Guest contribution from Gene Goodsell LLB (Hons) B Bus – Manager of Legal & Business Affairs & Entertainment Agent at AMI Sport & Entertainment Pty Limited, a leading Australian management agency with offices in nine cities worldwide.
The Australian fascination with America and in particular, Hollywood, is growing stronger. English influence dating back to Australian colonial days, is waning. This is no more apparent than in Sydney, widely considered to be Australia’s most ‘American’ city. With this Americanisation of Australian culture has come a yearning for Hollywood and all that it offers.
More and more Australian artists are seeking and finding fame and fortune in Hollywood. Kidman, Crowe, Jackman and Bana are all huge stars who originally hail from the ‘Great Southern Land’.
And it’s not just actors who are benefiting. Ten years ago, the support services on offer for Australian artists were very limited. Today, the number and quality of management agencies in Australia is increasing all the time. Granted, the size, professionalism and earning capacity of these agencies is nowhere near that of a CAA, or William Morris Endeavour Entertainment but for a country with approximately 22 million people, we aren’t doing too badly.
NBC recently produced an American version of the successful Australian comedy, Kath & Kim – something which would have been unheard of a decade ago. Now, Australian TV production companies are eagerly trying to pitch their ideas to US networks.
There are many Australian stars who are getting gigs in Hollywood without having substantial Australian acting resumes. Many of these actors are graduates of Aussie soaps such as Home and Away and Neighbours.
Established Australian actors are also starring in more US TV shows than ever before, such as Simon Baker in the Mentalist.
There are even Aussie-born agents making the cut in large Hollywood agencies, which are notoriously competitive and have traditionally been a closed shop for agents from other countries.
Going forward, the impact and influence of our tiny nation will only increase.
