Fighting Films launch stars Jack Thompson

Australian actor Jack Thompson joins a gathering of mining and maritime workers, film makers, actors, artists and academics at the Australian Maritime Museum at 2pm tomorrow, Wednesday, November 19 for the launch of Fighting Films: A History of the WWF Film Unit.

The book launch and screenings are a celebration and a renewal of the union links with the arts community which spans a half century this month.

It all began in 1953 when two struggling filmmakers working under the hook on the Sydney wharves were put on the union payroll to make films 'by workers, for workers and about workers'.

"Progressive unions of the day recognised that cultural issues were inseparable from industrial and economic issues," said National Secretary Paddy Crumlin. "This is still the case today."

Fighting Films by Lisa Milner published by Pluto Press is a tribute to labour culture. Both surviving filmmakers Jock Levy and Norma Disher will join writer and academic Lisa Milner for the launch, which will include screenings of the old films.

Special guests include actors Mark Lee (Gallipoli), Michael Craig (GP) and Leonard Teale's widow, actor Liz Harris. Leonard Teale (Homicide) worked with the film unit in the fifties doing the voice over on many of the productions.

The book was jointly funded by the MUA, CFMEU (Mining and Construction divisions) and the AMWU which also commissioned films from the unit in the fifties.

Author Lisa Milner is a writer and academic specialising in Australian film history and cultural studies. She has written extensively on left wing documentaries and filmmakers and is a contributor to the Oxford Companion to Australian Film.

For further information:

MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin, mobile: 0418 379 660

Writer Lisa Milner: 02-9569-3469 or 9557-1509

MUA media officer: Zoe Reynolds 0417 229873

Jack Thompson can be contacted via John Cann, June Cann Management: tel: 9362 4007

For further information

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