FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- Where is Canberra and the Capital Region?
- How do I get started in film,
television or digital media in the ACT and Capital
Region?
- What is a Risk Management
Plan?
- Is there a code of
practice in the ACT covering the use of animals in
film and TV?
- Are there
regulations or legislation in the ACT regarding the
employment of children in film and TV and hours of
employment?
- What sort of insurance do I
need to consider when organising a location for a
production?
- Where can I find sample contracts
to use in relation to filming? (eg location releases,
music licences, cast and crew agreements)?
- Who is eligible for
the ACT Investment Fund?
Where is Canberra and the Capital Region?
Canberra is located in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), which sits geographically within southern New South Wales (NSW). The city is 150 kilometres inland and 571 metres above the Pacific Ocean, 281 kilometres from Sydney and 660 kilometres from Melbourne.
The 14 NSW council areas surrounding the ACT together with the ACT make up an area known as the Capital Region, which offers a diverse range of coastal, rural, heritage, urban and alpine locations. Click here to view a map of the ACT and Capital Region.
How do I get started in film, television or digital media in the ACT and Capital Region?
There are a number of avenues for getting into film, television and digital media in the ACT and Capital Region, depending on whether you want to dive right into formal training or dabble a little first.
The ACT has a number of education and training institutions offering courses in film and digital media related subjects, including short courses. There are also industry associations which sometimes offer introductory courses in film and digital media related subjects and several screen industry related festivals and events in the region, which offer you the chance to see what is being produced in the region and to network with like-minded individuals.
For students looking for work experience, you could try contacting organisations listed in the Screen Industry Directory to see if anything is available with the organisations listed there. Do some research on the businesses first to ensure that they offer the type of work you are interested in exploring and consider what you may be able to offer them in terms of your skills and experience.
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What is a Risk Management
Plan?
Within the ACT, public authorities such as Roads ACT or the National Capital Authority may require a risk profile or Risk Management Plan as part of the film permitting process, depending on the size of the production.
A Risk Management Plan is required to manage all possible risks associated with a film production. Each production is unique and therefore a production specific Risk Management Plan is required.
The Risk Management Plan should outline any risks, the likelihood of their occurrence and actions taken to mitigate these risks. It is the responsibility of the filmmaker or production company to develop an effective Risk Management Plan and to inform anyone associated with the production of the risks involved and how they should be handled if they occur.
ACT Workcover is primarily interested in the safety of your production and how any safety concerns are handled. A well thought out Risk Management Plan should ensure a safe, incident free event.
The Emergency Services Authority (ESA) is concerned with public safety and processes for handling spectator safety. In some instances, the ESA will be required to review the filmmaker's Risk Management Plan and advise of any remedial treatments.
The ACT Government’s risk advisory website provides information to help organisations establish risk management frameworks, including examples of risk management plans.
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Is
there
a code of practice in the ACT covering the use of
animals in film and TV?
The ACT Government has gazetted a Code of Practice relating to animals used in film. The requirements of the Code of Practice must be met by all animal owners and animal users. A copy of the Code of Practice can be found at the Department of Territory and Municipal Services website.
Are there
regulations or legislation in the ACT regarding the
employment of children in film and TV and hours of
employment?
There is legislation in force in the ACT dealing with the employment of children and young people. A copy of the Children and Young People Act 2008 can be found at the ACT Legislation Register.
Chapter 21 of the Act sets out the applicable rules regarding the employment of children and young people in the ACT. An exception to the rule that a person must not employ a young child is provided in regard to certain forms of employment regarded as "light work", including "performing in a radio, television or film program or production, or a similar program or production, other than a news item". The chapter also sets out certain rules regarding what will qualify under the "light work" exception in terms of working hours/week.
A new set of national Safety Guidelines is also being developed by the industry through the Screen Production Safety Review Committee in consultation with employers, industry practitioners, unions and relevant organisations. The guidelines will set out the preferred occupational health and safety practice applicable to film, television and video production in Australia and can be regarded as the national best practice within the industry. Chapter 45 of the Guidelines addresses safety considerations for children working in the industry, and gives some general guidance. A copy of the most recent version of the Guidelines can be found at the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance website. Chapter 45 of the Guidelines refers to the Children's Services Act (ACT) 1986, which has now been repealed and replaced by the Children and Young People Act (ACT) 1999.
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What sort of
insurance do I need to consider when organising a
location for a production?
When organising locations for a production, it is not only important to consider permitting requirements, but also your potential legal liability for any damage to property or injury to persons coming into contact with your production. Certain insurances are required by law throughout the period of a film production to protect against this.
Most public authorities within the ACT and NSW require public liability insurance cover for a minimum of $10 million to cover any loss, damage and/or injury caused by anyone employed or contracted by the Production Company. A copy of the independent filmmaker or production company’s current Certificate of Currency is usually required as evidence of the production’s insurance cover. Within the ACT, public authorities such as RoadsACT or the National Capital Authority may also require a risk profile or risk management plan as part of the permitting process, depending on the size of the production.
Cover provided by public liability insurance is usually offered on an Australia-wide basis but can be extended to include overseas shoots. Public liability insurance protects you and your business against the financial risk of being found liable to a third party for death or injury, loss or damage of property or “pure economic” loss resulting from your negligence. It can also cover your legal costs associated with defending a claim, even if you are not found to be negligent or liable for an incident giving rise to loss, damage, death or injury. However, public liability insurance may not cover legal liability in relation to certain other risks, such as liability for loss arising out of the use of a motor vehicle, which would need to be insured under separate policies.
Other types of insurance that may also be relevant to your production include Negative Risk, Multi-Risk for equipment, props and sets, Travel Insurance, Film Producer's Indemnity and Errors and Omissions.
An insurance agent can assist you to assess your risk and recommend appropriate insurance based on your production budget. Industry directories, such as The Production Book and Encore Directory, list insurance underwriters and brokers that provide insurance for the film industry.
Other sources of information regarding insurance considerations for film and television productions in the ACT and Capital Region, as well as more generally, include:
The Arts Law Centre of Australia (www.artslaw.com.au)
Screen Australia (www.screenaustralia.gov.au)
business.gov.au (www.business.gov.au)
The National Capital Authority (www.natcap.gov.au)
Where can I find sample contracts
to use in relation to filming? (eg location releases,
music licences, cast and crew agreements)?
The Arts Law Centre of Australia (the national community legal centre for the arts in Australia) offers sample contracts for sale, including Film and Video agreements such as Film Location Releases, Producer and Cast/Crew Agreements, and Music Licences for Film. Visit their website for more information: www.artslaw.com.au
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Who is eligible
for the ACT Investment Fund?
The ACT Screen Investment Fund (the Fund) is an ACT Government program administered by the ACT Chief Minister's Department in collaboration with ScreenACT, the ACT Office of Film, Television and Digital Media.
The Fund is aimed at supporting the growth and sustainability of the ACT screen industry, which includes film, television and digital media. It provides equity co-investment with the marketplace in creative, original and marketable projects that can demonstrate significant economic, cultural and creative benefits to the ACT.
For more information on the fund, call ScreenACT on 6247 4199 or see the offical Fund Webpage.
