The MEAA is lobbying MPs to block any government moves to reform the system of approving visas for foreign actors and crew to work in Australian taxpayer-subsidised screen productions.
Veteran producer-director Martha Ansara warns that deregulating the system of approving visas for foreign actors and crews would endanger Australian cultural content.
Ausfilm has aligned itself with producers, broadcasters and Foxtel in advocating the abolition of the requirement for the Arts Minister to consult with the MEAA on visa applications for foreign cast and crew.
Foxtel has proposed the government would consult with the MEAA on visa applications for foreign actors and crew in taxpayer-funded Australian screen productiond as infrequently as every three years.
On Tuesday actors Susie Porter, Geoff Morrell and John Howard met with key senators to campaign against an Abbott Government proposal to cut requirements for taxpayer-funded productions to employ Australian actors and crew.
The commercial free-to-air broadcasters have called on the government to reform the process of granting visas to foreign actors and crew to work in Australia screen productions.
The federal Arts Minister should no longer have the power to approve the importing of foreign actors in Australian screen productions, according to Screen Producers Australia.
As the MEAA prepares to launch a campaign to fight proposed changes to the guidelines on foreign actors and crew working in Australian taxpayer-funded film and TV productions, filmmakers and other guilds insist reform is needed.