We Interrupt This Broadcast

We Interrupt This Broadcast

Your weekly pulse of the Australian screen industry, We Interrupt This Broadcast brings you deep-dive interviews, monthly news round-ups, and practical advice for anyone building a career or project in film and TV. New episodes every Tuesday morning. Hosted by Kirsty Stark, Loani Arman, Robbie Miles & Aven Yap. Join the conversation at weinterruptthisbroadcast.com.au. Explore past episodes, search our guests' big ideas to shape the industry's future, and sign up for our newsletter for links and bonus content in your inbox each week.

  1. 6d ago

    062: Deep Dive with Michael Schwarz: Every Film Wants to Die

    In this episode, Robbie Miles speaks with producer and director Michael Schwartz of Deeper Water Films about the realities of packaging films, attaching cast, navigating Hollywood agencies and building a sustainable producing career. From his unconventional entry into producing through to working with talent including Sam Worthington, Russell Crowe and Luke Bracey, Mike shares hard-earned lessons about getting projects made in an industry where persistence matters as much as creativity. Listen to hear Michael talk about: Why “every film wants to die” and what it takes to keep them alive Building access, credibility and long-term industry relationships Packaging films and attaching cast in the independent marketplace Working with agents, sales companies and financiers Lessons from projects that almost got made, and why some didn’t Listen to Episode 62 on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe & leave a rating or review to help us reach more listeners for We Interrupt This Broadcast. Further information after listening to the episode: Beast (2026): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7708226/ Michael Schwarz imdb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3751903/ This Deep Dive interview is hosted and edited by Robbie Miles. If you’re enjoying the podcast, please leave a rating on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and we’d love you to forward this episode to a friend! Follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠

    37 min

  2. Jun 15

    061: Deep Dive with Ian Murray: How to Find Private Investors for Your Feature

    In this episode, Kirsty Stark speaks with Ian Murray, Founder of 113 Partners, about private investment for feature films, and what investors in Australia are looking for when they invest in a project or slate. Ian discusses the challenges of finding private investment, what we can do to make our industry more investable, and where to find potential investors if you don’t have rich parents or friends. Listen to hear Ian talk about: How production businesses can benefit from strategic planningThe importance of financial stability in your businessWhy private investment is vital in the current feature film landscapePrivate finance in the screen industrySlate financing vs. individual project financingChallenges in attracting Private InvestmentThe three types of investors in film projectsOpportunities for private investment in AustraliaBridging the gap between producers and investorsAudience-centric pitchingFinancial literacy for producersScreen Australia’s soon to be released Private Investment Toolkit Listen to Episode 61 on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe & leave a rating or review to help us reach more listeners for We Interrupt This Broadcast. Further information after listening to the episode: 113 Partners: https://www.113partners.com Ian Murray on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/icmurray Ian’s book, Learning the Language: A Guide to Private Investment in Australian Film (released today!): https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/1764660803/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1 Screen Australia’s Private Investment Toolkit will be released soon, and we’ll update the episode show notes on all platforms once it’s available. This Deep Dive interview is hosted and edited by Kirsty Stark. If you’re enjoying the podcast, please leave a rating on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and we’d love you to forward this episode to a friend! Follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠

    53 min

  3. Jun 8

    060: Deep Dive with David Hutchinson: Creating a Kids' Cartoon with 6+ Billion Views

    In this episode, Aven Yap speaks with Showrunner David Hutchinson about creating hit kids animated YouTube series Boy & Dragon, which has surpassed 6 billion views and 7 million subscribers. David dives deep into the creative process, industry insights, and the evolution of kids' content on YouTube. Listen to hear David talk about: Creating successful kids’ content on YouTube The creative process developing and producing Boy & Dragon Industry evolution and audience engagement strategies Creative process and storytelling in animation Listen to Episode 60 on ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe & leave a rating or review to help us reach more listeners for We Interrupt This Broadcast. Further information after listening to the episode: Boy and Dragon YouTube Channel TeamFalco David Hutchinson on LinkedIn This Deep Dive interview is hosted and edited by Aven Yap. If you’re enjoying the podcast, please leave a rating on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and we’d love you to forward this episode to a friend! Follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠

    32 min

  4. Jun 1

    059: Deep Dive with Jodie Bell: Telling Stories by Community, for Community

    In this episode, Loani Arman speaks with Jodie Bell, CEO of Goolarri Media Enterprises and Ramu Productions in Broome, Western Australia, about what it really takes to build a First Nations media organisation from the ground up - and keep it there. For 35 years Goolarri has been doing something the Australian screen industry still hasn’t figured out - owned by community, accountable to community, telling stories on its own terms. They talk about what it really means to keep IP in First Nations hands, what community accountability looks like when the people you’re making stories about are your neighbours, and why this work is an essential service, not a nice to have. They also get into the nuts and bolts about shooting in Broome, building a pipeline of First Nations talent, and what the wider industry needs to do to be a genuine partner rather than just a gatekeeper. Listen to hear Jodie discuss: Why IP ownership matters as much as who directs and writes. What community accountability really looks like on a production. What shooting on a guerrilla crew teaches you that a full crew can’t. Why NITV needs more funding and what you can do about it. Building a pipeline of First Nations talent from Broome. Listen to Episode 59 on ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠ or ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe & leave a rating or review to help us reach more listeners for We Interrupt This Broadcast. Further information after listening to the episode: Goolarri Media website: https://goolarri.com Goolarri Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GoolarriMedia Goolarri Media on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goolarrimedia Goolarri Media on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoolarriMediaEnterprises Ramu Productions on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ramuproductions Ramu Productions on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ramuproductionsbroome Jodie Bell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodie-bell-2b884510 Watch ‘Warm Props’ on SBS: https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-series/warm-props Watch ‘Yokai’ on ABC Indigenous: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PjF21eV3FY This Deep Dive interview is hosted and edited by Loani Arman. If you’re enjoying the podcast, please leave a rating on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and we’d love you to forward this episode to a friend! Follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠

    36 min

  5. May 25

    058: May 2026 News Round-Up. Mental Health Action Plan, Vertical Microdramas & More...

    Have your own thoughts to share about this episode or anything else happening in the industry? Join Loani, Aven, Robbie and Kirsty this Thursday 28th May at 8:30pm for our second Instagram Live: https://www.instagram.com/weinterruptpodcast In this monthly round-up episode, Robbie and Aven discuss Screen Well’s new Mental Health Action Plan and why conversations around leadership, safety and sustainability in production are more important than ever. They also explore the rapid rise of creator-led distribution, from TikTok micro-dramas to YouTube series, and what this shift means for traditional development cycles. Plus federal budget updates for the sector, key industry moves and opportunities, productions shooting around Australia, and the changing ways creatives are building audiences before projects even get financed. Links mentioned in this episode: Screen Well Mental Health Action Plan: https://www.screenwell.com.au/mhap Issa Rae Microdrama Article: https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/tv-shows/issa-rae-microdrama-screen-time-ratings-viewership-tiktok-pinedrama-exclusive/ Screenworks Regional-to-Global: https://screenworks.com.au/ NFSA appoints Zareh Nalbandian to board: https://www.nfsa.gov.au/about/people/board --- If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple or give us 5 stars on Spotify to help us spread the word. This episode of We Interrupt This Broadcast was hosted by Aven Yap and Robbie Miles. Join the conversation about Episode 58 on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠, or submit your own Big Idea to shape the industry at ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://weinterruptthisbroadcast.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠. --- Have industry news, upcoming events or productions to share? Want to sponsor the podcast? Let us know at weinterruptpod@gmail.com

    20 min

  6. May 19

    057: Deep Dive with Lianne Mackessy: Create From Truth, Not Perfection

    Fresh off of winning Tropfest 2026 with her short film Crescendo and taking home the Rebel8 Award for Most Outstanding Emerging Female Director at Flickerfest for Tuesday Tuesday, Lianne Mackessy reveals her process and reflects on the experiences that have shaped her creative voice. She chats to Robbie Miles to explore the pressures of creative ambition, motherhood and hustle culture, the importance of emotional truth in storytelling, and how working-class voices remain underrepresented behind the camera in the Australian screen industry. Listen to hear Lianne discuss: Why life experience is essential to storytelling The transition from acting into writing and directing Making Crescendo under the tight deadlines of Tropfest Motherhood, creativity and redefining success Building authentic creative collaborations and community Why working-class representation behind the camera matters Sustainable filmmaking careers and balancing art with life Listen to Episode 57 on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe & leave a rating or review to help us reach more listeners for We Interrupt This Broadcast. Further information after listening to the episode: Lianne Mackessy Website: https://www.liannemackessy.com/ Tropfest Winner - Crescendo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys7v4uEMS_M Flickerfest Winners: https://flickerfest.com.au/press-releases/flickerfest-2026-awards-announced-and-the-winners-are/ Follow Lianne and her work: Lianne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lianne-mackessy-4a968b341/ This Deep Dive interview is hosted and edited by Robbie Miles. If you’re enjoying the podcast, please leave a rating on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and we’d love you to forward this episode to a friend! Follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ Don’t forget to subscribe & get weekly episodes in your inbox.

    29 min

  7. May 11

    056: Deep Dive with Dawid Naude: The Ultimate AI Masterclass for Filmmakers

    ** This is a special video masterclass, so make sure you watch on video to get the full benefit of seeing Dawid share his screen.** In this special masterclass episode, Kirsty Stark chats to Dawid Naude, CEO & Founder at Pathfindr, and an award-winning AI innovator and educator. Dawid takes Kirsty through the Claude AI platform, offering in depth insights into how to set it up for maximum efficiency in her day-to-day tasks as a producer. There is a huge wealth of knowledge in this episode and the lessons he shares are transferable to other AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini. They are focused on admin and workflow outcomes, rather than using AI to generate creative work. Whether you’ve been using AI regularly, or want to know what’s possible beyond basic prompting, this is an episode that can benefit anyone working in the screen industry. Watch as Dawid shares his screen and teaches: AI team members: your Assistant, Thinker and CreatorInterviewing AI to craft a plan for how it can help youTask management and prioritisationIntegrating AI with your email, notetaker and other toolsData privacy and security Preparing for meetings and keeping track of production informationUsing AI for deep researchPersonalising your AI interactionsCreating and managing Projects in ClaudeCreating AI Skills for repeated tasks Creating and managing AI policies for your teamClaude Cowork and using pluginsCreating websites and presentations directly from ClaudeAutomating tasks with browser control Watch Episode 56 on Spotify or YouTube. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe & leave a rating or review to help us reach more listeners for We Interrupt This Broadcast. Links mentioned in the episode: Claude: https://claude.ai Pathfindr: https://www.pathfindr.ai Start Learning AI (Dawid & Pathfindr’s monthly masterclass): https://startlearning.ai Follow Dawid on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawidnaude This Deep Dive interview is hosted and edited by Kirsty Stark. If you’re enjoying the podcast, please leave a comment or rating on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and we’d love you to forward this episode to a friend! Follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ Don’t forget to subscribe & get weekly episodes in your inbox.

    1h 32m

  8. May 4

    055: April 2026 News Round-Up: Screen Forever Wrap-Up, Women in Screen AI Workshop & More...

    Have your own thoughts to share about this episode, Screen Forever, or anything else happening in the industry? Join Loani, Aven, Robbie and Kirsty this Thursday 7th May at 8:30pm for our first ever Instagram Live: https://www.instagram.com/weinterruptpodcast --- Screen Forever turned 40 on the Gold Coast last week, and there’s a lot to unpack! Kirsty and Loani reflect on the big conversations coming out of Screen Forever, from funding pressures and private investment to the risks of Australia becoming a service economy. They also dive into the growing conversations around AI in the sector, and what it means for authorship, voice and the future workforce. Plus feature film distribution challenges, major inbound productions shooting now, and why the National Cultural Policy consultation is a crucial moment for the industry. --- Links mentioned in this episode: AACTA Proof Recipients: https://www.aacta.org/our-news/media-room/aacta-and-gold-coast-film-festival-announce-the-three-proof-finalists Screen Australia funds 91 Narrative Projects: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-australia-announces-narrative-content-funding-for-91-projects-including-four-short-films-paired-with-industry-mentors/ Australia’s National Cultural Policy - Have Your Say (Closes May 24, 2026) https://www.arts.gov.au/have-your-say/new-national-cultural-policy Deep Dive: Right-Sizing Your Screen Production Business (Ep 051) https://www.weinterruptthisbroadcast.com.au/episodes?grid1-dialog=recGSZhWj4oxIhvrZ Deep Dive: Why Nobody Saw Your Film at the Cinema (Ep 054) https://www.weinterruptthisbroadcast.com.au/episodes?grid1-dialog=recGSZhWj4oxIhvrZ Deep Dive: Inventing a New Financing Model for Indie Features (Ep 034) https://www.weinterruptthisbroadcast.com.au/episodes?grid1-dialog=rec9998Xpoi4tYfyW Production Infrastructure and Capacity Analysis (PICA) report: https://www.o-spi.com/projects/production-infrastructure-and-capacity-analysis-pica-for-australias-screen-production-sector --- If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple or give us 5 stars on Spotify to help us spread the word. This episode of We Interrupt This Broadcast was hosted by Kirsty Stark and Loani Arman. Join the conversation about Episode 55 on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠, or submit your own Big Idea to shape the industry at ⁠⁠⁠http://weinterruptthisbroadcast.com.au⁠⁠⁠. --- Have industry news, upcoming events or productions to share? Want to sponsor the podcast? Let us know at weinterruptpod@gmail.com

    30 min
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About

Your weekly pulse of the Australian screen industry, We Interrupt This Broadcast brings you deep-dive interviews, monthly news round-ups, and practical advice for anyone building a career or project in film and TV. New episodes every Tuesday morning. Hosted by Kirsty Stark, Loani Arman, Robbie Miles & Aven Yap. Join the conversation at weinterruptthisbroadcast.com.au. Explore past episodes, search our guests' big ideas to shape the industry's future, and sign up for our newsletter for links and bonus content in your inbox each week.

Information

  • Creator
    We Interrupt This Broadcast
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    67
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © We Interrupt This Broadcast
  • Show Website
    We Interrupt This Broadcast

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