Chats with Creatives

In this episode Lucy Ansell and Bronte Charlotte discuss Australia's ongoing racism, colourism and texturism by delving into a piece Lucy wrote for the publication Hair (curated by Sabina McKenna of @whereareyoufrom__) in which she delves into her relationship with her textured hair growing up in predominantly white spaces in Australia. We chat about how you can never stop learning, working in professional environments after graduating drama school, the assortment of professional jobs Lucy has picked up, including the biggest stage production currently in Australia, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Lucy explains tokenism in casting, how institutions seek to look diverse but don’t seek to support any true diversity, and her joy working with Chanella Macri in her piece for She is Vigilante.

During this episode we discuss:

• [05:27] Lucy’s list of credits from her first year out of drama school, joining the magical world of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and how masks have soothed our hayfever.
• [13:56] Hair - a Zine curated by Sabina McKenna about textured hair, an excerpt from Lucy’s article, and Lucy speaks to texturism, colorism and racism in relation to hair.
• [22:21] Theatre as a reflection of life, tokenism in casting, and some examples of works that have been done sensitively, honouring the voices that need to be honoured and amplified.
• [27:11] Being a political act just by taking up space, truly diversifying spaces, and growing up in predominantly white spaces.
• [34:19] Our lack of education and ignorance around true Australian history, the importance of allyship, and how important our early education is for building values and shaping us as humans.
• [37:59] The weight of the Black Lives Matter movement on the shoulders of the BIPOC community, the Movement building in the midst of the global pandemic, and the system that keeps the oppressed, oppressed.
• [43:30] “I’m just as white as you,” the generalisations and assumptions around blackness, and building honest and true representation from the ground up, starting with who is in the room behind the camera.
• [49:58] The scoop and weigh section, daily naps, isolation crafts, defining who you are, the messy characters that bring an actor joy, and working with Chanella Macri in She is Vigilante.

RESOURCES 

• Hair by Where Are You From
  Curated by Sabina McKenna 
• Golden Shield by Anchuli Felicia King
• The horrific display of racism by the Robert Guest Endowment 2020
• Zahra Newman ‘breaks’ the Australian classic Wake in Fright
• You May Not Rest Now There Are Monsters Nearby by Chanella Macri for She is Vigilante

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!

Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

Follow this week's guest Lucy Ansell on Instagram @thouis.leroux

In this episode Rebekah Hill and Bronte Charlotte chat about specificity in your knowledge, choices, likes, and dislikes, which enables you to create relationships with people in your life, and even the characters you play, that are very clear and no-bullshit. We delve into the clarity of Bec’s choices and how they’ve led her to leading a life in creative circles throughout Melbourne, her training at the VCA and how the practice of receiving feedback changed her ability to continue working towards a shared vision, the power we hold in saying ‘no’ and rating ourselves worthy of making choices when it comes to the work we get involved in. We also speak about imposter syndrome and the different tools we’ve both used when self-doubt creeps in.

During this episode we discuss:

• [02:05] Becs journey into the Melbourne arts scene from Brisbane suburbia with her single mum from Eastern Europe, to visiting Melbourne at 16 and attending the VCA open day, to graduating with her bachelor degree at the Victorian College of the Arts.
• [09:31] Becs first year out of drama school, the highs and lows of being released into the industry, social media and its effect on our interpretation of others' success.
• [16:23] Specificity in life choices and character choices, having clarity in your creative choices, and relinquishing control.
• [22:01] Committing to work you are truly passionate about, the three things you want all projects to include, and the power in saying NO!
• [27:08] Imposter syndrome, the four stages of learning, and combating intrusive thoughts with FACTS and knowing that everyone has shortcomings and that you are not alone.
• [36:35] Training to view your own work objectively, having a healthy disrespect for everything, and allowing yourself to question things to keep checking in to see if you’re on the right path.
• [42:36] Cultivating a life away from your practice, learning to take direction and creative outlets.

RESOURCES 

• Emily Joy: Joy Studio
• Article by Oliver Burkeman: the eight secrets to a (fairly) fulfilled life

For a full transcript head to the Chats with Creatives website

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!

Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

Follow this week's guest Bec Hill on Instagram @rebekahcourtney_

Leigh Scully and Bronte Charlotte chat about the impact past traumas have on our ability to trust and believe in our ability to apply ourselves to our work, different tools to strengthen mental fortitude, and King of the Crossing (the 13 episode, fully improvised web series we released over the course of Melbourne’s COVID-19 lockdown period). We goof around with impressions, voices and accents, chat about the hierarchy of the creative industries, and how we can create space for those in less privileged positions than us who are often silenced and left unrepresented throughout the industry.

During this episode we discuss:

• [03:00] Strawberry ice cream, flavour developers and living with family
• [12:30] How we met, Bucks or Bag of Dicks, and childhood friendships with beautiful humans
• [18:52] Leigh’s journey from acting without commiting to acting as a career, non-linear pathways into finding your passion for the craft, and actors & psychology
• [31:17] Confronting trauma, facing shame, and building inner strength
• [35:60] Transitioning from film to theatre, and the difference between Sydney and Melbourne’s creative communities
• [38:20] King of the Crossing the Webseries, Yon Yonson the band, and family creativity & collaboration
• [44:02] Putting on voices & accents, how Big Mouth took over our life, and how being silly is keeping us sane through Melbourne’s COVID-19 Stage 4 lockdown
• [55:48] The joy of a truly connected performance, moving your body, and how adopting kittens will inherently improve your mental health
• [1:01:46] When The Light Leaves, having autonomy over your own body, and life affirming realisations
• [1:06:34] How we as cis white middle class people can create space for those less privileged than us, dealing with the limited power you have in the hierarchy of the creative industries, and facing rejection
• [1:15:15] GET ON IT: David Tennant Does a Podcast with...

RESOURCES 

• ATYP
  https://atyp.com.au
• Bucks, Or Bag of Dicks: Bad Ducks Theatre Company
  https://www.facebook.com/badducksco
• King of the Crossing: Web series
  Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsVSlMTQkppz_BNPZLymWW15xpg1AhYkI
  F: @kingofthecrossing
  I: @king_of_the_crossing
• Harm: Short film
  Watch: https://vimeo.com/271187804
• Yon Yonson
  Listen: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2nIzAIQLIBdop1EOGbNVRn
  I: @yonyonsonband
• When The Light Leaves, Citizen Theatre
  https://www.citizentheatre.com.au/
• GET ON IT: David Tennant Does a Podcast with...
  Listen: https://www.david-tennant.com/podcast

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!

Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

Follow this week's guest Leigh Scully on instagram @leighscullyofficial

Lachie Pringle and Bronte Charlotte chat about Lachie’s young career in theatre, film and music, the daunting reality of attending drama school in another state straight out of high school, and how The Tints got started and suddenly becoming the lead singer of a successful indie rock band in Sydney, Australia. They also delve into Lachie’s thoughts on diversity and representation in the arts industry as a mixed race actor.

Lachie performs his original song ‘Wrong,’ which he wrote at a time when he was feeling discouraged by the kinds of people that were in positions of power in Australia and around the world. He was dabbling in political rap at the time so this piece is an experiment with a genre Lachie previously had had no songwriting experience in.

During this episode we discuss:

• [03:39] VCA in moments: First year and self reflection, second year and animal studies, third year and Company 18’s Australian Play Readings
• [13:38] Lachie’s journey from high school to drama school to starting the successful indie rock band The Tints, moving interstate and how it can affect your relationships, and being dubbed Dark Horse
• [22:43] LAchie’s experience as a mixed race actor, the need for more diverse storytelling and representation on our stages and screens, and how we all deal differently with our racial identity
• [31:31] How consistency and a daily practice can work for some but not for everyone, creating an honest character through research, and the joy of creativity
• [38:54] Wrong by Lachie Pringle
• [44:36] GET ON IT: The Trauma Cleaner by Sarah Krasnostein

RESOURCES 

• The Tints
  @thetintstheband
  https://www.thetintstheband.com
  https://youtu.be/DquzON4Unfo
• Angry Fags by Topher Payne
  https://newtheatre.org.au/angry-fags
• Trauma Cleaner by Sarah Krasnostein
  http://sarahkrasnostein.com/the-trauma-cleaner

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!

Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

Follow this week's guest Lachie Pringle on instagram @all.the.pringle.ladies

Produced by Anahata Collective

Music by Rick Scully

Liam Alexandru and Bronte Charlotte chat about their different experiences touring educational theatre in schools across Victoria (Australia) and throughout Germany, Spain and Portugal. They delve into 'small town mentality' and how it shapes your understanding of people and society around you, how to shift your mental state when playing a certain character can start to affect your mental health, and how the effect of the coronavirus will create the “New Renaissance of Art.”

During this episode we discuss:

• [03:58] An unexpected Melbourne winter, solo travelling through Europe, how travelling and the information and experiences you have while travelling changes your perception of life around you
• [09:00] Liam’s journey into acting and writing, and why “come back with more *life* experience” is classic feedback when going through drama school auditions
• [17:05] Bronte and Liam realise they’ve lost an hours worth of interview
• [18:02] Liam and Bronte are back discussing Liam’s experience touring educational theatre in Europe, finding the fun in the work, and how touring just inherently develops your acting and craft 
• [23:17] How to shift your mental health when you are constantly affected by playing certain characters - day in, day out - and the difficulties that arose with different schools and audiences that would make each day just that little bit more challenging
• [32:29] Brexit vs Coronavirus, the two big evils for creatives and touring shows
• [34:50] Shipwreck Productions, collaborating with friends, and the “New Renaissance of Art”
• [39:09] Growing up in a small town, and breaking free of the “small town mentality” that goes hand in hand with that 
• [44:21] Having a daily practice, the joys of creativity, and a super speedy list of all 39 Shakespeare plays
• [51:04] GET ON IT: Anahata Collective 3x weekly Zoom workouts for creatives

RESOURCES 

• Shipwreck Productions
  @shipwreck.productions
• Anahata Collective
  www.mindstrengthmovement.com
  @anahatacollective

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!

Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

Follow this week's guest Liam Alexandru on Instagram @liam_alexandru

Produced by Anahata Collective

Music by Rick Scully

Kristi Gilligan and Bronte Charlotte have an intimate and empowering chat about working both in front of and behind the camera as female presenting creatives. They discuss gender equality and gender stereotypes in the film industry, the lack of diversity behind the camera and how we can start to make active changes even lower down the chain, Kristi’s transition from pursuing acting to becoming a successful 2nd Assistant Camera, and what a 2nd AC actually does!

During this episode we discuss:

• [02:48] How being vegan on set became impossible, The Warehouse Workshop, and the start of Kristi’s interest behind the camera
• [06:18] Kristi’s history as a second camera assistant, how COVID-19 affected the film she was working on at the start of 2020, and what does a 2nd AC actually do!?
• [10:18] An agent's advice on how to move interstate for acting, how Kristi fell out of love with acting, and how working behind the camera compares to acting in terms of career stability
• [15:57] The pros and cons of being in the film industry, social lives and how they can become non-existent when working, and the expectation on you as a part of the crew
• [20:06] Kristi’s first gig: how she got it and where it took her
• [22:40] Women working behind the camera in film, classic ‘gender-roles’ on set, and why people comment on the fact a woman is working as a 2nd AC
• [27:59] Diversity on set, and how can we create a greater support system for ALL minorities - racially-diverse  and gender-diverse people - to be succeeding in their chosen careers paths
• [33:55] Recognising when you are consuming female and non-binary driven stories, films, TV shows, and how the content, characters and relationships will be different to male driven media
• [35:30] The transition from being an actor to a crew member and how expectations in your appearance and attitude change, Bronte’s personal experiences of body politics as a female presenting actor, and the people who are actively hiring and casting people of diverse backgrounds and genders
• [42:55] Habits, Ladies in Black, and the joy of creativity
• [46:20] GET ON IT: The Guilty Feminist Podcast

RESOURCES 

• The Warehouse Workshop, now a screen acting studio on the Gold Coast
  https://www.warehousestudio.com.au
• AFTRS Film School
  https://www.aftrs.edu.au/
• Ladies in Black
  https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/screen-news/2018/09-20-ladies-in-black-behind-the-scenes
• Bonny Elliot, an award-winning cinematographer who works across drama, documentary and video art.
  https://www.bonnieelliott.com
• The Guilty Feminist Podcast
  https://guiltyfeminist.com

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!

Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

Follow this week's guest Kristi Gilligan on instagram @_k.r.i.s.t.i_._

Produced by Anahata Collective

Music by Rick Scully

Henry Kelly and Bronte Charlotte chat about being actors in a larger,non-conforming bodies, Henry's transition and his experiences being transgender in the creative industries, the casting of trans characters in film, TV and theatre, and the differences between being a 'maker' versus an 'actor'. These conversations around trans casting are really important, and one’s that are still being had within the creative industries. Ultimately, casting cis people in trans roles is taking an opportunity from the actors in the trans community to be seen and heard on our stages and our screens. No matter how talented an actor, or moving a performance, until the representation of trans people on our screens is up there with the white cis heteronormative representation we see all the time, any trans role given to a non-trans actor is a stolen opportunity.

During this episode we discuss:

• [03:09] Dungeons & Daddies, the podcast Henry is listening to
• [04:12] The VCA, travelling solo, spending time together in London
• [08:55] Henry’s history in the creative industries, Showfit and auditioning for the VCA
• [13:17] Theatre making vs. acting, when is it more appropriate to be one or the other?
• [15:53] Coming out as transgender while at drama school, misgendering, casting, and the documentary on trans representation in the media, Disclosure
• [22:53] Cisgender vs. transgender casting in film, TV and theatre
• [29:56] Body politics, casting a plus size actor, anxieties around costume and wardrobe fittings, and society's expectations of beauty
• [36:32] Daily practice, meditation and tarot
• [39:01] The joy of play
• [40:48] GET ON IT: Disclosure, a documentary on Netflix about trans representation in the media

RESOURCES 

• Dungeons & Daddies
  https://dungeonsanddaddies.com
• Showfit
  https://www.showfit.com.au
• Strangers in Between
  https://trafalgar-studios.com/shows/strangers-in-between
• Network
  https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/network
• Sandra Caldwell
  https://nyti.ms/2wbbcRE
• Disclosure
  Netflix

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!

Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

Follow this week's guest Henry Kelly on instagram @henrykelly_ and check out his website https://www.henrykelly.net/

Produced by Anahata Collective

Music by Rick Scully

Lyndall Grant and Bronte Charlotte chat about life as a professional Fight Director and motion capture specialist. We delve into Lyndalls experience starting her company Captivate Action, training and working in the UK and then moving back to the Melbourne to jump straight into working at the MTC and the VCA, and then landing a role in one of the biggest productions in Australia, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child!

During this episode we discuss:

• [03:00] Landing an ensemble role in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, what is expected of you as a cover in such a huge production, and the Harry Potter family
• [04:46] Lyndalls history in acting training, fight training and motion capture, and how 15 years of hard work lead to her acting break
• [11:46] The difference in support networks in Australia vs the UK
• [14:01] Starting up Captivate Action, Lyndalls fight and motion capture training company
• [17:12] The in’s and out’s of motion capture casting
• [19:18] The in’s and out’s of fight directing
• [23:13] Choreographing fights between, or involving, women, and different audience & actor responses to fights
• [30:42] Consent, power dynamics, and actor vs character abilities
• [34:22] Being faced with misogyny, childish behaviour and difficulties as a woman in the workplace
• [41:27] Intimacy in fights, using unsexualised language, and the effect on the aggressor of a fight scene
• [45:21] Societal pressures and expectations on men to behave in certain ways, the cultural change that needs to happen, and how to deal with experiences with aggression on the job
• [52:38] Habits, warm ups and being wholeheartedly in love with performing
• [55:43] GET ON IT: Sex Power Money by Sara Pascoe (podcast & book)

RESOURCES 

• Arts Ed
  https://artsed.co.uk
• British Academy of Dramatic Combat
  https://www.badc.org.uk
• Society of Australian Fight Directors
  https://safdi.org.au/
• Felicity Steel
  https://felicitysteel.com/FIGHT-CHOREOGRAPHER
• Captivate Action
  http://www.captivate-action.com
• Paddy Crean
  https://www.paddycrean.com
• Michelle Ladd Williams stunt co-ordinating
  http://re-actionstunts.com/
• Carrie Thiel motion capture
  http://www.carriethiel.com/
• Faisal Mian at Wu Style Taiji Quan & Qi Gong Association
  http://www.wutaijiandqigong.co.uk/
• Sex Power Money by Sara Pascoe
  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/sex-power-money-with-sara-pascoe/id1472725741

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!

Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

Follow this week's guest Lyndall Grant on instagram @lyndallthegrant

Produced by Anahata Collective

Music by Rick Scully

Tamilla Maslen and Bronte Charlotte chat about how crippling anxiety and stage fright can be for performers. They delve into their own experiences with stage fright and the physical and mental blocks that anxiety forms, and how it impacts creativity, joy and expression as creative humans.

During this episode we discuss

• [03:35] Tamilla’s history of stage fright and the vulnerability that comes with it
• [06:07] Bronte’s history of stage fright and the performance that started it all
• [09:31] Nervous energy, the loss of control, and how nerves physically affect our bodies
• [13:37] Rituals, joy, and the importance of practice
• [15:41] Inspiration from live performances and categorizing art
• [19:03] Art and creation coming from yourself, for yourself
• [22:56] ‘Disentangle’
• [24:58] GET ON IT: Jenny Slate’s Comedy Special on Netflix, Stage Fright

RESOURCES

• VCA short courses
  https://finearts-music.unimelb.edu.au/study-with-us/short-courses
• SZA
  @sza
• Guilty Feminist
  https://guiltyfeminist.com
  @theguiltyfeminist
• Amrit Kaur
  https://amrit-kaur.com
  @ms.amritkaur
• Stage Fright, Jenny Slate’s Comedy Special
  Netflix

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!

Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

Follow this week's guest Tamilla Maslen on instagram @tamillamaslen

Produced by Anahata Collective

Music by Rick Scully

Sarah Fitzgerald and Bronte Charlotte chat about their experiences with activism, particularly in light of the Black Lives Matter movement. They discuss the state of diversity in the Melbourne theatre scene, and the lack of relevant content being taught at drama schools, presented on main stages, and promoted within our highly heteronormative, white society.

During this episode we discuss:

• [02:43] Commercial casting, and the body politics & racial politics that comes with it
• [09:00] Adopting cats and kittens, the mental health benefits of having pets, and the consistency and love that comes with it
• [14:55] Activism, protesting, and combining your activism with your artistic practice
• [18:26] Shakespeare and the dwindling relevance of the ‘classics’
• [22:02] VCA, Henry V and gender binaries in casting
• [25:52] Just Not That Many Campaign 
• [26:30] Kim Ho, The Great Australian Play and other Asian Australian creatives
• [28:22] Sandra Oh, Killing Eve and powerful femmes in film
• [32:21] Taking up space, when to be putting on shows, and how we can create space for Black and Indigenous People of Colour to be at the forefront
• [39:37] Whitewashing education and training in Drama Schools
• [43:31] The power of play in a rehearsal room, and how sometimes performance can imitate life as you live it
• [49:36] Activism from home during a Global Pandemic, police brutality and their toxic behaviour across the globe
• [55:11] GET ON IT: The Australian Dream, a documentary about Adam Goodes experience with racism in AFL 

RESOURCES 

• Forever Friends Animal Rescue
  https://www.foreverfriends.org.au 
• Just Not That Many Campaign 
  @justnotthatmany #justnotthatmany
• The Great Australian Play
  Written by by Kim Ho
  T: @kimho_au
  I: @maybekimho
  Directed by Saro Lusty-Cavallari
  @montaguebasement
  https://www.montaguebasement.com 
• The Australian Dream 
  Netflix

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!

Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

Follow this week's guest Sarah Fitzgerald on instagram @saf_fitz

Pay The Rent. Saying Sorry Isn’t Enough.
We live, work and play on land that was forcibly taken from Aboriginal people. There has been no Treaty with the First Nations of this place and the effects of colonisation continue to this day. Act now in solidarity with Aboriginal people.
Pay The Rent: https://paytherent.net.au/


Produced by Anahata Collective

Music by Rick Scully