Gender and the Screen

In this episode we talk to Australian cinematographer Katie Milwright. Katie has worked on projects such as TV series’ Tidelands and Please Like Me, films including Looking For Grace and Celeste, and also has an extensive advertising resume, filming commercials for the likes of Myer, Nestle and Smiths Chips, to name a few.

If that’s not enough, Katie is also the tenth Australian female cinematographer to be accredited by the ACS working across film, television, art and documentary, and has won nine ACS awards for her work.

We talk to her about being the only camera assistant on set, the conflict between starting a family and forging your career, and why gender equality and diversity is essential in the screen industry.

Hosted by Nick Angus and April Austen. Music by Jason Markoutsas.

In this episode we talk to Lisa French, Dean of Media and Communication at RMIT University and member of Screen Australia’s Gender Matters Taskforce. Lisa has made a career out of researching women’s representation in film and TV and is the only academic on the taskforce.

We talk to her about her latest research into the Gender Matters initiative: How successful has it been? What issues is it addressing? And what else needs to be done?

Hosted by April Austen and Nick Angus. Music by Jason Markoutsas.

In this episode we talk to director, screenwriter and actress, Elise McCredie. From Ride Like a Girl to Stateless, Elise’s work in the industry has been both influential and outstanding.

As well as winning two Australian Writer’s Guild Awards, Elise has worked on the AACTA-winning mini-series Sunshine as well as the Emmy-winning ABC series Nowhere Boys. Her first feature film, Strange Fits of Passion, was selected to be showcased at the Cannes Film Festival, and has additionally been nominated for numerous awards.

We discuss her early experiences as both a director and actress in the industry, as well as how some of her most recent projects have had a strong emphasis on gender equality behind the camera.

Hosted by April Austen and Nick Angus. Music by Jason Markoutsas.

In this episode we talk to author and screenwriter Christian White. As well as writing the internationally acclaimed novels, The Nowhere Child and The Wife and the Widow, Christian has also gone on to write for screen productions.

This includes this year’s Australian horror film Relic, which was nominated for Best Feature Film at the 2019 Australian Writers’ Guild Awards.

We talk to Christian about how working with women behind the camera has influenced his writing for the screen, as well as the attitudes from other men in the industry towards this issue.

Hosted by Nick Angus and April Austen. Music by Jason Markoutsas.

In this episode we talk to highly acclaimed producer and Chair of Screen Australia’s Gender Matters task force, Joanna Werner.

Joanna was the Executive Producer, Producer and Co-Creator of the internationally acclaimed teen series Dance Academy. Her outstanding work as a producer has led her to win AACTA and Logie awards as well as receive three Emmy nominations. On top of this, she is also the director of Werner FIlm Productions and a Board member of Screen Australia.

With Joanna, we discuss the aims and objectives of the Gender Matters initiative, its place in the industry’s history as well as what is hoped for the second version.

Hosted by April Austen and Nick Angus. Music by Jason Markoutsas.

In this episode we talk to Sue Maslin. Sue was the producer of one of Australia’s most successful films, The Dressmaker, and has worked on countless other award-winning productions. In 2019, Sue was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia for her service to the Australian film industry.

Sue is one of Australia’s most highly acclaimed creatives, and is deeply involved in the industry’s efforts to achieve greater gender equality as a Patron of the organisation Women In Film and Television, and the current President of the Natalie Miller Fellowship.

We talk to her about her work equipping women for leadership roles with the Natalie Miller Fellowship, the societal impact of The Dressmaker, and why she thinks gender diversity is so important in the industry.

Hosted by Nick Angus and April Austen. Music by Jason Markoutsas.