Another Aussie in LA

Talk about ending with a bang! It’s the 2016 Heath Ledger Scholarship winner, Ashleigh Cummings (PUBERTY BLUES, MISS FISHER’S MURDER MYSTERIES, TOMORROW WHEN THE WAR BEGAN). Ashleigh talks about juggling three jobs in three cities, her ability to nap on set (in between takes nonetheless) and asserting her independence at the tender age of 14 by traveling to Los Angeles on her own. We discover new words and bond over our mutual love of pancakes. We chat about catharsis and balance as the great ideal. And just when you think you’ve got her down, she shares her African adventures with the Masai and Berber communities. AMAZING!

Producer Amy Child came to LA without a plan and without a job but within two years she is working for Ellen Degeneres and has produced her first feature. BOOM! She shares how she hit the ground running and converted Aussie contacts into US work. We talk about how she pulled together a bunch of first timers to make their debut feature FOR ALL EYES ALWAYS, a biting satire about the CIA developing a reality television show to win back public opinion starring Lynn Whitfield and Sean Aston, among others.  Amy talks about the simple joy of finding the perfect location and how much working with a kick ass casting director can change the vision and tone of a film. Remember guys, at the end of the day everything will be ok! So get out there and get to work! 

Ok, before you loose your proverbial, this is a re-release of a chat I had with Tim Minchin two years ago. With his recent Logie win for THE SECRET RIVER, his musical GROUNDHOG DAY about to open in London and the success of MATILDA in Australia, well, I thought it might be appropriate timing. Tim illuminates me on the economic machine that is Broadway, how Groundhog Day the musical came about and his existential crisis brought on by the Grammys. We talk about the importance of making stuff you'd like to see, going for the low hanging fruit first, the beauty of reimagining what you've made before and how EVERYTHING informs EVERYTHING. And there are some Tamarama Rock Surfers reminisces. *SIGH*

You might recognize Eden Gaha from his days in front of the camera but it’s his days behind it that you’ll be most grateful for. As the President of Unscripted Television for Endemol Shine USA, this is the man who put the celebs into Celebrity Apprentice and the brought the juniors into the US Masterchef recipe. Eden shares his thoughts on what makes a great unscripted TV idea, what it was like working with Donald Trump, the importance of US network credits and his skill as being a talent whisperer. We discuss the new media conundrum, how a career in Australia put him ahead of the game in terms of experience and how OTT platforms like Netflix and Hulu are changing the style of storytelling in the unscripted arena. Have you got the moxie to get yourself over here? Well, then the hard part is over. Go for it!! 

It all began with a tropical jumpsuit! I On the eve of their US iTunes release, director Maya Newell and producer Charlotte Mars tell the story of how they met and what inspired them to make their powerful and poignant documentary GAYBY BABY. And that was the realization that in the midst of the debate over marriage equality that the missing voice in the conversation was that of the children raised by same sex parents. We discuss the NSW schools screening controversy and the subsequent media maelstrom surrounding the Australian release. tThey share the amazing social impact campaigns in conjunction with Safe Schools program they are about to launch! We have a chuckle over the crowdfunding stunts they pulled which allowed them to raise over $100K on Pozible - yeah, you read that right! - popping into Pixar and the joy of celebrating the film at Mardi Gras this year! 

They say write what you know and Sarah Scheller (NO ACTIVITY) has done just that with her first pilot THE LETDOWN. Part of the ABC Comedy Showroom it tells the story of a struggling new mum and the mothers’ group she thinks she doesn’t need - a situation that proves to be ripe for the comedic picking. Sarah shares about finding a great collaborator in actress and co-creator/writer Alison Bell, developing the work with Julian Morrow (THE CHASER), getting support from ABC from the get-go and calling in favors from actor mates like Brendan Cowell and Patrick Brammall. She admits that everyone was a little intimidated by Noni Hazelhurst - I mean, who didn’t grow up watching her! - and we do our best not to give the whole story away! 

Jersey born, Australian raised playwright Lally Katz (THINGS I WANT TO TELL YOU IN PERSON, NEIGHBOUHOOD WATCH) appears to have moved to Los Angeles. So far she is loving everything about it - the instacommunity, the freeways, the people, even the Californian hook turns. We discuss her obsession with New York psychics, her procrastination tools of choice and getting polite nudges from Gillian Armstrong via Instagram to get back to work. She shares her struggles with trusting her instincts with screenwriting, her annual new years resolution to see less theatre and watch more TV and her desire to pull the rug out from under herself. Be careful what you wish for! 

Have you seen an Australian film or TV show in the past 25 years? Then it’s likely you’ve seen some Ben Mendelsohn’s work. From The Henderson Kids to The Year My Voice Broke to Spotswood to Animal Kingdom. And that’s all before the US embraced ol’ Ben! We get stuck into all things Bloodline: working with Sissy Spacek and Sam Shepard, THAT INCREDIBLE WRITING and how the show made the Florida Keys locals proud. Ben shares how he works on accents and dialects, his youthful love for James Bond and how he scored the role of  in The Dark Knight Rises from a self tape! We also chat about his time in LA slogging away before what I call “the Animal Kingdom effect”. Just a word of warning: I might get a little excited in this one…

You probably haven’t heard of Emilie Cocquerel (LION, JOE CINQUE’S CONSOLATION) yet but you will soon enough! She’s had a very busy year including being one of the runners-up of the Heath Ledger Scholarship. We have a chat while she’s experiencing her first pilot season on the ground. She tells us how she sees her quieter times career-wise, what Garth Davies does in between takes to enhance the mood on set and her go-to karaoke song. We discuss how to play characters of questionable morals without judging them and self taping on planes before take off.

Musician Andy Clockwise was meant to settle in London but he came to LA for a couple of meetings and never left. It’s the kinda city that can do that to you. The SXSW regular talks me through everything Los Angeles: the depth and breadth of the city’s music scene, how it can be relentless in it’s distractions and how it’s blank canvas nature can be both scary and exhilarating. He shares where he draws his inspiration from and his journey from lone wolf creator to obsessive collaborator. We both agree - for the artist or the audience - NOTHING beats a live performance! 

Kate Marks is a relative newbie to Los Angeles but I never would have guessed it. She has become a part of the community by taking on her role as the Executive VP of International Production for AUSFILM wholeheartedly. A role that includes enticing the international filmmakers to make use of our locations, incentives, facilities and talent. She tells us about Ausfilm’s involvement in the two tentpoles to be shot in Australia in 2016 (Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok and Ridley Scott’s latest Alien: Convenant - WOOT!) the ways in which Ausflim can help LA based Aussie writers, directors and producers and what they are doing to build relationships with China. We compare the differing financing systems and chat about the need for co-cporductions to happen organically. But ultimately it’s about business going back to Australia. Now that’s something I can completely get behind!  

Funny is what gets actor Toby Truslove (UTOPIA, LAID, THE STRANGE CALLS, THANK GOD YOU’RE HERE) up in the morning. We caught up while he is here in Los Angeles having his first pilot season experience. And boy has it been a hectic one! No time to ruminate, no time to mourn. It’s just go, go, go. He shares his uncertainty about whether to maintain an American accent at all times and his experiences of being a ham & playing to the room and misreading scripts. (Take note: there are no thoughtful pauses in a multi cam…) We also talk about how LA is more like eight cities than one, finding your niche, the clammy actor handshake and those fear inducing pharmaceutical ads. If pain persists, PUHLEASE see your doctor!

After a couple of years in Los Angeles, actress Hannah Levien baulked at the suggestion from a friend that she move to Vancouver. After all, she liked it here and she wasn’t to keen on the idea of upping her life once again to move to another country. But life did some nudging and in the past 18 months she has booked some strong US network TV credits - those that had been so elusive to her in LA. She shares her experiences of waiting for the rain on BATES MOTEL, playing a lesbian rock chick in THE RETURNED, her unexpected path to LA representation through her display of demonic powers. What she can’t share just yet is whether she has mad magic skills in syfy’s “Harry Potter goes to college” show,  THE MAGICIANS. You’ll have to watch to find that out! 

AACTA winner and HLS nominee Joel Jackson (DEADLINE GALLIPOLI, NOT THE BOY NEXT DOOR) has an inquisitive spirit. Whether it’s learning from Sam Worthington and Hugh Dancy about the technical side of screen acting or dissecting behavior and extracting character from text like it’s a crime scene. He shares how he had to get out of his own way and find his version of Peter Allen for Not the Boy Next Door and how playing Charles Bean in Deadline Gallipoli was an opportunity to give something back to his grandfather. We have a rant and rave about drama school and also on coming to terms (or not!) with the American “sell”. But let this be said - Fortune does, indeed, favor the brave! 

We got a live one here! Join us for a post Australians in Film screening chat for the Aussie made syfy film TERMINUS. On the panel are writer/director Marc Furmie (AIRLOCK, EVENT ZERO) and actors Jai Koutrae (CROWNIES,McLEODS DAUGHTERS), Todd Lasance (HOME AND AWAY, THE ORIGINALS) and Bren Foster (INFINI, THE LAST SHIP). Marc shares the development of the film from high concept big budget script to low budget indie syfy domestic drama. He also talks about shooting Australia as the US, having to raise money at the last minute and being flexible enough to roll with the punches. The actors discuss the freedom of working ‘guerrilla” style, knowing when to keep to themselves and pub rehearsals. Oh, and the sound of constant clicking is the photographer… So Hollywood...

Actress Viva Bianca (SPARTACUS) is feeling at home in LA. Starting out on a high of five star hotels and red carpets, she then had to come to terms with the realities of living and working here. With much candour she shares what it was like to play villainess Ilithyia, the pitfalls of being on a show with the reputation of being oh-so very sexualised, google search results and how to state what you will and won’t do. We also discuss her fabulous website She Ra, working with people you’ve watched since a kid and gender equality in the film industry. So yeah, just the small stuff! 

Actor and Host Nick Hardcastle (HOME AND AWAY, PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL) didn’t intend to to move to LA. And he certainly didn’t intend become Mr. Australia. But I’m glad he did - on both counts! As one of the co-founders of the Australian Theatre Company, Nick wants to bring Australian stories to US stages and put the multitudes of  talented Aussie expats to work. We have a moan about flakey Angelinos, get fired up about making your own rules and celebrate creating community. 

Director of Photography Denson Baker (THE BLACK BALLOON, THE WAITING CITY, ORANGES AND SUNSHINE) is the real deal - he has some fancy letters after his name to prove it! After a bit of back and forth, he and his "wife/director” Claire McCarthy decided to make the move to Los Angeles. We discuss director Jim Loach’s approach to filmmaking, to have or not to have an agent and working with such acting greats as Donald Sutherland, Emily Watson, Hugo Weaving and David Wenham. He talks about getting emotional behind the camera, the beauty of the magic hour and the responsibility of being the first audience for the film. And he is generous enough divulge advice passed on to him from other DPs... You’ll have to listen to find out!! 

Actor Toby Wallace (NEVER TEAR US APART, THE TURNING) has a Star Wars: The Force Awakens audition story!!!! And he waits a whole eight minutes to tell me! Can you believe it?!?! Before that we discuss what it was like coming to  LA for the first time as a 2014 Australians In Film Heath Ledger Scholarship finalist, auditioning in odd places and preparing for pilot season. After he shares what it was like auditioning for J.J. Abrams, we talk about playing a young Michael Hutchence,  seven year contracts and the weirdness of watching yourself on screen. Did I mention he got close to Star Wars??? 

This episode with Belinda Gosbee (J. EDGAR, TWO BROKE GIRLS) is a illusion-busting reality check because sometimes it can take a little while to get started in Los Angeles. Belinda candidly shares her stories of her early days, her pride in still being here and how Hollywood can give you a little taste of the high life. Like when she worked with Clint Eastwood and Leo DiCaprio on J. Edgar!! EEK! She takes us on an in depth discussion about her latest gig - a role on CBS’ Two Broke Girls - from audition to performance level table reads to producers laughing at rehearsals to the glorious final taping in front of a live audience. If only you could ALWAYS forget the camera was there!! 

Getting ready to come over for pilot season? This episode with actress Sara Zwangobani (LOVE MY WAY, PACKED TO THE RAFTERS, Sydney Theatre Company’s A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE) is for you! We discuss the business side of the biz here - branding, marketing and how to choose classes and workshops strategically. Sara shares her advice on balancing dreaming big and working towards achievable goals, making it easy for casting directors to give you the job and what to do in the waiting room. This is the Olympics people! So give yourself the best possible chance to do your best work and ask for help when you need it! 

Actor and writer Jonathan Gavin (OFFSPRING, PUBERTY BLUES) has written for some of Australia’s most loved and most acclaimed TV shows. His latest offering is THE BEAUTIFUL LIE, a contemporary reimagining of ANNA KARENINA for the ABC. He talks us through the inevitable trade offs made when it comes to modernising a classic. He shares what it’s is like to work with the powerhouse partnership of John Edwards and Imogen Banks, dealing with schedule clashes and the fear of being 'found out’. We also discuss how each show he has worked on is a reflection of the particular personalities involved. And the essential truth that if the writers' room doesn’t work, invariably the show won’t get made!   

Strap yourself in for a crash course in indie filmmaking from writer, director, actor Paul Ashton recorded in the aftermath of the Los Angeles premiere of his feature THIS ISN’T FUNNY. Paul talks us through the film’s nine month gestation, birth and beyond: from writing a first draft in six weeks to upping a nano budget to a micro one to the necessity of having balls of steel. 

Director Catriona McKenzie (SATELLITE BOY, REDFERN NOW) began her time in LA using is as a base between international festivals. Now she spends her time in between work at home to partner with creatives here in order to make work with a reach beyond the American market. We discuss her rev head tendencies and the script they have inspired, LA as a city of commerce and her interest in writing genre pics. She shares the Jimmy McGovern school of creating plot - f*cking up your characters and letting them go at it.  Her advice: don’t get distracted by the fizz. Let’s hope Ava DuVernay is listening...

The first time Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood came to LA was for a callback for the role of a certain Mother of Dragons. Needless to say, the experience was enough to whet her appetite. She has made it a point to visit in between seasons of A Place To Call Home ever since. We talk about the need to have 1000% more confidence here, the pros and cons of a red carpet life and finding an authenticity on social media. She shares her passion for making stop-motion animations with her hubby and difficulties of the time difference when they are apart. And as much as she loves period dramas - and boy does she! - Arianwen would like to give a procedural a go. Would someone cast her in a cop show please? 

Writer/Director Megan Riakos has taken a very American indie approach for her debut feature CRUSHED, an Australian mystery thriller. Her time in studying screenwriting at UCLA can be attributed for both the genre and budget. She talks to us about writing a movie you know you can shoot, identifying your film’s niche and the multitude of theatrical release options in the current market. She advises getting clear about your personal goals in navigating all of the above. Sound advice from someone who almost got caught on the independent film production assistant hamster wheel! She certainly knows what she is talking about. But don’t take it from me, have a listen! 

David No (MATRIX RELOADED, MR. NICE GUY) is the epitome of a slashie - actor, producer, writer, action director and filmmaker. He talks to us about making genre films, producing $4 million dollar commercials starring Jackie Chan and straddling two cultures - those being Australian and Korean. He shares his insight into the Los Angeles stunt community as well as what took him away from here and what might bring him back.

Writer and actress Krew Boylan (SCHAPELLE, MOLLY) did LA for a spell and it wasn’t for her. New York is her chosen home. She talks about what pilot season is like in the Big Apple and the constant stimulus of art, fashion and culture. She shares advice on playing real life characters - something she has done thrice now! And the things she has learned about her writing routines - dressing the part and when the magic of place has gone. I am most excited to talk to her about THE DOLLHOUSE, a collective of incredibly talented women - Krew, Rose Byrne, Jessica Carrera, Shannon Murphy and Gracie Otto - ‘committed to exploring the creative boundaries of film, TV and theatre’. Whoop! 

Producer Robyn Kershaw (SUCKER, MY MISTRESS, LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI, KATH & KIM) is the context queen. If you listen closely, you can hear the cogs in my mind turning as she explains rise of the Kardashians, how You Tube has become the bastion of outsiders and cultural significance of the horror genre. She believes that Los Angeles - for better or for worse - drives the taste for the rest of the world and that part of her job is to understand the market forces behind that so she can bring Australian stories to a greater audience. Now that is something I can get behind! 

Story is everything to actress turned novelist, Tempany Deckert (HOME & AWAY, THE SECRET LIFE OF US). On this podcast she shares tales of why she choose the US over the more worn path to the UK for Aussie Soap stars, using her acting inspirations as fuel for her novels and how Anna Karenina taught her everything she needed to know about men. She warns against writing for the market but encourages the fake till you make it attitude. At the very least, she’s got your holiday reading list sorted!

Director, writer and choreographer Alethea Jones (2012 Tropfest winning LEMONADE STAND, THE GENTLEMEN’S GUIDE TO KNIFE FIGHTING) had a two year campaign of to-ing and fro-ing between Oz and LA before moving here. But, boy, did it pay off! In the last year she has directed a couple of episodes of GORTIMER GIBBON’S LIFE ON NORMAL STREET and the pilot episode of A HISTORY OF RADNESS - both for Amazon Studios. We discuss the power of saying ‘I don’t know’, the difference between pitch meetings and general meetings, the necessity of making messy short films and the importance of making your boss look good to their boss.

Jacinta Stapleton (NEIGHBOURS, STINGERS) has been checking out LA for a while now. On this podcast, she shares her acting origins stories, her attraction to complicated characters (read: b*tches) and deciding her career path at age eight. We talk about her recent reign as Queen of the Biopic with SCHAPELLE, NEVER TEAR US APART and the upcoming project MOLLY and approaching those characters outside in. She lets us in on ways she keeps sane in this city which includes getting out as often as possible! 

Chum Ehelepola (A MOODY CHRISTMAS, THE STRAITS) has done that trans-pacific flight too many times for his liking but that is what it takes to get established in LA. His first trip at age 19 was to work with the man who taught Michael to moonwalk - yes, that Michael! Chum shares more recent stories of being part of the ABC Diversity program, twice - once as an actor and then again as a writer and director - winning fans in the industry and juggling accents in audition rooms. In a country where they say ‘yes’ first and fear comes second and the opportunity to go full Entourage is only ever a phone call away, Chum seems very happy. And yes, of course - we do indian accents

Actor Damon Gameau (BALIBO, THE TRACKER, SECRETS & LIES) has added documentary filmmaker to his bow with the release of THAT SUGAR FILM. Beginning with nutritional naiveté and dogged determination Damon used himself as a guinea pig in a Super-Size Me style to explore the effect of hidden sugar on the body. The results are startling in this fun, informative doco. In this podcast, he talks about letting go of ego, putting the audience first and using humour in order to deliver the message beyond 'The Quinoa Curtain’  - his awesome phrase, not mine! We also discuss dealing with haters on social media and how the backlash after his 2010 Tropfest win was the best thing that could have happened to him. Wanna know the key to happiness? Have a listen! 

Hold on to your seats folks because writer/director Elissa Down (THE BLACK BALLOON) jumps right into this podcast with a glorious tale of the fickle nature of Los Angeles. She also shares stories of the inevitable speed bumps and stop signs on the long road of development, the Hollywood water trail and knowing when to send a script out and to whom. But if you take nothing else: Beware the raccoon overlords!! 

This one is for the actors out there! Richard Brancatisano (CHASING LIFE, UNDERBELLY RAZOR) is all for making the process easier for himself. Whether that’s dealing with self-imposed pressure or knowing how he works best. He talks about the necessity of taking risks, lessening obsession and having the confidence to make choices and follow your instincts. He takes us through pre-reads and network testing to booking the job and maintaining the fun. Time to let go of the idea of being the best. Here’s to getting better each time instead! 

Excuse our croaky voices - T.J. Power (EAT, PRAY, LOVE and LITTLE DEATH) and I are recovering from doing "some theatre, daaaarling!” We discuss the addictive nature of acting, the constant activity vs the lack of free fun in LA and getting backstage passes to 90s touring bands - ROCK! T.J. dispenses tales of hanging and leaning from Javier Bardem and the catch-22 of wanting a role. But if you only take one thing away from this chat then let this be it: If the creator of Glee asks if you can sing and you can, say HELL YESSSSS! 

Rachael Carpani (McLEOD’S DAUGHTERS, IF THERE BE THORNS, SEEDS OF YESTERDAY) is completely aware of how fortunate she was in her 20s. And although she had no burning desire to come to Los Angeles, seven years later it seems to be her home. For now. Along the way she has had the opportunity to work with Hector Elizondo, Jimmy Smits, Kathy Baker, Treat Williams and Heather Graham, among others. She shares her pilot season experiences, her ability to fall asleep anywhere on set and her gratitude for being a working actress. We discuss when to take things personally and when not to, how auditioning is a skill onto itself and how sometimes knowing less is actually the better option! 

Matt Levett (DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND, A PLACE TO CALL HOME) is pretty chuffed to be in LA, albeit a little exhausted. We sat down for a chat just days after he received the 2015 Australians in Film Heath Ledger Scholarship. We discuss his transformation into a 90s street hustler in Devil’s Playground, the importance of investing time and money in development, having a common language with the cast of A Place to Call Home and surrounding yourself with a team that’s better than you.  But try as I might I can’t get an American accent out of him! 

We did it! We reached 100! And to celebrate here is panel of awesome guests - Wil Anderson, Kimberley Cooper, Maude Garrett and Tim Minchin - recorded live at The Parlor in West Hollywood. We catch up a little with each person to see what they’ve been up to since they were on the podcast - Wil’s three hour lunches with the Australian Consul General in Chicago, Maude’s nerd news, Kimberley’s foray into playwrighting and Tim’s ethical and moral dilemmas. Then a glorious chaos descends! Covering the necessity for nudity or (but not both) songs in theatre, Star Wars porn, bad Australian accents, Dave Hughes impressions and The Corrs. But if you take nothing else away from this podcast, please let it be that Tim Minchin REALLY loves dogs. 

Writer and actress, Monica  Zanetti is checking off a lot of ‘firsts'. A short, a play, a feature and soon a pilot… But it is SKIN DEEP - her debut feature under both job titles - that brings her to LA, specifically Newport Beach, the latest stop of the festival circuit. She takes time out to talk with me about writing specifically for a low budget, writing not quite autobiographically and just plain old writing. When it comes to filmmaking, she is the first to unashamedly admit that  a little bit of ignorance can go a long way!  For me, the 'take away’ from this podcast is not waiting for permission to make a film. Just please don’t take her cat… 

Louisa Mignone (RAKE, EAST WEST 101) was kinda skeptical at first when she was told about the immersive process director Shane Abbess wanted to use on set during the INFINI shoot. But the how else do you gain the understanding necessary to play a lieutenant in a rescue mission to a outlying space station in the 23rd century? She shares stories about the bond between the amazing cast (including Daniel MacPherson, Luke Ford, Grace Huang and Luke Hemsworth), the highest of high stakes (Save The World!) and the ingenious design team. And it seems the film has found it’s audience - number one on iTunes in OZ and the dubious honor of being the favorite of pirates - ARGH!!!! Anyhoo, that's given Louisa an idea for a followup film...

Writer and director Stephen Lance’s first feature MY MISTRESS is an impressionistic view of his adolescence. But if you want more details than that - it’s a firm ‘no’. He holds sacred the complicit pact between audience and the film to maintain the integrity of the illusion of storytelling. What he is willing to share, however, is the difficulties in collaboration, seeing the DNA of his main character, Maggie in the luminous Emmanuelle Beart, directing actors with differing techniques and how he draws upon the greats of European cinema. Warning - there are some spoilers!

Comedian and Investigative Humorist Dan Ilic (A RATIONAL FEAR, HUNGRY BEAST, CAN OF WORMS) is currently the Senior Producer of Satire at AJ+, Al Jazeera’s digital arm. Yup, that’s a job. Well, at least it is now… From war zones to Sundance, Dan has been everywhere and probably poked fun at it too. He talks about internet death threats, the un-usefulness of QR codes and feeding Sir Ben Kingsley humble pie. He shares what he has learnt about creating content for the interwebs. Not in the least, how being a little bit furious fuels his creativity...

It would seem that fortune is on actress Melanie Zanetti’s side (TRACKS). She just wrapped the Project Greenlight film THE LEISURE CLASS, the documentary on which will soon be seen on HBO. She talks about working with your betters, gaining camera confidence and what it was like being followed by a doco crew - oddly kinda liberating. Having ditched her preconceived notions about LA and the industry here, she is reveling its challenges and surprises. She highly recommends giving “less f*@ks” and attempting to live in the present. I highly recommend letting her perspective and enthusiasm infect you!  

Glen Dolman, writer and story editor (HAWKE, THE BILL, Australians in Film Gateway LA finalist), started making movies in his backyard. Having worked in Oz, the UK and now here, he talks us through the ‘Murrican way of doing things. Yup, managers and agents and lawyers - OH MY! Being a writer who ACTUALLY writes, Glen shares his experiences of getting out of your own way, the need to immerse yourself in the culture, establishing your brand and his ethos of 'no magic, just work'. And he teaches me a new word! Say it with me: hagiography... 

Vivienne Walshe (2012 Griffin Award winning playwright and 2015 AiF Gateway LA finalist) is finding her feet in Los Angeles. She shares her experiences of pitching in LA, finding her inner showman, taking pleasure in the act of doing and knowing you are getting better at your craft. In a town built on referrals, she relishes her relative anonymity and how well read people in the biz are. Cultural comparisons abound and I manage to get some dating stories! Well, kinda sorta...

It’s a the ongoing adventures of the One Eyed Girl team with Writer Director Nick Matthews and Producer/EditorDavid Ngo! Their decade long partnership made the leap from short to feature via the SAFC FilmLab program resulting in their Austin Film Festival Jury Prize winning thriller. They debate the merits of reviews vs festival fronds, the market driven system vs the filmmaker driven system and the longest of social media long games. They illuminate this Aussie on the advantages of having an Australian film on the world festival circuit and the the differing paths of directors and producers in Hollywood. Here’s a few helpful hints: 1) Be ready with you want to do next and 2) if you are going to 'them', you’re not ready yet… Anyone for table tennis? 

Third time's a charm in Los Angeles for actress Charlotte Best (HOME AND AWAY, PUBERTY BLUES). The 2014 Heath Ledger Scholarship Runner Up talks about her growing affection for this city, trusting the right job will come along, moving up the casting hierachy, the rebirth of her audition techniques LA-style and putting her boyfriend Andy through her film appreciation course. She reflects on her breakthrough role as Cheryl in Puberty Blues and the relish she took in getting to play the class 'mole'. While the grass may always be greener, Charlotte's seems pretty happy with her patch! 

Tracy Bacal is CEO and SVP of Karga Seven Pictures, an LA and Istanbul based production company who specialises in non-fiction television and feature films. But don't let the important sounding letters fool you. This down to earth woman is all about teamwork - there is no 'us vs. them' in this camp. She defines her job as how to give everyone what they want for the money you have. She talks about the having to choose between the scripted and un-scripted genres when arriving here, fufilling her childhood dream to live in Los Angeles, the importance of persistance and how helpful her mum's scrapbook was in applying for a visa. 

Simon Burke (The Devil’s Playground x 2) is in LA for pilot season for the first time EVER. With a career spanning 40 years and two continents, he has found a sense of freedom in being an unknown quantity in this town with a wealth of experience. His no expectations approach is allowing him to enjoy LA for what it is. Of course, it helps that he’s just produced the award winning TV series The Devil’s Playground. He shares with us it’s serendipitous birth, the balance between a producers objectivity vs an actor’s subjectivity and his thoughts on personifying adolescence for a generation of Australian cinema goers in the original film by Fred Schepisi.  No pressure…