TALKS @ AFTRS

Australian Director's Daina Reid (The Handmaid's Tale, The Secret River, Sunshine) and Emma Freeman (Stateless, Glitch, Secret City) sit down with AFTRS Head of Directing, Rowan Woods to share their experiences of directing local and international television. In this episode, they talk about how they got their first break and what's important to them in terms of collaboration and inspiring creativity in others. They also share their ultimate rehearsal strategy and tips on how to get the best performance out of an actor. Produced by Rhi Mooney & Fyona Smith. Assistant Producers Wendy Gray and Alicia Emery.Presented by: Nell Greenwood Voice Over: Cam St ClairIntro: Chris NeaveMusic: Extreme Music - Andrew James Christie, Billie Ray Fingers, Bruce Fingers, Jasha Alain Klebe

Lynette Wallworth is an Emmy and AACTA award-winning Australian artist/filmmaker (Coral, Tender, Collisions, Awavena) and the first Artist-in-Residence at AFTRS. In this episode, she talks to AFTRS CEO Nell Greenwood about finding her artist's voice in her VR; film works and immersive installations, which reflect on the deep connections between people and nature. She recounts her experience with indigenous communities and the ability of VR to transport its users to landscapes and cultural environments and connect to spirituality. Lynnette also reflects on the unique relationship she has with her audience through her interactive storytelling and sheds light on the challenges of working in a tech space. Produced by Rhi Mooney & Fyona Smith. Assistant Producers Wendy Gray and Alicia Emery.Presented by: Nell Greenwood Voice Over: Cam St ClairIntro: Chris NeaveMusic: Extreme Music - Andrew James Christie, Billie Ray Fingers, Bruce Fingers, Jasha Alain Klebe

In this episode, Denise Eriksen of Media Mentors Australia talks to two of Australia's top television directors Kate Dennis (Offspring, The Handmaid's Tale, Run) and Jonathan Brough (Rosehaven, Sammy J & Randy in Ricketts Lane, The Family Law). The trio discuss new wave of drama/comedy hybrids including Fleabag, Afterlife, and Sex Education and how the dramedy is the home for raw, devastatingly human experience played for laughs. Kate and Jonathan offer insight into what they are looking for in a script, how they frame comedy and tragedy differently, the benefits of learning the language of each actor, and how to create a safe environment on set. Produced by Rhi Mooney & Fyona Smith. Assistant Producers Wendy Gray and Alicia Emery.Presented by: Nell Greenwood Voice Over: Cam St ClairMusic: Extreme Music - Andrew James Christie, Billie Ray Fingers, Bruce Fingers, Jasha Alain Klebe

Gristmill production company is recognised for its distinctive brand of narrative comedy (The Librarians, Upper Middle Bogan, Very Small Business, The Inbestigators, The Little Lunch). In this episode, comics and Gristmill founders, Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope, share stories of their careers with co-founder of Media Mentors Australia, Denise Eriksen. They talk about handling rejection, what drew them both into comedy, the inspiration behind The Librarians, how they cast Upper Middle Bogan, and what it's like working with Netflix. Produced by Rhi Mooney & Fyona Smith. Assistant Producers Wendy Gray and Alicia Emery.Presented by: Nell Greenwood Voice Over: Cam St ClairMusic: Extreme Music - Andrew James Christie, Billie Ray Fingers, Bruce Fingers, Jasha Alain Klebe

Avani Dias is the host of Hack - Triple J's current affair show for young Australians. She has been a multi-platform reporter for ABC news across TV, radio and online in Sydney and Darwin. She was a finalist in the Walkley Young Australian Journalist of the Year Award for her reporting of a blotched case whereby a UNSW student was wrongly accused of terror offences in 2019. In this episode of Talks at AFTRS, Avani speaks to Fyona Smith, Head of Radio and Podcasting about the making of Hack, the importance of having a heightened sense of curiosity, creating opportunity through outreach and the power of authenticity.Produced by Rhi Mooney & Fyona Smith. Assistant Producers Wendy Gray and Alicia Emery.Presented by: Nell Greenwood Voice Over: Cam St ClairIntro: Chris NeaveMusic: Extreme Music - Andrew James Christie, Billie Ray Fingers, Bruce Fingers, Jasha Alain Klebe

Leanne Cartwright-Bradford, Country Manager at Audible, commits to creating compelling audiobooks and exclusive podcasts. Enter author, journalist, documentary maker, and interviewer Marc Fennell with It Burns, a story which takes listeners from the Australian Coast to South Carolina in a race to breed the world's hottest chilli. In this episode, Leanne and Marc are in conversation with Tony Rasmussen, Senior Lecturer in Radio at AFTRS discuss what constitutes compelling content for Audible and the genesis of the globally acclaimed It Burns. Marc talks about his approach to the craft, the importance of challenging audience expectations and the power of music in regard to binding characters and experience together around a theme.  Produced by Rhi Mooney & Fyona Smith. Assistant Producers Wendy Gray and Alicia Emery.Presented by: Nell Greenwood Voice Over: Cam St ClairIntro: Chris NeaveMusic: Extreme Music - Andrew James Christie, Billie Ray Fingers, Bruce Fingers, Jasha Alain Klebe

AFTRS graduate and Academy Award-nominated writer Tony McNamara (The Favourite, Ashby, The Rage in Placid Lake, The Great) joins producer Marian Macgowan (Two Hands, The Rage in Placid Lake, South Solitary, The Great) to discuss their careers and collaborations with AFTRS Head of Screenwriting, Pieter Aquilia. With film and TV credits that span decades and many joint ventures together, they stress the importance of being on the same page tonally for successful collaborations. They also offer insight to emerging writers on how to pitch projects and identify entry points for writers in Australia.   Produced by Rhi Mooney & Fyona Smith. Assistant Producers Wendy Gray and Alicia Emery.Presented by: Nell Greenwood Voice Over: Cam St ClairIntro: Chris NeaveMusic: Extreme Music - Andrew James Christie, Billie Ray Fingers, Bruce Fingers, Jasha Alain Klebe

Actor, writer, director, producer and documentary filmmaker, Mitch Torres shares her insights into the media industry with Joseph Cardona, AFTRS Project Coordinator in the AFTRS Indigenous Unit. Mitch is a Djugun, Jabirr Jabbir, Yawuru, Gooniyandi, and Walmajarri woman from Broome and has been in the media industry for over 30 years. In this Talk at AFTRS, she discusses career transitions; from presenter (SBS, ABC) to journalist (GWN’s magazine program Millbindi) to broadcaster (Goolarri, WAAMA 6NR) to producer (ABC Kimberley) to filmmaker (Jandamarra’s War, Whispering In Our Hearts). Passionate about visual storytelling, she explains the power of the medium and the importance of cultural safety and the fundamental need to treat all stories with respect. Produced by Rhi Mooney & Fyona Smith. Assistant Producers Wendy Gray and Alicia Emery.Presented by: Nell Greenwood Voice Over: Cam St ClairIntro: Chris NeaveMusic: Extreme Music - Andrew James Christie, Billie Ray Fingers, Bruce Fingers, Jasha Alain Klebe

Acclaimed Australian directors, Kriv Stenders (Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan, Red Dog, Network 10’s miniseries Wake in Fright) and Jocelyn Moorhouse (Proof, How to Make an American Quilt, A Thousand Acres, The Dressmaker) talk to AFTRS Head of Directing, Rowan Woods. The episode explores their careers and their movement between the worlds of television and feature film. They offer insight into their screenplay analysis process, how to modulate tone, and how to develop “director’s instinctual muscles”. Produced by Rhi Mooney & Fyona Smith. Assistant Producers Wendy Gray and Alicia Emery.Presented by: Nell Greenwood Voice Over: Cam St ClairIntro: Chris NeaveMusic: Extreme Music - Andrew James Christie, Billie Ray Fingers, Bruce Fingers, Jasha Alain Klebe