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! 

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! 

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!