Another Aussie in LA

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...

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...

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.