Annie Duncan

We submitted our animation scripts to two Arts organisations. After two VCAT directional hearings, we wish to fund a county court hearing. In the VCAT directional hearing we could have continued with the ABC television as the respondent but to do so would narrowed our case as we wish for the second respondent Screen Australia to remain in it.

The ABC script that we wrote was in response to an ad (thus acceptable for VCAT) and the Screen Australia script was an application for a grant. Our children's animation renamed “Buster & Jack” aired in 2014 and the ABC series ”Bubble Bath Bay” aired in 2015.

It’s a David and Goliath situation where creative people take on two departments under the ministry of the arts.

The case will pave the way for writers, filmmakers and animators to follow if the situation repeats with their own projects.

Our goal of $25,000 is to be able to have a hearing with both parties and associated parties. This money will be a start for the hearing as costs will be higher. The money will cover the County Court Application, the claim to be submitted by a solicitor, a report by a barrister. The funds will also go towards solicitors and barrister's appearances. The funding will also allow travel and accomodation costs for people willing to testify who live interstate.

We have a case building which will hopefully ensure this situation will never happen again to an Australian Writer, Film maker or animator. We are aware that  hex fees of $23,000 to $28,000 for under graduates and $50,000- $80,000 exist for full time graduates. This means that hypothically, the creative Graduates may have their livehoods  dipped into twice, if a similar situation occurred.

We are too small of an isolated country to allow such a situation to repeat itself. We are an honest, trusting nation and creative people need to eat, just like the rest of the population.

Has anyone used your TV script without payment or aknowledgement?