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!

All bets are off in this unguarded interview with actor Josh Saks (Face to Face, Deadline Gallipoli). Josh reveals his irrational fear of shark attacks, his inability to pick up on hints and how LA weather has spoiled him. We talk in depth about his friendship with director, mentor and tennis student Michael Rymer. While he gets me to reveal my current relationship status he is pretty bloody good at dodging the question himself... Though in the end, our advice to American girls - "Do it the Aussie way" and save yourself time and potential heartache. I REALLY hope my Granny isn't listening!!! 

Sarah Doyle - writer/director of Anaconda and You, Me and Her - is taking the pressure off. Starting with looking at the big picture, taking stock in terms of decades not yearly. Not that she need worry too much. After being select as one of eight women to participate in the AFI Directing Workshop for Women, her short film won The Audience Choice Award at the Etheria Film Night. All in 12 months! We chat tangentially about demystifying Hollywood, finding the absurd in the everyday, coming full circle with the Tamarama Rock Surfers and having only Aussie girlfriends. The glass may have started half empty but it ends half full! 

A post Comic-Con Julian Curtis - actor, writer, lead in Hulu's SPOOKED, twitter obsessive - sits down with Another Aussie to ask the big questions. Like 'what is the male version of brunette?' And 'did I get the part 'cos someone pulled out last minute?' Y'know just the stuff we actors think about. He shares his secrets on scamming your way into panels and proves he ain't great with surnames. He also shares his belief that Hollywood is always looking for the next best thing but you gotta choose your stream here, mate. This ain't the multitasking Aussie industry. Your US peers are too good and have been at it for longer! But rest assured that everyone - and we mean EVERYONE - in LA is NUTS! 

Henry Nixon would have never struck me as a person who believes in auspicious dates but there are lots of things about Henry I never woulda guessed! Like him feeling like a pretender when he lead a batallion in THE PACIFIC. Or the joy he got outta fooling MAD MEN showrunner Matthew Weiner. We talk about LA being the great leveller, Kerri Anne doing her research on him and how a career in acting is a bit like a shampoo commercial. Oh, and he's one of the few people who can legitimately use the "ol' phone call from Spielberg routine". 

Jo Long makes sh*t happen - though she would never descibe it that way. But that's what she did as a producer on Rove LA, Hamish & Andy's Gap Year and The Jenny McCarthy Show. We talk about being a jack of all trades vs. being on the one track career path, catfish noodling with Hamish and Andy, googling Harrison Ford, having on the lot Warner Bros. parking for her Pontiac Sunfire and how weird it is to have an agent. We both agree being around funny people is the BEST! 

Susan Prior (Puberty Blues) jumped on The Rover train and found herself in LA via Cannes. And, boy, am I glad! In between tea slurps, we discuss her conscioius decision to focus on TV and film, the beauty and honour of filmmaking, “backing yourself”, working with Guy Pearce, R.Patz and Philip Seymour Hoffman and when to hide the self help books. 'Be yourself, be your best self and work hard' is now my motto! 

Eva Orner is the Oscar and Emmy winning documentary producer and director of Taxi to the Dark Side and The Network. Her new film Bloody UnAustralian will examine Australia's treatment of asylum seekers. Um.... yeah. This is a lady with something to say. Big Stuff is covered. But so is fun stuff - we chat about the dangers of reading online comments, facebook stalking for the greater good, dressing appropriately for the Oscars and befriending the likes of Javier Bardem on Award Season red carpets. 

Cody Fern (War Horse) has just been awarded - no, gifted - the Australians in Film Heath Ledger Scholarship and he couldn't be more chuffed. He shares a little about the whirlwind two weeks - pre and post - and where to from now. Needless to say, it's been an accelerated crash course in all things LA... We compare and contrast art and commerce: the profession that almost was. And his work ethic puts me to shame. All in all, he's ready to make the most of this. And I couldn't be happier for him! 

To say Another Aussie got Sean James Murphy on a good day is an UNDERSTATMENT! Three life things sorted by 11.30am! Relatively new to LA but with heaps of stories to share, Sean takes us through his golden pilot season of 2013 and the not-so golden one for 2014. We discuss the compare and despair trap, the weird notion of "Making It", the desire to contribute cuturally and having awesome parents. He reveals his cynicism. But to be honest, if that is him being cynical - it's awwwwwright by me!