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Screen Forever 2023: “I want the Writers’ Strike to go as long possible”

Producers float the idea of US strike being an ideal time for Australians to get new projects up.

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During the last US Writers’ Strike of 2007 it is well documented that Australian TV networks greenlit new local shows when the pipeline of US content ran dry -Rodger Corser drama Rush is one such example, going on to a lengthy broadcast run.

Yesterday at the Screen Forever conference CJZ producer Nick Murray (pictured above, left), somewhat controversially, told a panel the current strike should be seen as an opportunity for local writers and producers.

“It’s great, even if you’re not developing drama, because the networks will lose some of their shows. all the all the late night shows that are on Channel 10 at the moment, are all gonna go. They’ll be gone by the end of the week, ” he said.

“In the last Writer’s Strike they rang up and said ‘House is finishing early, we lost all these other shows. What have you got that can be on air in six weeks? ‘ We got a light entertainment show up as a result of that, because we had one ready to go.”

But Mark Bamford (pictured below), of Simpsons Solicitors, said, “I’m wondering whether there will be other flow on effects from the strike. In other words, whether the directors and writers here will do something in sympathy…. I think they’re talking about doing that in the UK.”

“Writers here would be fools,” Murray replied. “There’s an opportunity right now for them to get extra work. They should absolutely not be going on strike. That would be mad.”

Amanda Morrison (pictured above), Managing Director of, Komixx Entertainment agreed the strike was too good for Australian creatives to ignore.

“Absolutely. I’m with you,” she said. “I think it’s actually a great opportunity, as controversial as that is, for Australian writers to get experience and get the credits and get the reach internationally…..get on the plane, go to Los Angeles, go and see people go to London, get there and build relationships.”

5 Responses

  1. Adding this last bit – the Australian Writers Guild has issued a statement in support of the strike, so I can only imagine they won’t respond positively to these producers comments: awg.com.au/posts/awg-statement-on-wga-strike

  2. Ugh. How about having some empathy rather than trying to pile on and take advantage?

    I’m sure Australian writers have no desire to follow their advice, given that that their issues are probably not all that dissimilar.

  3. The producers are completely missing the point. The same problems that are plaguing writers in the US are happening here too. Encouraging Australian writers to capitalise on the strike is ill informed at best.

  4. Classic producers. Telling writers what’s best for them – and encouraging them to burn bridges with the most powerful entertainment union on the planet, whose membership most writers would aspire to.

  5. They are basically telling people to cross the picket line. I am sure the WGA would clamp down hard on those who did that. They could even deny membership to those who did once the strike is over.

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