Migration Help
14th January 2010, 04:41 PM
JOYCE MORGAN
January 14, 2010
THE film is billed as a Christian courtroom drama that will leave audiences breathless and cheering. But Suing the Devil has left authorities asking just how its star, Malcolm McDowell, got into the country to film his role of Satan in Sydney last month.
They are looking at the devil in the detail of his visa.
The Department of Immigration has confirmed it is attempting to establish how McDowell and two US-based actors arrived in Australia.
The entry of the British star, who made his name in Clockwork Orange, should have raised a red flag, according to the actors' union. The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance has written to Immigration Minister Chris Evans for an explanation.
The film's Adelaide-based producer, David Turrell, of Mouth Watering Productions, had sought permission to use a US director, Tim Chey, and three overseas actors, McDowell, Jennifer Skylar and Shannen Fields, for the film.
The union was consulted last year about the applications for entertainer or 420 visas. Film producers are required to consult the union over the use of foreign actors.
The union raised concerns about the actors' contracts and other conditions. Negotiations had not been concluded when the union discovered the actors had arrived and filming had taken place in Sydney.
Simon Whipp, the union's national director, said: ''The big flaw in the immigration system is that when they've already made an application for a 420 visa for a performer and they show up at the front door at immigration some flag is not raised.''
Turrell said: ''We have tried to be transparent.''
A Department of Immigration and Citizenship spokesman said the actors were granted electronic travel authorities. There were mandatory conditions attached to all ETAs including that the holder must not be engaged in work in Australia.
SOURCE: The Age (http://www.theage.com.au/national/british-star-caught-up-in-unholy-row-over-visa-20100113-m6zk.html)
MH
January 14, 2010
THE film is billed as a Christian courtroom drama that will leave audiences breathless and cheering. But Suing the Devil has left authorities asking just how its star, Malcolm McDowell, got into the country to film his role of Satan in Sydney last month.
They are looking at the devil in the detail of his visa.
The Department of Immigration has confirmed it is attempting to establish how McDowell and two US-based actors arrived in Australia.
The entry of the British star, who made his name in Clockwork Orange, should have raised a red flag, according to the actors' union. The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance has written to Immigration Minister Chris Evans for an explanation.
The film's Adelaide-based producer, David Turrell, of Mouth Watering Productions, had sought permission to use a US director, Tim Chey, and three overseas actors, McDowell, Jennifer Skylar and Shannen Fields, for the film.
The union was consulted last year about the applications for entertainer or 420 visas. Film producers are required to consult the union over the use of foreign actors.
The union raised concerns about the actors' contracts and other conditions. Negotiations had not been concluded when the union discovered the actors had arrived and filming had taken place in Sydney.
Simon Whipp, the union's national director, said: ''The big flaw in the immigration system is that when they've already made an application for a 420 visa for a performer and they show up at the front door at immigration some flag is not raised.''
Turrell said: ''We have tried to be transparent.''
A Department of Immigration and Citizenship spokesman said the actors were granted electronic travel authorities. There were mandatory conditions attached to all ETAs including that the holder must not be engaged in work in Australia.
SOURCE: The Age (http://www.theage.com.au/national/british-star-caught-up-in-unholy-row-over-visa-20100113-m6zk.html)
MH