THURSDAY 20 MARCH 2025 | 11:30PM - 3:30PM (AEDT) | ONLINE 

This is a SPA Member Only masterclass.

SPA Members: $90 (inc. GST)

Want to discuss a SPA Membership? Contact SPA.

 

In today’s global film and television landscape, working with foreign talent has become an essential part of financing and selling projects. This SPA Masterclass will take you deep into the complexities of bringing international artists – actors, writers, and directors – into Australian productions, ensuring you are equipped with the knowledge to navigate the legal and financial considerations involved.

Led by industry experts, including Eric Feig, a US entertainment lawyer with years of experience working with top talent, and Peter Flanigan, Senior Attorney at Feig Finkel LLP, who brings his expertise in managing complex talent deals and navigating WGA/DGA requirements, and tax specialists Tony Nagle and Yannick Chung from Nagle Accounting, this Masterclass offers invaluable insights into cross-border contract negotiations and structuring international deals. Alongside them, Zoe Angus from SPA will walk you through the contractual and practical considerations for successfully engaging foreign talent in your Australian production.

 

MASTERCLASS HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Importing Foreign Actors: Zoe Angus, Director of Industry and Commercial at SPA, will guide you through the terms and process involved in importing foreign actors under SPA industrial agreements. This session covers key aspects such as offshore artist visas, MEAA/SAG-ATRA Global Rule Exemption, and how to navigate Australian legal requirements for engaging offshore talent.
    
2. US Agents – What to expect When Communicating and Negotiating with Them: Eric Feig, film executive and lawyer at Feig Finkel LLP, will provide invaluable insights into how to successfully work with US agents to secure talent. With extensive experience negotiating top-tier talent deals, Eric will walk you through the agent and talent manager system, helping you understand what US agents expect and how to structure agreements effectively for international talent.
    
3. Importing Foreign Writers and Directors: Peter Flanigan, Senior Attorney at Feig Finkel LLP, will detail the essential rules for engaging US-based writers and directors, focusing on WGA and DGA member guidelines. Learn when these members can work in non-WGA/DGA jurisdictions and understand how to handle jurisdictional issues when a non-US film falls under WGA or DGA requirements.
    
4. Tax Considerations for Foreign Cast & Crew: Tony Nagle and Yannick Chung from Nagle Accounting will break down the key tax implications when hiring foreign talent. They will discuss structuring payments for cast and crew, tax file number requirements, applicable tax rates, and exemptions based on international tax treaties. 
    
5. Case Study: Jimpa: Producer Liam Heyen from Mad Ones Films will walk us through how he successfully attached Olivia Coleman and John Lithgow as the lead cast for the feature film Jimpa. This session will cover the topics discussed by other speakers, providing a comprehensive look at the various legal, financial, and practical considerations involved in bringing international talent to Australian productions.

Key Topics to be covered include:

SPA Masterclasses are online intensives held quarterly by Screen Producers Australia (SPA) and are designed to give Australian producers and their peers a competitive edge and valuable training on pertinent topics across all facets of the industry.

Masterclasses include presentations by experts from the legal, finance, industrial, business, and creative sectors as well as practical panel discussions with experienced producers who will share their valuable insights and knowledge. Masterclass topics will address current and important matters affecting practitioners working across the industry to ensure they have the most up-to-date information, expertise, and practical tools to remain relevant and successful in the dynamic industry we all love.