Screen Producers Australia

In 1956, independent producers united to lobby federal and state governments to support Australian content on television and in the cinema, using both regulation and subsidies. A secondary goal was to increase their bargaining power in industrial relations negotiations with trade unions representing actors and technicians. In the late 1950s, the Australian Film Producers Association (AFPA)was created, mostly consisting of producers of advertisements, who lobbied against the importation of television advertising. For the next ten years, they lobbied to ensure higher levels of Australian content on commercial television.{{cite web | first=Owen |last=Johnston | title=Screen Producers Association of Australia | website=AustLit| date=28 October 2016 | url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/9565039 | access-date=19 April 2020|quote=Appears in: A Companion to the Australian Media: S 2014 Reference Companion section, pp.424-425}}

AFPA became the Film Production Association of Australia (FPAA), registered in 1972 as an employer association. The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and the producers' association have sometimes joined forces (such as lobbying for the protection of Australian industry and content), and sometimes clashed (such as with regard to the use of foreign actors in Australian films). Governments started funding some Australian feature films during the 1970s, leading to the founding of the Independent Feature Film Producers Association (IFPA) in 1973. Difficulties in negotiating agreements with Actors’ Equity led to a merger of IFPA and FPAA in 1976, forming the Film and Television Production Association of Australia (FTPAA).

In 1985, the FTPAA rebranded as the Screen Production Association of Australia (SPAA), and held the inaugural SPAA Conference, with the aim of increasing membership and funds. In 1994, the name changed to Screen Producers' Association of Australia (SPAA).

In November 2013, it rebranded as Screen Producers Australia.{{cite web | title=SPAA rebrands as Screen Producers Australia | website=Mumbrella | date=18 November 2013 | url=https://mumbrella.com.au/spaa-rebrands-screen-producers-australia-190505 | access-date=19 April 2020}}

In 2023 the Australian film industry was affected by the SAG-AFTRA strike in the United States. In July 2023 SPA announced that wholly local film and TV productions, even those engaging members of the Screen Actors Guild, could continue. It stated that a limited number of scripted offshore productions would be affected by the strike.{{cite web | last=Frater | first=Patrick | title=Australian Guild Says Fully Local Productions Are Unaffected by SAG-AFTRA Strike | website=Variety | date=14 July 2023 | url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/sag-strike-international-local-productions-1235670384/ | access-date=24 August 2024}} Cast and crew working on series and films funded from the US would be stood down during the strike, but Australian-scripted productions using Australian and SAG members would not be affected by the strike order "if they were engaged under Australian industry contracts agreed to by SAG-AFTRA and the MEAA". SPA supported the strike, but said that its members would not be supported if they withheld their labour.{{cite web | last=Burke | first=Kelly | title=Hollywood actors strike: hundreds of Australian film and TV workers to be stood down | website=The Guardian | date=14 July 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/jul/14/hollywood-actors-strike-australian-film-tv-workers-stood-down | access-date=24 August 2024}} In November, SPA expected a negative effect on foreign productions shot in Australia.{{cite web | last=Whittock | first=Jesse | title=Screen Producers Australia Predicts U.S. Strikes Will Hit Drama Investment Figures Next Year & Bemoans $260M Drop In Local Stories Spend | website=Deadline | date=2 November 2023 | url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/screen-producers-australia-writers-strike-actors-strike-drama-spend-fall-1235590684/ | access-date=24 August 2024}}

Screen Producers Australia supports the interests of businesses in their production of feature films, television programs, interactive content, and games across all genres and formats. Since its origins in the 1950s, the organisation has provided a consistent voice lobbying for Australian content regulation. Today its focus remains on advocacy,{{cite web | title=Advocacy | website=Screen Producers Australia | url=https://www.screenproducers.org.au/advocacy | access-date=19 April 2020}} as well as industrial relations,{{cite web | title=Industrial | website=Screen Producers Australia | url=https://www.screenproducers.org.au/industrial | access-date=19 April 2020}} and conferences and other events, such as SCREEN FOREVER and the Screen Producers Australia Awards.{{cite web | title=Events| website=Screen Producers Australia | url=https://www.screenproducers.org.au/events | access-date=19 April 2020}}

SPA is a member of the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF).

• Screen Forever (conference)

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web | publisher=University of Melbourne | title=Parties to the Award, Pedigree Charts ~ Federally Registered Employers & Employer Associations, page 50: Chart 28: Entertainment and Sports | website=Australian Trade Union Archives | date=1994 | url=http://www.atua.org.au/ptta/050.html|quote=1994 Print Edition page 60, 2002 Online Edition|format=chart}}
• {{cite web | publisher=University of Melbourne | title=Film Production Association of Australia (1972-1976) (Employer Body Entry) | website=Australian Trade Union Archives | date=6 August 2010|first=Bruce A.|last=Smith | url=http://www.atua.org.au/biogs/ALE0525b.htm}}

• {{official|https://www.screenproducers.org.au/}}

{{Animation industry in Australia}}

{{Cinema of Australia}}

Category:Television organisations in Australia

Category:Film organisations in Australia