillian Armstrong, screenwriters Andrew Knight and Ellie Beaumont, and producers Jo Porter, Anita Jacoby and Michael Tear as well as production designer Fiona Donovan are among those taking the fight to save Australian screen stories directly to the politicians who have the power to do so.
Their visit to Parliament is part of the Make It Australian campaign spearheaded by the Australian Directors’ Guild, the Australian Writers’ Guild, the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance and Screen Producers Australia to ensure government support for the sector. It follows an open letter published in March calling for urgent action by many of the biggest names in the industry such as Cate Blanchett and Chris Hemsworth.
“There is momentum building around the Make it Australian campaign and in particular, extending local content obligations to the new media and streaming services. This momentum comes from industry, the public and today we’re asking the Parliament to join us.” said Matthew Deaner, chief executive officer of Screen Producers Australia.