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.

Jonny Pasvolsky - McLeod's Daughters, The Moody's, Mr. and Mrs. Murder - has had the best of times and the worst of times and then the best of times. He's just shot a film playing oppposite Johnny Depp, Olivia Munn, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Goldblum and Paul Bettany. CLANG! Hear those names drop! We talk about the work levelling everything, family keeping it real, 80s comedies and weeing next to Adrian Brody. And he has the best Jeff Goldblum story ever.  

Direct download: Jonny_Pasvolsky.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:25am PDT

It's Patty's Day on my podcast! Hurrah! Patrick (A Moody Christmas, Upper Middle Bogan and soon to be seen on Offspring) gives his pilot season round up whilst competing with the Russian next door... We discuss the cultural cringe, patriotism, the pros and cons of meeting your heroes and facebook threads getting outta hand. He reveals why he could NEVER be Thor. Or any role Russell does for that matter. But then again when you've got the loveable f*ckwit nailed, why do anything else. For now...

Direct download: Patrick_Brammall.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:10pm PDT

Ben Lawson - Neighbours, No Strings Attached, Secrets and Lies - must smell of Hollywood. That special something that makes expat actors oh-so attractive to industry back home. It is a phenomenon he has noticed amongst peers and how he explains his crazy busy last year of back to back work in Oz after having been in LA for six years... Well, either that or he's good at what he does. We take at LENGTH about how long my podcasts are, being on hold for over a year (retainer = vodka money), getting the role of "handsome man" and my shitty research on him. Yeah, he spends most of the podcast giving me shit. Thankfully we were - I mean, ARE -friends.

Direct download: Ben_Lawson.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:56am PDT

Kieran Darcy-Smith is doing pretty bloody good for a self-confessed f*ck-up at school... His first feature, Wish You Were Here, debuted at Sundance in 2012 and since then he's been riding the Hollywood development wave with style. We talk about how Aussie TV show E-Street made acting look enticing and the early days of Blue Tongue Films. He confirms my sneaking suspicions that a good screenplay is the greatest currency and being a writer/director can be an Access All Areas pass in this town. Yup! I knew it... 

Direct download: Kieran_Darcy-Smith.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:31pm PDT

Kate Box (Rake, Offspring, Paper Giants) is maintaining her sense on humour while in LA for pilot season! We chat about playing the mortal enemy of Australia's sweetheart, Asher Keddie, driving lessons with Sam Neill ,rewrting scripts for US accent ease and the everyday reality of pilot season which (sometimes) includes losing out to Jada Pinkett-Smith... And when all else fails, there's always the #3 at Greenblatt's Deli! 

Direct download: Kate_Box.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:48pm PDT

So many surprises in this podcast with Hugh Sheridan! Star of Packed to the Rafters, Never Tear Us Apart and patron (saint) of Urban Myth Theatre... Bet you didn't know that one! Hugh tells stories about opening for Liza, beating out Rhianna and where his FOMO comes from. Oooooo! So close... But don't think one set back's gonna stop this triple threat. Na-uh! Oh, and keep and ear out for the crooning. It's pretty sweet. 

Direct download: Hugh_Sheridan.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:04pm PDT

Being in Hollywood has made Zoe Ventoura (Packed to the Rafters, Wild Boys) very zen-like. The getting close to life changing deals, auditioning against bonafide stars and having a career that straddles the Pacific - well, that'll do it! We talk about being ready to carry a film, working with John Cusack, the art of self testing and not being immune to celebrity spotting. If you saw Seth Rogen, you'd probably have a moment too... But just be sure to ASK for a photo. No creepiness please!

Direct download: Zoe_Ventoura.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:30am PDT

AWESOME GUEST ALERT! Tim Minchin joins Another Aussie in LA for a chat three weeks into making LA his new home. Digressions abound and names are dropped. 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 Old Fitzroy Theatre reminisces. A 'This Blasted Earth' reboot, anyone?

Direct download: Tim_Minchin.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:11pm PDT

Fresh from NBC's Camp, Natasha Basset is just starting out in LA. But don't let that fool you into thinkng she is a novice. Oh no! This lady knows her stuff. With guest roles in RAKE, LAID and WILDBOYS, she chats with me about her experiences here thus far. We bond over the Atlantic Theatre Company and working with Melissa Bruder. She shares her stories about making her first short KITE, under the mentorship of Jane Campion! We get dsitracted by a puppy chomping on a bone. Just your normal podcast really!

 

Direct download: Natasha_Bassett.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:08pm PDT

Watched some Australian comedy on the tele in the past few years? Then it's highly likely you're familiar with Trent O'Donnnell's work. Director of A Moody Christmas, Review with Myles Barlow, Laid and Sam Simmons' Problems. We talk about how easy it is to sell an idea in the US (pretty damn easy) compared to making something in Oz (hmmm, kinda tough...), the joy of making stuff with friend and collaborator of TWENTY years, Phil Lloyd and pranking peeps - I mean, working with - The Chaser team. He admits to less manhandling of actors on US sets. Probably for the best, considering...

Direct download: Trent_ODonnell.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:52pm PDT