Another Aussie In La

Writer and actress, Monica  Zanetti is checking off a lot of ‘firsts'. A short, a play, a feature and soon a pilot… But it is SKIN DEEP - her debut feature under both job titles - that brings her to LA, specifically Newport Beach, the latest stop of the festival circuit. She takes time out to talk with me about writing specifically for a low budget, writing not quite autobiographically and just plain old writing. When it comes to filmmaking, she is the first to unashamedly admit that  a little bit of ignorance can go a long way!  For me, the 'take away’ from this podcast is not waiting for permission to make a film. Just please don’t take her cat… 

Louisa Mignone (RAKE, EAST WEST 101) was kinda skeptical at first when she was told about the immersive process director Shane Abbess wanted to use on set during the INFINI shoot. But the how else do you gain the understanding necessary to play a lieutenant in a rescue mission to a outlying space station in the 23rd century? She shares stories about the bond between the amazing cast (including Daniel MacPherson, Luke Ford, Grace Huang and Luke Hemsworth), the highest of high stakes (Save The World!) and the ingenious design team. And it seems the film has found it’s audience - number one on iTunes in OZ and the dubious honor of being the favorite of pirates - ARGH!!!! Anyhoo, that's given Louisa an idea for a followup film...

Writer and director Stephen Lance’s first feature MY MISTRESS is an impressionistic view of his adolescence. But if you want more details than that - it’s a firm ‘no’. He holds sacred the complicit pact between audience and the film to maintain the integrity of the illusion of storytelling. What he is willing to share, however, is the difficulties in collaboration, seeing the DNA of his main character, Maggie in the luminous Emmanuelle Beart, directing actors with differing techniques and how he draws upon the greats of European cinema. Warning - there are some spoilers!

Comedian and Investigative Humorist Dan Ilic (A RATIONAL FEAR, HUNGRY BEAST, CAN OF WORMS) is currently the Senior Producer of Satire at AJ+, Al Jazeera’s digital arm. Yup, that’s a job. Well, at least it is now… From war zones to Sundance, Dan has been everywhere and probably poked fun at it too. He talks about internet death threats, the un-usefulness of QR codes and feeding Sir Ben Kingsley humble pie. He shares what he has learnt about creating content for the interwebs. Not in the least, how being a little bit furious fuels his creativity...

It would seem that fortune is on actress Melanie Zanetti’s side (TRACKS). She just wrapped the Project Greenlight film THE LEISURE CLASS, the documentary on which will soon be seen on HBO. She talks about working with your betters, gaining camera confidence and what it was like being followed by a doco crew - oddly kinda liberating. Having ditched her preconceived notions about LA and the industry here, she is reveling its challenges and surprises. She highly recommends giving “less f*@ks” and attempting to live in the present. I highly recommend letting her perspective and enthusiasm infect you!  

Glen Dolman, writer and story editor (HAWKE, THE BILL, Australians in Film Gateway LA finalist), started making movies in his backyard. Having worked in Oz, the UK and now here, he talks us through the ‘Murrican way of doing things. Yup, managers and agents and lawyers - OH MY! Being a writer who ACTUALLY writes, Glen shares his experiences of getting out of your own way, the need to immerse yourself in the culture, establishing your brand and his ethos of 'no magic, just work'. And he teaches me a new word! Say it with me: hagiography... 

Vivienne Walshe (2012 Griffin Award winning playwright and 2015 AiF Gateway LA finalist) is finding her feet in Los Angeles. She shares her experiences of pitching in LA, finding her inner showman, taking pleasure in the act of doing and knowing you are getting better at your craft. In a town built on referrals, she relishes her relative anonymity and how well read people in the biz are. Cultural comparisons abound and I manage to get some dating stories! Well, kinda sorta...

It’s a the ongoing adventures of the One Eyed Girl team with Writer Director Nick Matthews and Producer/EditorDavid Ngo! Their decade long partnership made the leap from short to feature via the SAFC FilmLab program resulting in their Austin Film Festival Jury Prize winning thriller. They debate the merits of reviews vs festival fronds, the market driven system vs the filmmaker driven system and the longest of social media long games. They illuminate this Aussie on the advantages of having an Australian film on the world festival circuit and the the differing paths of directors and producers in Hollywood. Here’s a few helpful hints: 1) Be ready with you want to do next and 2) if you are going to 'them', you’re not ready yet… Anyone for table tennis? 

Third time's a charm in Los Angeles for actress Charlotte Best (HOME AND AWAY, PUBERTY BLUES). The 2014 Heath Ledger Scholarship Runner Up talks about her growing affection for this city, trusting the right job will come along, moving up the casting hierachy, the rebirth of her audition techniques LA-style and putting her boyfriend Andy through her film appreciation course. She reflects on her breakthrough role as Cheryl in Puberty Blues and the relish she took in getting to play the class 'mole'. While the grass may always be greener, Charlotte's seems pretty happy with her patch! 

Tracy Bacal is CEO and SVP of Karga Seven Pictures, an LA and Istanbul based production company who specialises in non-fiction television and feature films. But don't let the important sounding letters fool you. This down to earth woman is all about teamwork - there is no 'us vs. them' in this camp. She defines her job as how to give everyone what they want for the money you have. She talks about the having to choose between the scripted and un-scripted genres when arriving here, fufilling her childhood dream to live in Los Angeles, the importance of persistance and how helpful her mum's scrapbook was in applying for a visa. 

Simon Burke (The Devil’s Playground x 2) is in LA for pilot season for the first time EVER. With a career spanning 40 years and two continents, he has found a sense of freedom in being an unknown quantity in this town with a wealth of experience. His no expectations approach is allowing him to enjoy LA for what it is. Of course, it helps that he’s just produced the award winning TV series The Devil’s Playground. He shares with us it’s serendipitous birth, the balance between a producers objectivity vs an actor’s subjectivity and his thoughts on personifying adolescence for a generation of Australian cinema goers in the original film by Fred Schepisi.  No pressure… 

Happy days! Tripod - Australia’s (2nd?) best musical comedy trio - are in Los Angeles to work on their new show, THIS GAMING LIFE. Scod, Gatesy and Yon take time out of their hectic schedule to reminisce about the good ol’ days opening for cover bands and their old school marketing techniques, which included capturing St Kilda foot traffic and diuretic mail outs. They reveal their individual gaming preferences and advise me on the best games for lasting romantic relationships. I have yet to test their theories... Look out LA Uber drivers - The Peace Machines have arrived and they will serenade you with their three part harmonies! 

Awarding winning filmmaking team Tim Marshall (writer/director) and Christina Radburn (producer) are decompressing from the whirlwind that is the Sundance Film Festival where their short, FOLLOWERS premiered. It’s just like being at camp!  They share stories from the frontline of indie filmmaking like juggling timezones and international producing partnerships, getting on the radar of funding bodies and the importance of seeking mentors. We discuss the pros and cons of festivals vs. online release - it’s a tough one! And Tim let’s us in on his barometer for a good project - when it scares you, you know you are on the right track. While for Christina, it's working on something you believe in with people that you believe in. Cheers to that! 

Julius Avery (writer/director) and Nash Edgerton (actor - for this one!) joined Another Aussie for a Q & A at screening of their new film SON OF A GUN. They share stories of being a fan boy and buillding a fan base, watching each others' careers, the journey from shorts to features and the need for adaptability and trusting your instincts. Especially when it's very likely that as the director, you are the one with the least amount of experience! With the help of the audience we cover writing, financing, shooting, marketing and distributing - yeah, the gamut! The highs the lows of filmmaking and everything in between... 

Here's a laid back ramble with actor and producer Martin Copping (ZOMBIE HUNTER, BATTLE GROUND). While a restless spirit may have brought him to LA, Marty has remained pretty focussed in his six years. We talk about rock and roll starts, perpetual LA acting students, having your bases covered rep wise and working with your heroes - there were tears! His sage advice for the bussiness side o' things - When it works, it works. And when it doesn't, move on!

After 15 years Stateside, multi-hypenate Paul Leyden (THE CLEANERS, AS THE WORLD TURNS, CANAL ROAD) knows a few things. He's lived the high life in NYC, killed numerous cellphones and survived many a pilot season. And yes, those last two are related. As a writer/director/producer, he shares stories on how to woo Sony money men, the constraints of writing to locations, how best to win over novelists. (Hint: flattery) and the subtle art of timing when selling scripts. But my favourite is a tale about picking a show with Heather Lockler and Blair Underwood (LAX) over one about being LOST on a deserted island... Pilot season is coming... Please don't take it out on your phone!!

It’s Q & A time with Joel Edgerton! Recorded after an Australians in Film screening of Exodus: Gods and Kings, Joel shares tales of his time shooting the swords and sandals epic from working with Ridley “The General” Scott to his thoughts on the casting controversy surrounding the movie. We also delve into his work with Blue Tongue Films, the trails and tribulations of making and distributing films in Australia, the tumultuous times on the set of Jane Got a Gun, the things actors get away with and mixing it up vs. knowing what your wheelhouse is. It’s a cracker!

Old NIDA buddy Christa Nicola is in LA for the opening of her film, The Pyramid. One month back in Australia after a 10 year acting hiatus she lands a lead in the 21st Century Fox horror flick. And with no time to soak it up, she found herself on set working with Dennis O’Hare, dealing with massive anxiety and a US accent. We chat about how doing the work is the only antidote to nerves, the art of nailing auditions, the long wait from filming to release and how her Greek peasant work ethic keeps her keeping on. While here she relishes being an acting geek and making friends at Erewhon. Her advice to those in Los Angeles: Don’t be a dick - use your peripheral vision!

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. 

Writer and actor Craig Behenna has just returned to Adelaide - yup, we're in Radelaide, folks! - after a epic five month trip that culminated in his film ONE EYED GIRL taking out the Jury Prize at Austin Film Festival. We soldier through our respective jet lags to discuss writing, writing and more writing. Whether it be overwriting to find the gold, writing as a conversation with an audience or how screenwriting is like a Beethoven string quartet or a puzzle - no metaphor is left unturned or underused! But here's my take away - Find your people and stick with 'em!