Work and employment in the Australian film industry : a research agenda

Over the last decade, international scholarly interest and attention has risen significantly in terms of the contribution of creative work and industry to debates on urban development, economic prosperity and social evolution. This interest is broadly situated in two streams of analysis: the macro policy perspective and the micro impact on the individual at the core of the debate. While each stream adds to the body of knowledge, arguably what is lacking from these debates is the connection between individuality and policy-making that is necessitated by the process of employment. This paper proposes that a research agenda exists for addressing the gap in current research by focussing on the meso level of employment systems that connect the broader political economy of creative work with the experiences and perceptions of those employed as creative workers. It is suggested that the Australian film industry provides a rich context to conduct this research due to its cultural and economic significance in today’s modern society.