We Interrupt This Broadcast

In this episode we talk to Jessie Hughes, Senior Creative Technologist at Leonardo. Ai. Jessie is an internationally-recognised new media artist, technologist, scholar and screenwriter, her works having exhibited most notably at Sundance, SXSW, Cannes and the Tate Modern. In her role at Leonardo. Ai, she has been instrumental in leading global education, evangelism, community engagement, and indus...

In this episode of We Interrupt This Broadcast, Julie and Kirsty wrap up this month's industry news, from short film funding and Screen Australia's new guidelines to Google's Veo 3. Plus: International news, Screenwest increases its PDV Offset, Creative Australia's new website, and more screen industry news from around the country... 00:00 Intro 00:38 Short films, microbudget features & safety...

In this episode we talk to Writer and Game Director Sam Cable. Sam specialises in bringing humanity and emotion into games. She is Co-Founder and Game Director of Spoonful of Wonder. Their debut game - Copycat - won Best International Game at the SEA Game Awards in 2024. Sam talks about how to create an emotional connection when building the story for a game. She discusses scripting for games and...

Julie chats with emerging screen talent Ally Morgan, creator of the 15-part TikTok musical series Girl Crush. Originally envisioned as a TV series, Girl Crush became a groundbreaking short-form series that reached and resonated with queer audiences online. Ally opens up about how she greenlit herself, the creative and logistical pivot from television to TikTok, and what the project taught her abou...

In this episode, Melanie Rowland, co-founder of Lilydale Films, shares how she and her business partner have built a successful independent production company that is totally sustainable, without relying on streamers or broadcasters to greenlight them. They’ve created seven series, six feature films, and built a loyal audience with no investors, meaning all revenue flows directly to them. Their fl...

In this episode of We Interrupt This Broadcast we wrap up Screen Forever - including Screen Australia’s new strategic direction, discuss the recent federal election and its likely impact on the screen industry, and touch on the Trump tariff announcement. Plus: Que Minh Luu steps down from Netflix, Hugh Marks speaks out on his role at the ABC and more screen industry news from around the country......

In this episode Julie speaks to acclaimed producer, Imogen Banks, best known for the wildly popular Network Ten series OFFSPRING which, over seven seasons, garnered multiple Logie, AFI, and AACTA wins. With John Edwards, Imogen developed and produced the Showtime showcase series TANGLE ; PUBERTY BLUES and PARTY TRICKS for Network Ten; and GALLIPOLI for the Nine Network. For the ABC, Imogen develop...

In this episode, we speak with media scholar, professor, and industry consultant Amanda Lotz, whose expertise includes media industries, internet distribution, the future of television, and the business of media. She discusses the evolution of media, focusing on the shift from scarcity to abundance in content availability and its implications for audience behaviour. Listen to this episode if you'r...

In this episode, we speak with Emmy Award winning international producer Alon Aranya. With over 15 years experience, Alon is the co-founder of Paper Plane Productions – a company with a unique approach to global co-productions. He has produced numerous globally successful series including Tehran , Your Honour , Hostages and The Vanishing Triangle . Alon is deeply focused on the process of script d...

Michelle Melky, Global Creative Director of Amplify, dives into the rapidly evolving landscape of the creator economy and the future of storytelling. Michelle had delivered countless hours of cutting edge online content and has a deep understanding of the “Creator-Verse” and Gen Z audiences. She talks about creating a hit series on Tik Tok and we discuss how we are moving away from traditional inf...

Australian screen industry, this is your call to action. Now is the time to ensure the future of Australian content by advocating for streaming quotas ahead of the upcoming federal election. In this episode, Julie and Kirsty are joined by special guest Rebecca Barry from Media Stockade, to tell you what the quotas are, why they matter, and how you can make a difference. --- Take action: 1. Downloa...

In this episode of We Interrupt This Broadcast we look at the global state of the screen industry after Series Mania, check in on content quotas in the lead-up to the federal election, look at the results of Screen Australia’s recent industry survey, and discuss 10 years of Netflix in Australia. Plus: Chris Oliver-Taylor to Totem Global, Matt Vitins to Northern Pictures, the most popular job in Au...

Glitch Productions are one of the most successful Australian production companies there are – but you may not have ever heard of them. In this episode, Jasmine Yang - COO, Head of Product, and Development Producer at Glitch Productions, takes us behind the scenes of their incredible success. Their latest show -   The Amazing Digital Circus , has garnered over 400 million views. It plays first on Y...

Natalie Lynch is a digital strategy producer and founder of Cinch Media, a company designed to amplify the reach of Australian stories.  In this engaging episode Natalie dives deep into the rapid changes in the screen industry and explains why a digital strategy is key to thriving in the future, not just for your show but also for production companies. She offers insights on who is leading the way...

In our first Deep Dive interview Julie talks to Georgia Mappin, the Managing Director of Aunty Donna, Haven’t You Done Well Productions and Grouse House. They discuss how the company has created a new business model by leaning into digital platforms, ensuring they have DTA (direct to audience) relationships and how they are helping to shape the future of Australian comedy. Listen to this episode i...

Screen Forever's 2025 program launched this morning, and we invited our producer Leonie Marsh to join us for a bonus episode of We Interrupt This Broadcast, sharing her top 5 tips for Screen Forever. You can view the Screen Forever program highlights here , and if you're new to Screen Forever, watch SPA's Bootcamp webinar here . Plus, if you're interested in the Screen Vixens &...

In this episode of We Interrupt This Broadcast we wrap up the Oscars, and discuss the changing landscape of documentary - as seen at this year's Australian International Documentary Conference. Plus: SPA's new Chair, the importance of public broadcasters, another farewell to Neighbours, and more... --- 00:00 Intro 00:38 Feedback from our first episode 01:46 Introducing… Deep Dives 03:08 Th...

Our first ever episode of We Interrupt This Broadcast wraps up the AACTA Awards and AACTA Festival on the Gold Coast, and dives into some of the big industry issues we’ll be facing in 2025. Plus: what’s in production, new Aussie releases, and more! --- 00:00 Intro 00:27 We’re back from AACTA Festival on the Gold Coast 02:36 Who were the big winners at the AACTA Awards? 04:42 The big conversations...

We Interrupt This Broadcast is your monthly roundup of everything happening in the Australian Film and Television industry. --- In this intro, your hosts Julie Eckersley and Kirsty Stark share why they wanted to start a podcast, and what to expect when we launch our first episode in February! --- Don't forget to subscribe, and follow us on all the socials, where you can find us at @weinterrupt...