Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Aussie actors group ban creative commons

This is very odd if it's true - the Australian Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), the Australian equivalent of the UK Equity actors union, have banned a film company from using their actors in a film to be released under a creative commons licence.

"MOD Films had sought a dispensation, since early January, to allow professional Australian actors to participate in the short (15 minute) film and had worked with actors agents to communicate the extent of the project before auditions. The cast chosen for Sanctuary had been offered 110% on top of the MEAA award rate to take part in the experiment...

Michela Ledwidge, the director of Sanctuary, and the recipient of the Inventions award that is primarily funding the film, said "Having worked for years to fund this project and bring it back home to Australia to showcase local talent, I'm both dismayed and rather embarrassed by the MEAA position. It is no small irony that the actors and talent agents, who supported our little pilot and our submission to the MEAA, have the most to lose from this decision. We will still make the film but plans for an Australian shoot will have to be revised."

MOD Films is yet to receive a written response to its formal submission to the MEAA."

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