During the last US writers’ strike of 2007 it is well documented that Australian television networks greenlighted new local shows when the pipeline of US content dried up: Rodger Corser’s drama Rush is one such example, going on a long broadcast.
CJZ producer Nick Murray (pictured above, left) controversially told a panel yesterday at the Screen Forever conference that the current strike should be seen as an opportunity for local writers and producers.
“It’s great, even if you’re not developing a drama, because the networks are going to lose some of their shows. all the late night shows that are on Channel 10 at the moment, they will all go. They’ll be gone by the end of the week,” she said.
“The last writers’ strike they phoned and said ‘Home it’s ending soon, we missed all these other shows. What do you have that can air in six weeks? We got a light entertainment show as a result, because we had one ready to go.
But Mark Bamford (pictured below), of the Simpsons Solicitors, said: ‘I wonder if there will be more streams on the effects of the strike. In other words, if the directors and writers here are going to do something out of sympathy…. I think they are talking about doing it in the UK.
“The writers here would be fools,” replied Murray. “Right now there is an opportunity for them to get extra work. They absolutely shouldn’t go on strike. That would be insane.
Amanda Morrison (pictured above), chief executive of Komixx Entertainment, agreed that the strike was too good for Australian creatives to ignore.
“Absolutely. I’m with you,” he said. Los Angeles, go see people go to London , get there and build relationships.
