Actors recruited to appear at Perth Film Studios’ first public open days will be paid after the Western Australian Government intervened over a proposal that initially offered only meals and the prospect of industry “exposure”.
More than 30 performers had been sought for a music video shoot planned as part of the events at the $233.5 million facility on September 11 and 12. The roles included kung fu fighters, police officers and zombies.
An email circulated by contractor West Coast Crew described the work as an unpaid opportunity. It offered participants meals, access to the finished video for possible showreel use and the chance to work alongside experienced directors and crew.
The arrangement prompted criticism from the Western Australian Opposition and the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA, who questioned why performers were being asked to work for free at an event intended to promote a major investment in the state’s creative industries.
Julie Freeman, the opposition’s shadow creative industries minister, said the proposal was an “ordinary way” to begin the public life of a project designed to create jobs in the screen sector.
“Perth Film Studios was sold as an investment in Western Australia’s screen industry, designed to attract productions, create jobs and build a sustainable local industry,” she said.
“Instead, the studio’s opening weekend is relying on local actors and crew to work for free.”
A spokeswoman for Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk said the government had not known actors were being asked to volunteer, but had acted to ensure they would receive payment.
“It is the state government’s expectation that actors are paid for their time and expertise and has intervened to ensure that happens,” she said.
West Coast Crew was contracted and paid by the Arts and Culture Trust, which manages Perth Film Studios on behalf of the state government, to deliver the behind-the-scenes experience. The company did not respond to requests for comment.
Rick Heath, executive director of the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA, said unpaid requests of this kind risked undermining the sustainability of careers in the industry.
“The notion of professional people volunteering their time for ‘exposure’ is something that we absolutely need to address and move on from,” he said.
Perth Film Studios open days
The facility in Malaga, in Perth’s north-east, will host a careers day for school, TAFE and tertiary students on Friday, September 11, followed by a public open day on Saturday, September 12.
Visitors are due to see live demonstrations, talks, interactive activities and a working music video production. The Arts and Culture Trust said the ticket allocation had been exhausted, with prospective visitors able to join a waiting list.
The open days come as filming gets under way at the studio on Two Birds, a Stan and ITV series starring Judy Davis, Stephen Peacocke and British actor Sheridan Smith.
Western Australia’s Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport said the production was expected to generate more than $17 million for the state economy and employ more than 100 local cast and crew.
