Another Aussie in LA (general)
Join Ansuya Nathan as she navigates the city of Angels, chatting to some of the shiniest Aussies in L.A., sharing their tales of living, working and playing on this side of the globe.

Dion Beebe, cinematographer extraodinaire, Oscar and BAFTA winner and all around affable guy chats with Another Aussie after a screening of his latest film INTO THE WOODS. With two other musicals under his belt (Chicago, Nine), he discusses Hollywood's desire to pigeonhole you, disregarding the technicalities of what he does, grounding fairytales and earning the moment to burst into song. He shares what he has learnt from his ongoing relationships with Jane Campion(Holy Smoke, In The Cut), Michael Mann (Collateral, Miami Vice) and Rob Marshall (Memoirs of a Geisha), but at the end of the day his impressively diverse work speaks for itself. 

Direct download: Q__A_with_Dion_Beebe.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:33am PDT

Enjoy the easy breezy banter of this Q & A with some of the key creatives on the new Aussie film THE MULE. Our illustrious panel includes writer/director/actor Angus Sampson (Where The Wild Things Are), writer/actor Leigh Whannell (Saw, Insidious), actress Georgina Haig (Once Upon A Time) and actor Chris Pang (Tomorrow When The War Began) - Phew! They talk about finding the right people, Angus' inherent beard growing skills, the subtle art of crafting a fart, how Hugo Weaving legitimizes most things and not having the answers for Noni Hazlehurst. How would you have faired in our audience poll – “who's ever bogged in their pants?”. Be honest now…  

Direct download: The_Mule_2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:35pm PDT

Amongst the pitter-patter of puppy paws, Stephan Elliott takes the time to reminiscence about Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and tells some truths about the current state of the industry. There are no stock answers here. Stephan shares stories of sharing the spoils with Muriel, being on the festival circuit with Tarantino and confronting Grace Jones.  Twenty years later, Priscilla - or as he calls it, 'The Old Bus and Chain' - while firmly cemented in Australian cultural landscape is still finding an audience. Stephan is fairly certain this will be the last hurrah for her... I'm not so sure. There seems to some life in the old girl yet! 

Direct download: Stephan_Elliot.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:09pm PDT

Lucy Fry (Vampire Academy) has had a busy two years! She has gotten to be a vampire princess, a Hollywood starlet, a manipulative high schooler and the troubled, somewhat possessed daughter of Kevin Bacon. We disscuss putting in the extra oomph, being part of the other half on LA public transport, and that little ol' fear of being 'found out'. She also shares her pre-audition routine and the various things she has learnt along her short but prolific journey. She is an utter delight to talk to! But you might have already guessed as much... 

Direct download: Lucy_Fry.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:42pm PDT

John Orcsik has been in the biz for a long time and boy, does he have some stories to tell. The self confessed raconteur reveals the asking price for a multilingual renaissance man and what it was like to have his Cop shop role written for him. We do a little brushing up on Sydney theatre history and discuss the Australian “No Bullshit” School of acting that the Yanks seem to love soooo much.  After 40 years he’s pretty zen about his career. Even his groundbreaking moment on Number 96 - the first gay kiss on Australian tele! All in a day’s work for John… 

Direct download: John_Orcsik.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:36pm PDT

Everything and anything is possible with documentary filmmaker Genevieve Bailey! Gen shares her epic nine year journey of making the award winning I AM ELEVEN, a film about 11 year olds from around the world. From outrunning pesky adults in Morocco, listening to the musings of France's pre-teen philosopher and the learning to surf bathing elephants, Gen has done it all! Let her positivity and passion inspire you too! As she says "Never let not having money stop you from telling stories!" Hear, hear! 

Direct download: Genevieve_Bailey.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:45pm PDT

Meet Aussie director Peter Cornwell (The Haunting in Connecticut, Helmlock Grove) who seems to have that horror/action thing down pat. We chat about the importance of jump scares, out Bazing Baz, pitching films about Amish people and his childhood obsession with watching sword fights. He also shares his philosophy on horror as personal development - clearly I’ve been going about life the wrong way! Time to face my fears… or not… 

Direct download: Peter_Cornwell.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:23pm PDT

Anna McGahan (House Husbands, Underbelly:Razor, 100 Bloody Acres) is both wise beyond her years and an easy breezy chatting buddy. She talks about playing the most notorious of Sydney’s prostitutes, her science geekiness and how being busy keeps her inspired. She asks some big questions too… when is a body just a body? How can actors take care of their psychological welfare? And why is it soooooo HOT in LA???
 
Warning: contains shameless Australians in Film plugs. 
Direct download: Anna_McGahan.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:39pm PDT

Sitting high in Laurel Canyon amongst the gum trees, in between birds a tweetin' and trucks hooning, conversation with actor and director Warwick Young is free flowing. In town for a whirlwind trip which includes his AFTRS graduate film screening, we talk about his filmmaking process where story is paramount and the director is keeper and defender of it. Here's to making movies that make the world a better place! 

Direct download: Warwick_Young.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:52am PDT

As VP for Scripted Development for Essential Media (Saving Mr. Banks, Rake, Jack Irish) and Australians in Film President, Simonne Overend has some stories and insights to share. Not in the least what it was like meeting Tom Hanks and translations for industry jargon! She talks about the ideal journey from idea to film or tv show, how internships are the best way in and her honest belief that the good stuff will rise to the top. NEWSFLASH - She also announces the judges for the Australians in Film Gateway LA script initiative. With 63 buyers of content in this town (MIND BLOWN), it's no wonder that Aussie properties are hot!

Direct download: Simonne_Overend.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:59pm PDT