We Interrupt This Broadcast

In this final episode of We Interrupt This Broadcast for 2025 (and Julie’s last episode as a host), Julie and Kirsty wrap up the month’s industry news, including the new streaming quotas legislation, the Screen Australia Drama Report, the Netflix / Paramount / Warner Brothers Discovery saga, and our Spotify Wrapped stats for the year. Plus: all of your December screen industry news headlines from...

In this episode, Producer Daren Smith returns to share more about his production fund for independent features. Daren was previously a guest on Episode 34 and is back to answer all of the questions you submitted after listening to the episode. He shares insights on marketing, building relationships with investors and understanding market needs, how each film's finance structure works, and how...

In this episode, Kirsty chats to Enzo Tedeschi, a director, producer, and writer at Deadhouse Films, and how he’s sustained a thriving indie production company through significant industry changes. Enzo has often been at the forefront of experimental production models made possible through changes in technology, from his early crowdfunded feature film The Tunnel, which now has an audience of over...

In this episode, Julie Eckersley dives into the fast-evolving world of the creator economy with Keith Quinn, founder of Engine Room - a new kind of studio helping independent creators turn their data into strategy, growth, and sustainable income. Keith’s career has spanned 25 years at the intersection of entertainment, digital innovation, and entrepreneurship. From Project Greenlight with Matt Dam...

In this episode of We Interrupt This Broadcast, Julie and Kirsty wrap up this month’s industry news, including a summary of the streaming quotas bill that’s just been introduced to parliament, a wrap-up of the Australian International Movie Convention (AIMC), and what’s happening in AI. Plus: all of your November screen industry news headlines from around the country... This episode is sponsored b...

* Could you be our next We Interrupt This Broadcast co-host? * Read more and fill out an EOI here: https://forms.gle/oQgAoJXgnQpejfej9 In this episode, Julie Eckersley chats to Amelia Darmawan, Co-Founder and Executive Producer at Totem, a company that’s quietly reimagining what a digital-first entertainment business can be. The company designs next-gen content businesses for media companies, bran...

Could you be our next We Interrupt This Broadcast co-host? Read more and fill out an EOI here: https://forms.gle/oQgAoJXgnQpejfej9 --- What does it take to build a thriving, sustainable creative business in the new media landscape? In this episode, Julie Eckersley dives into the fast-evolving world of digital creators with Farhad Meher-Homji, Co-Founder and Head of Strategy at Changer Studios - an...

In this episode, Kirsty talks to Daren Smith of Craftsman Films, a Utah-based independent producer with four features and multiple seasons of TV under his belt. Daren shares how he set up Craftsman Films, as an independent studio, and the new $10 million dollar film fund he’s raising, with the goal of producing ten profitable “blockbuster indies.” He also discusses the challenges of independent fi...

In this episode of We Interrupt This Broadcast, Julie and Kirsty wrap up this month's industry news, from distributors making AI edits and Tilly Norwood's debut through to shifting audience habits and some great industry opportunities to apply for. Plus: all of your October screen industry news headlines from around the country... This episode is sponsored by  ⁠AFTRS⁠ , the Australian Film...

In this episode, Kirsty talks to Creative Producer Nicholas Colla from LateNite Films in Melbourne about how he and his business partner Chris Hocking have built a slate of work that balances great storytelling with highly accomplished VFX and animation. Nick shares their approach to production, including integrating post production workflows and using technology in their planning and development...

In this episode, Julie talks to prolific producer Steve Jaggi, founder of Jaggi Entertainment, about how he has built one of Australia’s busiest independent studios. Steve unpacks his cradle-to-grave business model - spanning development, financing, production, post, VFX and distribution - and why being relentlessly audience-focused has been key to his global success. He shares candid insights int...

In this episode, Julie talks to award-winning filmmaker Clayton Jacobson, best known for  Kenny , about his pioneering work with AI in film. Clayton shares how AI is helping him bypass traditional gatekeepers, transform creative workflows, and unlock decades of unrealised ideas. He speaks candidly about the opportunities and challenges of this rapidly evolving technology, how it can democratise cr...

In this episode, Julie Eckersley talks to Lee Naimo, Head of Creative for Grouse House at Haven’t You Done Well Productions, about the growth of online screen businesses in Australia and how to build a sustainable business model that works for you and your audience. Previously managing the Online and Games Unit at Screen Australia, Lee worked with Australian producers, writers, directors and gamem...

In this episode of We Interrupt This Broadcast, Julie and Kirsty wrap up this month's industry news, from the announcement of Tropfest 2.0 and an audience shift back to cinemas, through to Netflix's new staff announcements and some international successes for Australian work. Plus: all of your September screen industry news headlines from around the country... 00:00 Intro 00:41 Julie on St...

In this episode, Kirsty Stark talks to Jonathon Dutton, Managing Partner of Screen Well, about mental health and wellbeing in the Australian screen industry. Screen Well's mission is to improve the mental health and wellbeing outcomes of the Australian Screen industry - not an easy task when their recent survey in partnership with Griffith University found that 25% of our workforce is looking...

In this episode, Kirsty Stark talks to Sam Jockel, Producer of Australian parenting documentary Seen, which has reached over 30,000 audience members and gone into profit within 4 months of release. Sam comes from outside the film industry, as a serial entrepreneur with expertise in community building across multiple businesses. Seen is her first feature film, and she used her business background t...

In this episode, Kirsty Stark talks to Samantha Jennings, Producer at Causeway Films - whose credits include Talk to Me, Cargo, Buoyancy and Of An Age. Sam breaks down the commitment that she and fellow Causeway producer Kristina Ceyton have to nurturing new Australian talent, and supporting them to direct internationally successful feature films. From the importance of authenticity in storytellin...

In this episode of We Interrupt This Broadcast, Julie and Kirsty wrap up this month's industry news, from the Future Vision Summit, The Logies and Triple J's Hottest 100 Australian Songs of All Time, through to YouTube's inclusion in the under 16 social media ban, and AI "showrunners." Plus: all of your August screen industry news headlines from around the country... 00:00 Intro 00:59 Julie’s prod...

In this episode, Julie Eckersley talks to Dr. David Court  - founder of Compton School, and one of the most influential champions of emerging screen talent in Australia. From the early days of his career in finance and policy to his work advising governments, structuring production deals, and founding Australia’s first business school for creatives, David has seen the screen industry from every an...

In this episode, Julie Eckersley sits down with commercial and narrative filmmaker  Michael V. Brown , whose mobile-first micro-dramas have racked up more than  60 million views  on platforms like  ReelShort  and  PocketFM . Michael shares his journey from indie filmmaking to mastering the vertical storytelling format - and why the rise of mobile-native content is one of the biggest opportunities...

In Part 2 of this insightful interview, Jen Topping dives deeper into the strategic shifts shaping the future of media - from the decline of traditional commissioning models to the rise of audience-first thinking, and why producers must build with the platform in mind, not in spite of it. She also shares a passionate vision for helping creators understand where the money is, how to leverage transp...

In Part 1 of this rich and honest conversation, Julie Eckersley speaks with consultant and media commentator Jen Topping, whose career spans journalism, Channel 4, Microsoft’s interactive TV studio, and now helping hundreds of indies future-proof their screen businesses. Jen reflects on how producers and content creators must shift their mindset to stay relevant in a time of ongoing disruption—and...

In this episode of We Interrupt This Broadcast, Julie and Kirsty wrap up this month's industry news, from the Regional to Global conference, to AI challenges, to niche vs. mainstream content. Plus: all of your July screen industry news headlines from around the country... 00:00 Intro 00:38 Regional to Global Summit Highlights 03:50 AI Opportunities and Concerns 08:33 Digital Futures Summit &am...

In this episode, Julie Eckersley sits down with filmmakers and digital content creators Lachlan & Austin Macfarlane, whose work spans YouTube (973K subscribers), TikTok (673K followers) and Instagram (196K followers). The brothers discuss how they have built a sustainable business model by regularly posting 15-second VFX-heavy clips, and how they have strategically created broader filmmaking o...

In this episode, Julie Eckersley sits down with world-renowned writing teacher and story consultant Corey Mandell, whose students include Oscar winners and leading showrunners. Known for his groundbreaking approach to screenwriting, Corey unpacks why formulas are failing today’s writers and what you need to do instead. Whether you're a screenwriter, producer, or development executive, this epi...