Another Aussie in LA

Journalist, face of Showtime movie news and family man, Andrew Warne has been the in Hollywood trenches for 25 years, reporting locally and for Australia from the frontline. He's seen some stuff. From the Rodney King riots to rise of Aussiewood to the imminent demise of commercial television. We discuss his ongoing involvement in Australians In Film including his recent switch from president to chairman. We give credit where credit is due - to Paul Hogan and Crocodile Dundee. For better or for worse, if it wasn't for Hoges, Americans wouldn't know we Aussies existed!! 

The straight talking Judi Levine, producer, has seen it all. The highs and lows and the blahs, too. She talks me through the upward trajectory of producing The Sessions, the fine balance between finance and casting, the machinations of the film festival circuit and awards season. Note to self: Even grounded Aussies can get swept away with the hype. AND always remember we may think we are the same but we sure as hell are different to Americans! Oh, and here's to serendipity!!  

Super talented and super dooper down to earth, Claire van der Boom talks about her excellent year - a result of doing what makes you happy and learning to say to no to things. We chat about working with Sam Shepard and David Rabe, sword fighting, 'Hollywood Sexy', living in the fringes, painting cactuses and an experience that I would actually describe as my actor's nightmare! I out her as a history nut. She seems fine with it, though...

Welcome to the wonderful world of Esther Anderson! She is a pure delight and the complete opposite to her sly, cunning, game playing alter- ego Esther on NBC's Siberia. Just don't tell Esther she can't do something. Unless, of course you want her to do it! 

Actor, Musician, Presenter and doting father to Fox and Banjo, Bernard Curry chats with me in his salubrious home with special drop in guest Sullivan Stapleton. Well, why the hell not? Brief as his cameo may be... Bernie and I get to stuck into actorly rejection, how grounding family can be, making music with friends, doing your own stunts and why us Aussies keep getting work in the US. I don't make things too awkward. At least I don't think I don't. You be the judge. 

This is Justin Hanrahan, A.C.S. – D.O.P. (screw you Americans, Imma keeping my vowels), Dad and all round top bloke. Even J.T. thinks so. From swimming with sharks – real ones, not Hollywood ones– to documenting weddings – Hollywood ones, not the other ones - to covering the Hong Kong handover to working on Oprah’s Next Big Thing to hanging out with Frank Gehry, Justin keeps his Aussie self-deprecating humour and hard work ethic about him at all times. This is how you do it peeps. This is how you have an ongoing career doing what you love. As J.T. would sing – what goes around comes around…

And we're back with the ubiquitous Damon Herriman, actor of many talents and many faces, most of them uglied down with hours in the make up chair... Oh well. Damon reveals himself to be a complete fatalist and may never act again after this chat... Oh well. We talk about getting offers from David Mamet, how surreal acting opposite Leo DeCaprio is, how awesome INXS is - very! - and the tranquil bliss of a Clint Eastwood set. Oh and I may NEVER work with Zack Snyder. EVER. OH WELL! 

It's sandals, swords and sex - kinda - with Daniel Feuerriegel, star of the Starz network's Sparactus series. (Enough 'S's do ya think???). Dan and i chat about acting fashions, the ins and outs of playing gay character on cable TV, being a working actor vs. being a superstar, the 10 year overnight success and hos most recent role - playing a proper geezer. We don't quite talk about Australian politics. There are somethings not worth starting...

This is James Mackay - Winner of the 2013 Heath Ledger Scholarship! Yay James!! James is seasoned in the ways of LA so have a listen as we chat about how auditioning is like dating, dodging John Carter shaped bullets, Bollywood fame vs. Hollywood fame and how best to manage actorly expectations. We do some serious bonding over Sydney fringe theatre. Watch this one. He's going places. 

You may not have heard of her but you've probably seen her work - Kate Woods, director of Changi and Looking for Alibrandi, who has worked on countless shows at home (where's that exactly?) and in the States. Kate and I discuss the realities of being a female  working in a male dominated genre, let alone in a male dominated industry, how one phone call can change EVERYTHING (especially if that phone call is made by Anthony LaPagila), the importance of doing your homework and the Underbelly lead recovery of Aussie TV. Coming to you from her little Santa Monica oasis, away from the hullabooloo of "Hollywood". *sigh* You can almost smell my relaxedness!