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Rachel Ward joins outcry against Canadian director for Hanging Rock saga

Director says it's "sad we must import someone to do the job for us.”

Director Rachel Ward (pictured) has joined in the criticism of the importing of Canadian director Larysa Kondracki as the establishing director on Foxtel’s Picnic at Hanging Rock.

“Apparently Australian directors are not thought highly enough by international casts to lure them to work in our country on Australian stories for Australian audiences. Particularly female ones,” she told Daily Review.

“It’s ultimately just sad that those of us who have committed so many years as Australian filmmakers are thought so little of by some production teams and broadcasters here that we must import someone to do the job for us.”

The Australian Director’s Guild opposed a Visa application by FremantleMedia  for Kondracki, claiming it did not meet the Net Employment Benefit Test.

“Australian directors are amazed and astonished at the choice of a foreign director to work on a classic especially as it is not a co-production and is being fully financed in Australia,” said ADG CEO Kingston Anderson.

Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance Equity director Zoe Angus has previously said, “I understand that the reason put forward by Fremantle is they are unable to find a female director locally,” she says. “I haven’t seen the application but if that’s the reason, MEAA would be extremely concerned and consider it highly unlikely there are not suitable available local directors who could direct such an iconic Australian piece.”

FremantleMedia declined to comment.

Source: Daily Review, Fairfax

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