Hi everyone, welcome back to TV Reload!

I truly appreciate you tuning in for today’s episode, featuring two powerhouse content creators at the top of their game in scripted drama—John Polson and Bruna Papandrea. They join me to discuss their latest project, The Last Anniversary.

Bruna Papandrea is an acclaimed Australian film and television producer and the founder of Made Up Stories. Before that, she co-founded Pacific Standard with Reese Witherspoon. Her impressive resume speaks for itself, with hits like Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers etc. The list goes on. Plus the feature film, The Dry, and the sequel to that, Force of Nature. It’s an absolute honour to have her here to discuss this exciting new TV series, now streaming on Binge and Foxtel.

Joining her is John Polson, the director of The Last Anniversary. I’ve been a huge fan of his work since the ’90s, ever since I saw him in The Sum of Us alongside Russell Crowe. Over the years, John has made a remarkable transition behind the camera, working out of New York and making a significant impact in film and television. He’s also the creative force behind Tropfest, the world’s largest short film festival, which has supported countless emerging filmmakers.

In this episode:

• • Bruna shares her favourite Liane Moriarty book and the three key elements she looks for when choosing a story.
• • John explains how directing a TV series differs from filmmaking and what unique challenges come with signing onto a project like this.
• • We uncover some fascinating behind-the-scenes details—Did Liane Moriarty want a role in the series? Has Bruna ever considered acting herself?
• • Plus, we’ll discuss the stellar cast, including Miranda Richardson, why this series has a broader appeal than some of Bruna’s past projects, and an update on Big Little Lies Season 3 (which Liane just finished writing this week!).

There’s so much to dive into, with plenty of exclusive insights. So sit back, relax, and enjoy as we explore the incredible world of The Last Anniversary, streaming weekly on Binge and Foxtel!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.