The union that represents actors says it will oppose any federal government attempt to dismantle guidelines protecting the jobs of Australian actors and crew.
The Abbott government is currently reviewing regulations that restrict the number of foreign cast or crew able to work on any one production. Director of the Actors Equity section of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), Zoe Angus, says the union is open to working with the Government to further the film and television industry.
"However, any attempts to dismantle industry protections that have created an incredible pool of talent that includes the likes of Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Chris Hemsworth and Joel Edgerton will be fiercely resisted by MEAA and our members," Angus said in a statement.
Currently, producers of films that receive government funding must have at least 50 per cent of lead roles and 75 per cent of support roles filled by Australians.
They must also prove they have tried to cast locals for all roles. The MEAA says the federal government is proposing to remove these protections, allowing overseas actors and crew unfettered access.
Not all actors are against relaxing some of the rules. Local veteran actor Roy Billing, who played Griffith drug lord Robert Trimbole in the drama series Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities, has called for an easing of restrictions on foreign actors.
The New-Zealand-born actor argued in an opinion piece in Inside Film last year that when "bankable" Aussie talent isn't available, producers can't turn to casting international stars in their place.
They then run the risk of a production becoming less commercially viable for private investors or in some cases, the film doesn't go ahead at all.
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