Screen Australia Podcast

Kitty Green on making fiction from fact, the differences between documentary and feature narratives, the process of collaboration, and directing The Royal Hotel

Max Jahufer speaks on the importance of transgender visibility both in front of and behind the camera, the role of community consultants in the industry, and his experiences on the upcoming Australian feature film A Savage Christmas.

Outgoing CEO Graeme Mason looks back at 10 years at Screen Australia and the changing landscape of Australian screen production through the 2022/23 Drama Report outcomes.

Screen Australia representatives who work across Production Investment, Development, Documentary, Online, First Nations and Games funding give their top tips for anyone preparing to submit an application. Glossary of Key Terms - https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/screen-news/2023/04-06-industry-glossary-of-terms Tools and insights for starting in the industry - https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/funding-and-support/starting-in-the-industry/tools-and-insights

Amazon Studios Senior Development Executive Sarah Christie talks about working as an entertainment lawyer before making the shift to development producer with Goalpost Pictures and then joining the scripted team at Amazon. She explains their strategy going forward, the difference in developing and writing projects with a streamer, what makes a great pitch, and why it was a no-brainer to greenlight their newest project the Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, which launched on Prime Video on the 4th of August.

Screenwriter Catherine Smyth-McMullen on writing genre in Australia and the US, the differences between working in the two countries, and what you need to know about general meetings: what they are, what materials you need to have ready for them, how they differ from a pitch meeting, and more.

Screen Australia’s Head of Development Bobby Romia talks through the development team at Screen Australia, the different types of funding available, what the funding can cover, how much to apply for, how applications are assessed and much more.

Bay of Fires co-creator, producer and star Marta Dusseldorp talks about her shift from acting into producing, starting Archipelago Productions, how Bay of Fires came about, the shoot in Tasmania, and current challenges facing Australian producers.

Hear takeaways and advice from the Screen Australia delegation who attended Cannes Film Festival + Market this year, including why you need to be pitch ready, how to prepare for meetings, challenges and optimism in the theatrical space, trends and more. They are joined by local producers MahVeen Shahraki from Thousand Mile Productions, Rebecca Summerton from Closer Productions and Kath Shelper of Scarlett Pictures who was one of the producers of Warwick Thornton’s Un Certain Regard feature The New Boy.   Directory of International Sales Agents: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/49fbb8d7-51f8-4d60-a67d-d93996fdc14c/SalesAgentDirectory.pdf

Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan discuss their careers from The Katering Show through to ABC series Get Krackin’, Audible podcast series Slushy and their latest project – creating comedy crime series Deadloch for Prime Video. The Kates talk about their writing partnership, filming Deadloch in Tasmania during the pandemic, and walking that fine line between comedy and drama throughout scripting, the shoot and the edit.

Screenwriter Anna Barnes on the creation of Safe Home, from how the idea was sparked from her personal experiences working at community legal centres, creating a pitch deck and pilot script to show to SBS, working with writers Jean Tong and Michelle Law, and seeing the series be brought to life by the cast and crew including director Stevie Cruz-Martin, producer Imogen Banks and co-producer Emelyne Palmer.

SBS development executive Catherine Kelleher, who’s also a screenwriter and filmmaker, explains the role of a note-taker including how it differs from other writing roles, the make-up of Australian TV writers’ rooms, the dos and don’ts of note-taking and how to make the most of opportunities in the screen industry.

113 Partners CEO Ian Murray is a consultant for creative businesses and reveals the questions people should be asking themselves to achieve a sustainable business, common issues, advice for funding grant applications, when to scale up, when to engage with a consultant, and how to be strategic – no matter the size or stage your business is at.

Jacinta Leong is a production designer who’s worked on Australian features 2067 and Buckley’s Chance and was art director on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Alien: Covenant, Unbroken, and more. Throughout the podcast, Jacinta talks about how her background in architecture led her to production design, some of the roles in the art department, and her experience working with directors like Seth Larney on 2067 and Dr George Miller on Mad Max: Fury Road and Furiosa.

Kacie Anning - the writer, director and creator of new Australian Amazon Original Series Class of ‘07 - talks about her career from web series Fragments of Friday to now, pitching to Prime Video Australia, advice for general meetings in the US, and why crafting the right tone in comedy is “everything”.

Screen Australia’s Head of Documentary Alex West talks about available funding, advice for applicants and takeaways from the World Congress of Science & Factual Producers, before AIDC CEO Natasha Gadd gives an insight into the conference this year as well as opportunities and pressure points for the sector. View documentary funding here View First Nations Department funding here and First Facts initiative here Visit the AIDC website here

Screenwriters Pip Karmel and Magda Wozniak join director Corrie Chen in breaking down the making of new Stan television series Bad Behaviour, including the challenges of adaptation, the writers’ rooms, working with composer Caitlin Yeo and sound designer Emma Bortignon, and how they created seamless transitions between the past and present storylines.

Director, producer and writer Robert Connolly (The Dry, Paper Planes, The Turning) on filming the Tim Winton adaptation Blueback in Western Australia, working with cinematographer Andrew Commis ACS and their “analogue” approach, as well as starting the company Arenamedia and their commitment to empowering emerging voices.

Actors, writers, directors and producers Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope have created series such as Upper Middle Bogan, Back in Very Small Business, Little Lunch, and The InBESTigators through their company Gristmill. They discuss developing their latest ABC show Summer Love in the midst of the pandemic, as well as their approach to writing, advice on pitching, identifying your place in the market, and why mentoring is a big focus.

Amy Cater talks about what types of projects work with intimacy coordinators, why it’s important in more contexts than people realise, and her experience working on TV series including Love Me Season 1 on Binge and upcoming Bad Behaviour for Stan and Safe Home for SBS.