The Australian technicians' union is confident it will sign a landmark deal with Universal for crew employed on Unbroken, the Angelina Jolie-directed drama based on the true story of US Olympic athlete Louis Zamperini who was captured by the Japanese in
After 18 months of negotiations a collective agreement for performers working in Australian TV productions has been finalised.
The casting search for the supporting roles in Blackbird, a Hitchcockian thriller starring Cate Blanchett that was due to shoot in Sydney in January, has halted.
Actors seldom complain about a lack of diversity in the casting of Australian films and TV programs, according to actress/filmmaker Pearl Tan.
Some technicians employed on FremantleMedia Australia productions including Neighbours are in dispute with the company.
The Australian technicians' union is at loggerheads with the producers of Gods of Egypt, Alex Proyas' fantasy adventure starring Gerard Butler, Game of Thrones' Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Geoffrey Rush and Brenton Thwaites.
The technicians' union and the producers of the Australian mystery drama Strangerland have signed an industrial agreement which the union hopes will set a precedent for Australian films.
MEAA federal secretary Christopher Warren has advised the union's federal management committee he will not seek re-election when his current four-year-term term expires next year.