Screen Australia Podcast

Author, playwright and screenwriter Debra Oswald reflects on her career, the process of developing her latest book The Family Doctor into a six-part TV series, advice for writers, and her takeaways from creating hit TV series Offspring - including how she feels looking back at the passionate online reaction from fans to the death of a beloved character. Subscribe to Screen Australia’s e-newsletter: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/subscribe

Australians in Film Executive Director Peter Ritchie on what he’s learned working in Hollywood, and their call-out for new screenwriters and directors to learn from some of the biggest names in the business including Warwick Thornton, Taika Waititi, Nicole Kidman’s Blossom Films, Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment. It’s part of a new Australians in Film program called Untapped, which you can apply for here:https://australiansinfilm.org/untapped/   Also read Peter’s advice piece: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/screen-news/2019/11-26-hollywood-is-a-strategy-game

Aunty Donna director Max Miller on the steps that led to their Netflix series Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun, working with executive producers including Ed Helms (The Hangover, The Office) and Scott Aukerman from Comedy Bang! Bang!, tips for building an audience on YouTube, their process when it comes to filming sketch comedy, and advice for anyone wanting to get into directing or making content for online platforms. Aunty Donna’s Industry Insights article Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun is on Netflix now. Check out Glennridge Secondary College and 1999 on YouTube. Subscribe to Screen Australia Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or Pocket Casts. Subscribe to the Screen Australia newsletter: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/subscribe

Producers David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin from Bunya Productions on developing ideas; working on TV series Mystery Road, which topped the Australian TV drama ratings for 2020; creating stories with something to say; and producing new frontier feature High Ground starring Simon Baker and newcomer Jacob Junior Nayinggul. Please note for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners that the following interview may contain references to the names of deceased people. High Ground is out now in Australian cinemas. Subscribe to Screen Australia Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or Pocket Casts. Subscribe to the Screen Australia newsletter: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/subscribe

Australian producer Bruna Papandrea speaks to her love of adaptations, from The Dry to Penguin Bloom, Gone Girl, Wild and Big Little Lies; how they decide if a story suits the television or film format; starting the production company Made Up Stories in 2017; pitching to different television streamers; and her advice to producers. The Dry is in Australian cinemas now, while Penguin Bloom releases 21 January. Catch The Undoing is on Foxtel and streaming service Binge. Subscribe to Screen Australia Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or Pocket Casts. Subscribe to the Screen Australia newsletter: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/subscribe

The Dry star/producer Eric Bana, and co-writer/director/producer Robert Connolly discuss bringing Jane Harper’s bestselling crime novel to life on the big screen; why The Dry was shot on large-format cameras; what Eric enjoyed about being a producer on the feature; and their advice for Australian creatives. The Dry releases in Australian cinemas on 1 January 2021. Subscribe to Screen Australia Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or Pocket Casts. Subscribe to the Screen Australia newsletter: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/subscribe

Screen Australia’s Head of Indigenous Penny Smallacombe on consultation, collaboration, non-Indigenous Australians telling Indigenous stories, and why the screen industry is on the precipice of change. Hear from Penny and other Indigenous Australians and people of colour in this piece from The Guardian that's mentioned throughout the podcast. Subscribe to Screen Australia Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or Pocket Casts. Subscribe to the Screen Australia newsletter: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/subscribe

Hear about the ways the Australian screen industry has persevered in the midst of a global pandemic as told by Five Bedrooms’ COVID safety supervisor Philli Anderson, Why Are You Like This producer Sarah Freeman and Screen Australia’s CEO Graeme Mason. Read more about the Drama Report findings here: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/media-centre/news/2020/11-25-drama-report-2019-20-impact-pandemic Subscribe to Screen Australia Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or Pocket Casts. Subscribe to the Screen Australia newsletter: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/subscribe

Representatives from the various departments at Screen Australia share their top tips for anyone putting together an application. Visit Screen Australia’s funding and support page: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/funding-and-support Subscribe to Screen Australia Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or Pocket Casts. Subscribe to the Screen Australia newsletter: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/subscribe

Doctor Doctor and The Unlisted director Lucy Gaffy delivers observations and learnings from her career in Australian television, from her experience stepping onto a large-scale set for the first time, making the most of opportunities and advice for emerging filmmakers wanting to make the leap to long-form. Subscribe to Screen Australia Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or Pocket Casts. Subscribe to the Screen Australia newsletter: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/subscribe

Business affairs and global brand partnerships specialist Madeline Miller on her move from Australia to the US, her work on the latest James Bond movie, and advice for Australians looking to explore brand collaboration for their next project. Subscribe to Screen Australia Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or Pocket Casts. Subscribe to the Screen Australia newsletter: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/subscribe

Director Gregor Jordan talks about his return to Australian feature film with Dirt Music, the film's physically demanding shoot, and the process of bringing Australian singer-songwriter Julia Stone on board. He also reflects on making Two Hands, his 1999 debut feature film starring Heath Ledger and Rose Byrne. Subscribe to Screen Australia Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or Pocket Casts. Subscribe to the Screen Australia newsletter: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/subscribe

Screen Australia Distribution Manager Anthony Grundy breaks down the impact of COVID-19 on Australian theatrical, while Neil Sharma shares what he learnt being in AD roles on local TV and international features like Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Subscribe to Screen Australia Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or Pocket Casts. Subscribe to the Screen Australia newsletter: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/subscribe

Director Unjoo Moon on advice, challenges, and how making a feature documentary about music icon Tony Bennett helped prepare her for I Am Woman - her drama feature debut about Australian singer Helen Reddy. Subscribe to Screen Australia Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or Pocket Casts. Subscribe to the Screen Australia newsletter: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/subscribe

Retrograde writer, producer and co-creator Meg O’Connell on creating an ABC TV series in a pandemic, lessons learned making vertical series Content, and developing ideas with Snapchat. Subscribe to Screen Australia Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or Pocket Casts. Subscribe to the Screen Australia newsletter: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/subscribe

Producer Jason Stephens on starting Lingo Pictures with Helen Bowden, and their approach to developing, creating and selling acclaimed Australian TV such as The Secrets She Keeps, Upright and Lambs of God. Subscribe to Screen Australia Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or Pocket Casts. Subscribe to the Screen Australia newsletter: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/subscribe

Shannon Murphy on the skills she took from directing TV to features, an insight into making her feature directorial debut Babyteeth, and takeaways from directing two episodes of third season of the hit series Killing Eve. Watch the Babyteeth trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLNXHJB5Mto Subscribe to Screen Australia Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or Pocket Casts. Subscribe to the Screen Australia newsletter: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/subscribe

Director Natalie Erika James discusses the journey from short films to making her debut feature with Relic, how Jake Gyllenhaal and the Russo brothers’ production companies got involved, what she learned as a director’s attachment on Leigh Whannell’s Upgrade, and broader directing advice. *Language warning* Subscribe to Screen Australia Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or Pocket Casts. Subscribe to the Screen Australia newsletter: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/subscribe

Flying Bark Productions Managing Director Barbara Stephen discusses the animation process for projects like 100% Wolf, Maya the Bee and Blinky Bill and the similarities and differences with live action – from development, scripting, finding the right actors, through to the crossover of roles like Director of Photography.

Peter Duncan, the writer, director and co-producer of Operation Buffalo, talks about making the new ABC series, while also reflecting on the Australian and US versions of Rake. Watch a video on the making of Operation Buffalo here: https://youtu.be/Ta2uJYrJIns