For her first feature documentary Under the Volcano, Australian producer Cody Greenwood needed to licence music for 30 songs from the likes of Elton John, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, The Police, Duran Duran and more. She breaks down the ins and outs of music licencing and dealing with archival footage, as well as getting that first interview with Sting, working with director Gracie Otto, and advice. Visit https://www.underthevolcanomovie.com to stream, rent, or buy.

Screen Australia Podcast

Producer Cody Greenwood on music licencing

Screen composer Caitlin Yeo talks about her career writing music for film, television and documentary, and how she went about creating the score for the epic four-part SBS series New Gold Mountain – a murder mystery set in the Australian gold rush and told from a Chinese perspective – including working with director Corrie Chen, instrument choice, and breaking down the title music in detail.

Caitlin Yeo: composing the score for New Gold Mountain

Journalist, documentary-maker and presenter Marc Fennell talks about his latest work hosting ABC documentary series The School That Tried to End Racism and more broadly about his career to date, including interviewing techniques, his approach to research, why he always like to have at least two jobs on the go, and how he’s navigated a constantly changing media and screen landscape.

Marc Fennell: The School That Tried to End Racism

Screenwriter Bevan Lee, who created such TV series as All Saints, Always Greener, Winners & Losers, A Place to Call Home and Packed to the Rafters, talks about creating Amazon Australia’s First Scripted Original Series Back to the Rafters, working with streamers, the power of nostalgia, and his advice for writers.

Bevan Lee: writing Back to the Rafters for Amazon

Screenwriter Jon Bell discusses working on new Channel Seven drama series RFDS, creating a strong sense of place through characters, and his award-winning First Nations psychological horror short, The Moogai, which he wrote and directed and which he’s developing into a feature with Causeway Films.

Jon Bell: writing for genre

Michael Lucas on creating, producing and writing on new ABC series The Newsreader, as well as working as a writer more broadly, including learnings from script editing Rosehaven that he took to co-creating Five Bedrooms; paying it forward as a producer; returning to work with directors such as Peter Templeman and Emma Freeman; and advice for writers wanting to break into the industry.

Michael Lucas: creating, producing and writing The Newsreader

Mithila Gupta talks about her pathway to screenwriting, her process, juggling projects as a freelance writer, how she came to work on Five Bedrooms, and how the writers’ room on Five Bedrooms works – from plotting to writing episodes.

Mithila Gupta: Five Bedrooms and writing for Australian TV

Director Stevie Cruz-Martin discusses moving from features like the 2017 film Pulse, to the fast-paced world of Australian television with the 6 x 10 minute SBS series The Tailings; the importance of rehearsal time especially when working with first-time actors; lighting set-up choices to maximise shooting time; and her collaborative approach with producer Liz Doran, writer and creator Caitlin Richardson, and the rest of the heads of department. Watch The Tailings Behind the Scenes video here.

Stevie Cruz-Martin: from Pulse to The Tailings

Love on the Spectrum director and co-creator Cian O’Clery talks about his unconventional road to documentary making, from being a driver on films like the Matrix sequels, to finding his way into reality television, and then getting his big break in factual TV with Northern Pictures. He also breaks down his approach to Love on the Spectrum, including stylistic choices, how many cameras were used, shooting schedules and more.

Cian O’Clery: making Love on the Spectrum

Vanessa Gazy talks about how the chance to create, executive produce and write on new Stan Original series Eden came about; having four days to write a bible; developing TV for Netflix; the differences in creating TV for the US and Australia; as well as her advice for anyone going into a pitch meeting.

Vanessa Gazy: creating TV at home and abroad

Producers Hayley Adams and Michelle Melky of new TikTok series Scattered run through everything you need to know about making content for the app, from working in a vertical frame, to writing one-minute episodes, how music on the app works, and why they think it's the perfect platform if you're an emerging storyteller.

Making scripted content for TikTok

Netflix ANZ’s Que Minh Luu and Nakul Legha talk to their programming strategy for both commissions and licencing, things to keep in mind before pitching, and what they are and aren’t looking for. The pair also detail their upcoming slate and address the controversy around upcoming docusoap Byron Baes.

How to pitch to Netflix ANZ

To mark the 20th anniversary of Moulin Rouge!, writer, director and producer Baz Luhrmann and production and costume designer Catherine Martin look back on making the movie musical – remembering the Sydney shoot, their proudest moments, the audience reaction at Cannes Film Festival and around the globe, as well as their thoughts on the stage show opening in Australia two decades after the film premiered.

Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin revisit Moulin Rouge!

Lingo Pictures General Manager Tess Novak, Arenamedia founder Robert Connolly and Screen Australia Marketplace Manager Rakel Tansley break down Marketplace - the free industry resource to help finance and exploit projects, and make sure screen creatives are getting the best deals. Available to anyone – whether you have received funding or not. Podcast – Finance Plans Explained Podcast – Distribution 101 Best Practice When Selling Rights 

How to make Marketplace intel work for you

Screenwriter Liz Doran of Please Like Me, Doctor Doctor, Dance Academy, Ready for This and more talks about the challenges of jumping from writing to producing for new SBS series The Tailings. Liz also talks to the power of mentorships, her advice for applying for funding and her tips for producers and writers. Watch all episodes of The Tailings on SBS On Demand now: https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/the-tailings Find Liz’s projects and where to watch them through The Screen Guide: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/p/liz-doran/5806/

Writer-turned-producer Liz Doran on The Tailings

Listen to interviews with world-class Australian directors, producers, writers and other industry professionals as they discuss their careers, latest projects and industry trends.

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Screen Australia Podcast

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