Actors union tightens rules for working in Australia, NZ

00-00-0000
Actors union tightens rules for working in Australia, NZ

Australia and New Zealand may no longer be such cheap film-making destinations forHollywood studios.

America's actors' union -- the Screen Actors Guild -- has ordered its 98,000 membersnot to work on a film, TV show or theatrical production in Australia, Canada or any othercountry unless they're offered a Guild contract.

The Guild will enforce its order globally from May 1 and actors who disobey it facefines, suspension or expulsion.

Since 1996 there's been a 53 per cent increase in the number of productions filmedoutside the US without Guild agreements, including the first Matrix movie shot in Australiaand the Lord of The Rings trilogy shot in New Zealand.

That's resulted in an estimated $A43 million lost revenue for the union's pension andhealth fund.

AAP RTV pm/jc/sb/jmt/rp

KEYWORD: US FILMS AUST (LOS ANGELES)