Australian scriptwriters will join with their colleagues around the world today, Wednesday 28 November, for an International Day of Solidarity, in support of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike against multi-national media conglomerates.
Rallies organised by the Australian Writers’ Guild (AWG) will take place this afternoon in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide, and will coincide with demonstrations of support in New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, Mexico and France.
The AWG Rallies coincide with reopened negotiations aimed at settling the U.S. strike by achieving fair payments for the use of writers’ work on new media platforms such as the internet and mobile phones.
‘The independent film and television industry in Australia needs to fight hard to preserve an Australian screen culture – standing up for the principle of sharing the massive profits of multinational media conglomerates with the people who create the products they profit from is an essential part of that,’ says Jacqueline Woodman, Executive Director, Australian Writers’ Guild.
Speakers at the Sydney Rally include Oscar nominated screenwriter Jan Sardi (Shine, The Notebook), Craig Pearce (Strictly Ballroom, Romeo+Juliet, Moulin Rouge) and AFI nominated writer Rick Kalowski (Comedy Inc., The Honourable Wally Norman).
Kalowski, whose first Hollywood writing project has coincided with the strike, says ‘as crucial as that job is to my career, it’s vitally important for foreign Guild members to demonstrate their support for the causes for which American writers are striking, causes we have been equally engaged in here in Australia.’
Acclaimed scriptwriter Geoffrey Atherden (Mother and Son, Stepfather of the Bride) will address the Rally in Perth.
The issues facing the WGA directly affect us all. A show of support for our American colleagues is vital in their attempts to achieve a fair deal for all. This will set the precedent for new media revenue shares for writers, actors and directors in the U.S., Australia and the rest of the world.
Sydney – 4.30pm, Sydney Square, Sydney Town Hall, George Street, Sydney
Perth – 5.15pm, Entry Forecourt, Perth Railway Station, Wellington Square, Perth
Brisbane – 5.00pm, Queen’s Gardens, cnr. Elizabeth and George Sts, Brisbane
Adelaide – 5.15pm, Adelaide Centre for the Arts, 39 Light Square, Adelaide
[release from The Australian Writers’ Guild]