Screen Australia Podcast

Horror is having a moment, and so is creator Ben Jenkins with the recent release of the cosmic horror, crime drama The Killings at Parrish Station .   Like creators of horror hits across the globe like  Get Out ,  Weapons,  Talk to Me ,  and more recently Obsession and Backrooms, Jenkins started in comedy. "Horrible things sometimes happen to quite funny people. […] People are naturally funny, eve...

The relationship between the games and screen sectors has never been closer, and with the Aussie games industry generating over $608.5 million in revenue , games storytelling is hitting a new boss level . In the first of this microseries, we get the lowdown on the indie games space from Screen Australia Head of Games Joey Egger and Ari Harrison of Umbrella. With over 25 years supporting indie film...

Start the year right with the latest Marketplace intel from Screen Australia Head of Market and Audience Rakel Tansley. Throughout the podcast, Tansley gives insight into how the Screen Australia Market and Audience team collates investment data and deal terms to provide an overview of  the domestic and global marketplace, including how the data  is  interprete d to  ide ntify trends and develop p...

We all recognise the media landscape has changed dramatically over the past 40 years, and for creatives like today's guest, working as a director is a masterclass in embracing change. Joining us is Australian director Kate Woods to share her insights about the evolution of the television sector behind the camera and the project that brought her back to Australia . She's worked on some of the bigge...

Creators and writers of hit film  Top End Wedding, Miranda Tapsell and Joshua Tyler, join us this episode to talk about their new Amazon Australia Original Series Top End Bub . Following the global success of their debut feature film  of Sundance-favourite   Top End  Wedding , creators and writers Miranda Tapsell and Joshua Tyler found audiences clamouring for more tales from the top end – and the...

This is a big episode. We're talking saving the world big.   T he global screen industry generates millions of metric tons of carbon emissions every year . From fossil fuels to food waste, costumes and sets, t he average production can generate over 28 7 00 kilograms of wast e , and with pressure on production costs and budgeting, embracing sustainable practices on set can seem daunting.   But a g...

The Snowtown and Nitram director shares what he learnt from making his first documentary, Ellis Park. Ellis Park  is Kurzel's third release over the past year, alongside feature film  The Order , starring Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult, and Amazon Prime's Australian war drama series  The Narrow Road to the Deep North . He shares the challenges and joys of juggling three feature film projects simultan...

Digital content strategist and kids IP specialist Nico Lockhart shares what producers can learn about audience development and content production from YouTube. From the importance of a good thumbnail, why a viral video could take years, how the direct-to-audience model is evolving with its audience, and the parallels between so-called traditional media and online media production, get the lowdown...

Head of Indigenous Commissioning and Production  Dena Curtis dropped by the Screen Australia Podcast to talk about the role of the broadcaster in showcasing and celebrating the diversity of First Nations experiences and supporting stories told by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners, and shares her vision for NITV and gives advice for producers and filmmakers looking to pitch to the...

Writer and director Nicholas Verso joins the podcast to share how he brought the award-winning novel Invisible Boys to television, including building the writers room, knowing when to move away from the source material, filming in regional Western Australia, and creating a visual language, as well as shaping authentic queer narratives for young adults.  

Stephanie Dower discusses the importance of building an accessible culture on set, engaging Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent (DDN) crew, and her experiences working in the Australian screen industry, as well as introducing  the emerging role of access coordinating - the philosophy and vision behind the role; the distinctions between access coordinators, safety officers, and support workers; and m...

Audrey screenwriter Lou Sanz and director Natalie Bailey on creating their debut feature film together . Throughout the episode, Sanz and Bailey share their love for comedy and dislike for the term  unlikeable female characters . They also talk about getting the project to the big screen, creating compelling characters, the differences between writing for television and film, and the importance of...

Videoland d irector Jessica Smith and producer Scarlett Koehne reflect on queer representation and 90s nostalgia in the Series Mania Comedy Competition-winning series. On the latest episode of the Screen Australia podcast, we spoke with Smith and Koehne following their win at Series Mania about their festival strategy and experience premiering in a foreign market. They also reflect on the creation...

During the latest episode of the Screen Australia podcast, we explore the changing theatrical distr ibution landscape. Madman Entertainment's CEO Paul Wiegard and Screen Australia Distribution Manager Anthony Grundy explain how audience behaviour has shifted since the COVID-19 pandemic and reflect on the challenges and opportunities this presents Australian filmmakers in an increasingly global mar...

Taking your project to market?   Screen Australia Marketplace Manager Rakel Tansley shares the latest marketplace intel and advice to get the best deals on your projects.   Tansley breaks down the key terms of finance plans and the market and explains the role of the Marketplace team in supporting Australian producers navigate domestic and global deals, as well as the resources publicly available...

Screenwriter and media advocate Dot West talks writing animation, reflecting kid experiences on television, and the inspiration behind Little J & Big Cuz . Throughout the episode, West shares her insight on representing First Nations experiences on screen for kids, how ACER influences the narrative, incorporating Language and the power of translations, and her thoughts on the state of children's s...

Filmmaker Devina Saberi shares the inspiration for new documentary series Growing Pains, as well as the challenges and opportunities of documentary storytelling for online platforms , and advice for early career filmmakers . Throughout the episode, Saberi talks about structuring stories for social media platforms, supporting community storytelling, and the challenges of observational documentary –...

Director Paul Clarke breaks down the elements of a music documentary, and the inspiration and process behind his latest feature Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line. Throughout the episode, Clarke shares his approach to research and production for the music documentary format, navigating the complexities of footage and music licensing, and celebrating the legacy of the Oils.  

Writer and director Tig Terera shares his experiences creating his debut television series Swift Street, and working with production company Magpie Pictures' Lois Randall and Ivy Mak, and writer Sam Carroll, to develop the series for SBS. He also shares his journey from photography to the small screen, the challenges and opportunities as a self-taught writer and director, reflecting community on s...

Learn more about the new below-the-line training and professional development initiative Screen Careers. Denise and Ken share their insight into the below-the-line sector, and discuss the challenges facing below-the-line workers, the role of training in developing the screen industry, and the resources and opportunities available to BTL crew to build responsive and sustainable careers. Eriksen sha...

The Future Leaders Delegation and Screen Australia Games team share their takeaways and advice from the 2024 Game Developers Conference. Screen Australia's Head of Online and Games Lee Naimo and Games Investment Manager Amelia Laughlan discuss their insights into the games industry, the significance of GDC for the global community, and the key takeaways from this year's conference. They also intro...

Ra Chapman and Katherine Fry  share the journey from development to produc tion of new ABC comedy series White Fever.  Inspired by Chapman's lived experience as an inter-country adoptee,   Chapman and Fry share their experiences developing  White Fever  for television; juggling multiple roles in front of and behind the camera; balancing the comedic and dramatic in storytelling; representing lived...

Executive Producer and CEO of Blacksand Pictures Kauthar Abdulalim reflects on her Enterprise journey, reaching international audiences with online stories, and authentic Muslim representation in storytelling.  Abdulalim talks about embracing online content, supporting meaningful cultural diversity behind the scenes, building a strategic plan for your screen career, and how the Enterprise program...

From  The Matrix  to 1980s Australia, Gypsy Taylor discusses the art and craft of costuming and the design inspiration behind her most recent projects including the flamboyant pirates of  Our Flag Means Death , the fashion-focused sets of  The Way We Wore and working with creative collaborator Celeste Barber,   and soon the Australian 80s hit The Newsreader.

Cannes Critics' Week Head of the Film Department Rémi Bigot speaks to the opportunities and ideas behind the program, and its short film extension, Next Step – a weeklong workshop for short film directors selected for Critics' Week to transition to feature films, as well as offering insight into the application and selection process, and Screen Australia's Manager, Festivals and Industry Partnersh...