An Ex-pat re-pats

[malpeli]

Wondered if some old heads back home could help me out with some questions...

For the past three years I've been working in South East Asia. The first job I had here was cutting docos and magazine style shows on a Heavyworks. Recently I've moved over to a large post facility working on high end TVCs and will be here for another year or so...

After that it's anyones guess as to what I will do, but going back home to Oz is reasonably high on the agenda. However, I have some reservations...

Firstly, and I'm sure this is a concern for all of us, the recent US free trade agreement is bound to have a huge effect on the Australian film n telly industry. I fear that what limited opportunities exist there now will be even further eroded. Whats the current outlook for post in Oz?

Secondly, I'm a complete unknown in Australia. The limits of my experience in Oz was cutting shorts and docos in a low/no pay situation, and unfortunately none of the directors have gone on to bigger and better things. My showreel is beginning to look impressive, but without established professional relationships, I fear I'll spend most of my time looling for work instead of doing it. What actions would you suggest I engage in before coming home? Is there any agencies which deal with editors?

I'm beginning to get the impression that going back home will be a waste of time and I'd be better off selling my abilities around SE Asia where I've established a good reputation. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but my career goal is to cut features and apart from the very odd english language film made here, that opportunity is likely to be a long time coming...

I imagine the prospects back in Oz would be just as limited, but at least I wouldn't be scratching for a living.

Any advice you could glean would be much appreciated. Anyone who has a story about coming home after working overseas, please tell it.

And if anyone wants to know how I got here, I'd be pleased to tell you how.

Cheers