Entertainment - Media News Watch originally published at Entertainment - Media News Watch
Two productions shooting in Australia, Peacock series Apples Never Fall for Peacock, and New Line and Warner Bros’ feature Mortal Kombat 2, are both on pause from this week due to US actors joining the ongoing Writers Guild of America’s strike, sources confirm.
Both projects were being filmed at Village Roadshow Studios in Queensland.
Apples is being produced by Heyday Television, part of Universal International Studios, with Matchbox Pictures providing on-the-ground assistance. Heyday Television, part of Universal International Studios, is producing Apples
with Matchbox Pictures providing on-the-ground assistance. The Australian and Queensland governments provided financial incentives. The 2021 original film received Australian government funding intended for local production and Australian director Simon McQuoid is again on board. The 2021 original film received Australian government funding intended for local production and Australian director Simon McQuoid is again on board.The key factor is whether actors are under SAG-AFTRA or Australian contracts.Local Australian sources have suggested that workarounds can and will be applied to the Global Rule One Agreement, in place to ensure SAG members don’t work on non-union productions and in Australia between SAG-AFTRA and the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), which represents Australian actors and crew.
Big independent Australian productions often employ several US actors on SAG contracts which mseans several high-profile Australian projects will have to rethink their upcoming publicity and promotion campaigns.
Local impact
There is also a ripple effect on the local industry. One producer told
Screen
he has been plunged into uncertainty because he has hired an Australian cast member on the now-delayed Apples Never Fall for a financed Australian feature but Apples is likely to take precedence.“It’s safe to say that SAG-AFTRA joining the WGA on strike does make the issues more acute for screen workers all over the world, but frankly it should not have got to this point,” said Claire Pullen, executive director of Australian Writers’ Guild. Both strikes demonstrate a larger problem with the way creative workers are treated in the industry. The MEAA released a statement on Friday expressing solidarity with the US strike. MEAA representatives are in dialogue with the producers of those productions and will advise crew and performer members of their rights if work is interrupted by the strikes. MEAA representatives are in dialogue with the producers of those productions and will advise crew and performer members of their rights if work is interrupted by the strikes.”Although neither Disney Studios Australia in Sydney nor Docklands Studios Melbourne (DSM) have been impacted so far as neither had productions underway, booked-in projects may falter up ahead.
“While our industry is reeling from the cancellation and shutdown of significant productions which employ hundreds of people nationwide, I’m confident that the demand for studio space will be strong in the near future,” said DSM chief executive Antony Tulloch.
DSM was badly hit last month when the plug was pulled on the hugely anticipated series
Metropolis
, being produced by Esmail Corp
for Apple TV+. Rising costs and the writers’ strike were given as reasons.
“With the 30% location offset now a permanent advantage, Australia’s reputation as a premier production destination will only flourish,’ said Tulloch. “Remember, a backlog of projects is likely taking shape.”Ironically, July 1 marked the day when Australia officially became more attractive as a location because the offset was increased to 30% and the discretionary incentive has been scrapped.Several indie shoots underway as SAG-AFTRA prepares waivers
Entertainment - Media News Watch originally published at Entertainment - Media News Watch
