NITV are looking for the next great First Nations story
Home to some of Australia's favourite stories and cultural storytellers including Little J & Big Cuz, Incarceration Nation, True Colours and The First Inventors, the National Indigenous Television Network (NITV) delivers content for and about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culture. Head of Indigenous Commissioning and Production Dena Curtis dropped by the Screen Australia Podcast to talk about the role of the broadcaster in showcasing and celebrating the diversity of First Nations experiences and supporting stories told by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners. Throughout the episode, Curtis expands on her vision for NITV and gives advice for producers and filmmakers looking to pitch to the broadcaster. Curtis tells us about some of the great new titles joining NITV, including social justice documentary 2.6 Seconds, medical obdoc Our Medicine and comedy trivia series Big Backyard Quiz, and introduces her new team, including Senior Commissioning Editor Cieron Cody and Commissioning Editor Joseph Meldrum.
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Creator Nicholas Verso on adapting Invisible Boys for television
Writer and director Nicholas Verso shares the process of shaping the award-winning novel Invisible Boys for the small screen. Throughout the episode, Verso shares the process of adapting a novel for screen, including building the writers room, knowing when to move away from the source material, and creating a visual language, as well as shaping authentic queer narratives for young adults.
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44:57
Access Coordinator Stephanie Dower
In the latest episode of the Screen Australia Podcast, Stephanie Dower discusses the importance of building an accessible culture on set, engaging Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent (DDN) crew, and her experiences working in the Australian screen industry. Dower talks about the emerging role of access coordinating; the philosophy and vision behind the role; the distinctions between access coordinators, safety officers, and support workers; and her experiences as a coordinator on upcoming feature films Australian indie Spit and international swashbuckler The Bluff - both due for release in 2025.
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40:33
Audrey: Dark comedy on the big screen with Lou Sanz and Natalie Bailey
Audrey screenwriter Lou Sanz and director Natalie Bailey on creating their debut feature film together. Throughout the episode, Sanz and Bailey share their love for comedy and dislike for the term unlikeable female characters. They also talk about getting the project to the big screen, creating compelling characters, the differences between writing for television and film, and the importance of finding the black comedy balance – or “balancing the sweet and sour”, as they call it.
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Pikelet Pictures’ Jessica Smith and Scarlett Koehne on their new online series Videoland
Videoland director Jessica Smith and producer Scarlett Koehne reflect on queer representation and 90s nostalgia in the Series Mania Comedy Competition-winning series. On the latest episode of the Screen Australia podcast, we spoke with Smith and Koehne following their win at Series Mania about their festival strategy and experience premiering in a foreign market. They also reflect on the creation of the queer dramedy and challenges of retro-fitting (literally) a video rental store.
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