The Cook Government has intervened to ensure actors appearing at the $233.5 million Perth Film Studios’ first-ever open days are paid for their time after they were initially only offered meals and the “opportunity” to work with experienced directors and crew.
The open days, set for September 11 and 12, will feature a real music video recording for a Perth band, organised by contractor West Coast Crew.
Last month West Coast Crew put out a callout for more than 30 volunteer actors to be part of the event across four sets in roles including Kung Fu fighters, cops, and zombies. The email stated the directors and crew would also be donating their time.
“Although this is an unpaid opportunity, all participants will be provided with meals while working; given access to the completed music video for possible show reel use; [and] given the opportunity to work with experienced Perth directors and crew inside the new studio,” the email read.
The Cook government embarked on the film studios project in Perth’s north-eastern suburbs to turbocharge the state’s small screen industry in 2021, and the callout for unpaid actors incensed the opposition and Chamber of Arts and Culture WA.
Creative Industries shadow minister Julie Freeman raised the issue with Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk and said it was “a pretty ordinary way” to start what was supposed to be a major investment in WA’s creative industries.
“So much for diversifying the economy and creating jobs,” Freeman said.
“Perth Film Studios was sold as an investment in Western Australia’s screen industry, designed to attract productions, create jobs and build a sustainable local industry.
“Instead, the studio’s opening weekend is relying on local actors and crew to work for free.
“To ask Western Australian talent to volunteer their time to showcase a facility that is supposed to create jobs for them is insulting.”
A spokeswoman for McGurk said the government had intervened to ensure the actors would be paid.
She said the state was not aware actors were being asked to volunteer for the open day.
“West Coast Crew have been contracted and paid to deliver the behind-the-scenes experience by Arts and Culture Trust who manage the Perth Film Studios, on behalf of the state government,” she said.
“It was a decision of West Coast Crew to call for extras to appear in a music video on a voluntary basis and the state government was not aware the call-out was being made.
“It is the state government’s expectation that actors are paid for their time and expertise and has intervened to ensure that happens.”
West Coast Crew was approached for comment but did not respond by deadline.
Chamber of Arts and Culture WA executive director Rick Heath said he was grateful for the state’s intervention.
“When first hearing about it, I would say it’s a request that’s actually deeply offensive to professional actors and performers,” he said.
“The notion of professional people volunteering their time for ‘exposure’ is something that we absolutely need to address and move on from, which is about the sustainability of the industry and the careers for West Australian talent.”
The open days include a careers open day for school students on September 11 and a public open day on September 12.
The tickets have all been snapped up.
Hamish Hastie is WAtoday’s state political reporter and the winner of five WA Media Awards, including the 2023 Beck Prize for best political journalism.Connect via X or email.
