AUKUS is often presented through the language of jobs, investment, skills and opportunity.

But what happens when the conversation moves from Canberra to Western Australia — to Henderson, HMAS Stirling and the communities living just minutes away?

In this POLI RANT, a West Australian parent challenges politicians over the bigger question:

Are we preparing for war?

And then comes another question — what happens when defence and submarine careers are promoted to young people in our schools?

“What happened to becoming a renewable energy superpower?”

This is a conversation about AUKUS, defence, jobs, young people, education and the direction Australia is taking.

🎬 POLI RANTSPolitics, power, art, activism and current affairs — from an artist’s perspective.

Watch. Listen. Question. Decide for yourself.

PoliRants - AUKUS - AUKUSPushBack - WesternAustralia - Perth HMASStirling - AustralianPolitics - Defence - Submarines

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In the final instalment of our POLI RANTS series, Anthony Scaramucci and Rory Stewart get into allegations of political influence, Russia, Putin, F-47 and the question of what happens when the full story finally comes out.

Scaramucci argues that the current political moment has been shaped by years of decisions, alliances and influences — while Stewart pushes back, questions, and keeps the conversation moving.

And then there is the book plug…

📖 All the Wrong Moves by Anthony Scaramucci.

Is there more going on than meets the eye?

Or, as Scaramucci puts it:

“When the windows open and you hear clippity-clop, it is a horse. It’s not a zebra.”

👀 Watch. Listen. Question.

🎬 POLI RANTSPolitics, power, art, activism and current affairs — from an artist’s perspective.

#PoliRants #TheyGotHim #AnthonyScaramucci #RoryStewart #TheRestIsPolitics #USPolitics #PoliticalCommentary #PoliticalSatire #Russia #Putin #CurrentAffairs

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In this episode of StudioZer0 Beyond Survival, Geraldine and Kelli sit down with filmmaker and producer Rod Manikin at the end of the Savage Island shoot.

Rod talks about bringing his sixth feature film to life in Western Australia, working with directors James and Chris Broadhurst, the incredible crew, the actors, the locations, the challenges and the sheer determination it took to shoot a complex action feature in just 12 filming days.

From Greenhead and the WA coastline to building an entire village in the bush, this is a behind-the-scenes conversation about what independent filmmaking actually looks like when the budget is tight, the weather turns, the fuel runs out and everyone has to pull together.

We also talk about Rod’s next film, Morditj, an Indigenous-inspired mystical story about a young woman finding her way back to herself, and the importance of telling Australian stories here in Australia.

Along the way we talk about Cleverman, Dreaming and spiritual journeys, Western Australian landscapes, community support, filmmaking, resilience, investors, creativity and why staying humble matters.

And, naturally, there is food, cake, a few laughs and the occasional bit of chaos.

This is Beyond Survival.

Art, spirit, culture, storytelling and the people who keep creating, even when the road gets complicated.

🎙️ Hosts: Geraldine Pillinger & Kelli Sharp🎧 Guest: Rod Manikin🐾 Superhost: Gizmo🎬 Producer: Stephanie Davis / SomeDay Pictures

🎥 ABOUT ROD MANIKIN

Rod Manikin is an independent filmmaker and producer working in Western Australia.

Savage Island is his sixth feature film, following years of creating independent productions through Rodman Pictures.

His films combine action, adventure, Indigenous stories, mystery and the landscapes of Western Australia.

🎨 CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro & Wrap-Up of the Shoot1:06 Welcome Back — Meet the Team1:27 Behind the Scenes Teasers & Film #62:18 Filming Locations in WA’s Mid West6:31 Red Tape vs Supportive Councils7:18 Production Timeline & 2027 Screening8:01 The Cleverman Connection & Yowie Lore12:56 Morditj: The Story15:09 Spiritual Journey & Indigenous Culture17:47 Showcasing WA & Savage Island Locations18:49 Building the Village & Props21:52 The 12-Day Shoot27:00 12-Day Shoot Challenges29:33 Community Support & Fuel Crisis34:33 Resilience & Production Quality38:12 Lurking Woods & Director Praise44:33 Finding Investors in Vegas48:45 Independent Filmmaking Philosophy53:44 Personal Resilience & Family57:50 Advice: Honesty, Hard Work & Humility64:10 Sign-Off

🍰 FROM THE BEYOND SURVIVAL TABLE

There is something about putting a few good things in the middle of a table and letting everyone help themselves.

🍅 Muhammara Dip🫓 Persian Flatbreads🧀 Vegan Parmesan Crackers🍰 Yoghurt Cake

🌱 SUPPORT STUDIOZER0 & BEYOND SURVIVAL

Enjoyed this episode?

☕ BUY US A COFFEE

You can support StudioZer0 & Beyond Survival and help us keep creating independent stories, films and conversations with artists.

https://buymeacoffee.com/studiozer0beyondsurvival

🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode of Beyond Survival.

Each episode is created for artists, thinkers and those who don’t feel at home in fast culture — where art is lived, not consumed.

🌐 STUDIOZER0 LINKS

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/StudioZer0ArtsIncYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@studiozeroart7590Threads: https://www.threads.com/@studiozer0.artSubstack: https://substack.com/@artsmartstudiozer0Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiozer0.artFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelli.sharp.studiozero.artTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@studiozer0.artsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelli-sharp-83ab54a

🌿 ABOUT BEYOND SURVIVAL

Beyond Survival is a StudioZer0 Arts production exploring art, spirit, culture and storytelling with artists, creatives, thinkers and people who don’t necessarily feel at home in fast culture.

Here, art is lived, not consumed.

Hosted by Geraldine Pillinger & Kelli SharpProducer: Stephanie Davis / SomeDay PicturesStudioZer0 Arts Inc. | NOT 4 PROFIT

🎬 StudioZer0 Arts🎙️ Beyond Survival🎨 Art • Spirit • Culture • Activism

#BeyondSurvival #StudioZer0 #RodManikin #SavageIsland #IndependentFilm #WesternAustralia #AustralianFilm #WAFilm #Filmmaking #RodmanPictures #Morditj #Cleverman #AustralianStories

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Anthony Scaramucci ends this extraordinary conversation with his bluntest claim yet:

“They got him.”

But really?

Scaramucci argues that Trump is following what he describes as a Putin checklist, that Russia has infiltrated American politics, and that something may be exerting a powerful influence over Trump.

He points listeners towards Craig Unger’s work and says the full story will eventually come out.

Then the conversation takes another turn.

Scaramucci looks back at Trump’s first presidency, the 2020 election, the four years out of office, and what he believes changed before Trump returned to power.

His argument is that the establishment Republicans who once acted as a restraint were replaced by what he calls “sycophants”, allowing Trump far greater freedom to act as he wishes.

And his warning is stark:

Unless Republicans check him, he believes things could get even worse after the midterms.

But there is an important qualifier.

These are Scaramucci’s claims and theories, not established facts. The allegations about Russian influence and what may have been “got” are contested, and there is no publicly established smoking gun proving the claims discussed.

So…

REALLY? THEY GOT HIM? HMMMM…

This is POLI RANTS, StudioZer0’s space for political observation, art, culture, activism and creative commentary on the forces shaping our world.

🎙️ Full episode: The Rest Is Politics: Leading, Anthony Scaramucci

#PoliRants #Politics #ArtAndActivism

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This may be the most disturbing conversation in the series so far.

Anthony Scaramucci begins by attacking Republican senators for effectively waiting Trump out.

But then the conversation turns to Russia.

What does Putin have on Trump?

Scaramucci suggests that Trump could be a Russian asset and that whatever may be influencing him could be something much more serious than the “pee tape” theory that has dominated so much of the discussion.

He says he doesn’t have the smoking gun.

So this is not presented as proven fact.

It is an allegation and a theory from someone who was once inside Trump’s political world.

And that is precisely why the conversation is worth examining.

What would be powerful enough to paralyse a President?

What happens when political institutions choose not to challenge presidential power?

And what happens when speculation, political reality and geopolitical consequences become increasingly difficult to separate?

This is POLI RANTS, StudioZer0’s space for political observation, art, culture, activism and creative commentary on the forces shaping our world.

🎥 Full episode of The Rest Is Politics: Leading:

#PoliRants #Politics #ArtAndActivism

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POLI RANTS SERIES — 4/6REMOVE THE WANNA-BE KINGWelcome to StudioZer0 • Beyond Survival 🫖✨Anthony Scaramucci argues that the Trump, Vance, Musk and MAGA movement is deliberately attacking the reputation of the UK and Europe because their strengths, including culture, freedom of the press and democratic values, are seen as a threat.But his biggest warning is about what happens next.With Trump approaching the second half of his presidency, Scaramucci argues that Congress may be the only force capable of slowing him down.He predicts that if Trump is not checked after the midterms, he could go “exponential”, while pursuing his own financial interests and continuing to weaken America’s alliances.And then comes his extraordinary theory about Putin, Ukraine, Canada, the UK and the deliberate weakening of America’s position in the world.So the question becomes:Will American political leaders finally say enough is enough?This is POLI RANTS, StudioZer0’s space for political observation, art, culture, activism and creative commentary on the forces shaping our world.🎥 Full episode of The Rest Is Politics: Leading:

Pull up a chair. 🫖💫#PoliRants #Politics #ArtAndActivism#art #culture #StudioZer0Arts #BeyondSurvival

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POLI RANTS SERIES — 3/6THE CULTURE WAR.Welcome to StudioZer0 • Beyond Survival 🫖✨Anthony Scaramucci argues that Donald Trump understands America’s culture war better than anyone in politics.Religion. Identity politics. “Woke” culture. Transgender athletes. AOC. The Democrats. And the extraordinary ability to turn cultural conflict into political power.He compares Trump to Napoleon on the battlefield: anticipating where the opposition is going before they get there.But there is another uncomfortable question underneath all of this.Why are so many people who dislike Trump still willing to vote for him?And what does the culture war tell us about the state of American politics?A provocative conversation from The Rest Is Politics: Leading, shared and commented on through the POLI RANTS lens.POLI RANTS is StudioZer0’s space for political observation, art, culture, activism and creative commentary on the world we’re living through.🎙️ Anthony Scaramucci — The Rest Is Politics: LeadingWatch the full episode:

Pull up a chair. 🫖💫#PoliRants #Politics #ArtAndActivism

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THE GRIFT.Welcome to StudioZer0 • Beyond Survival 🫖✨Anthony Scaramucci doesn’t pull any punches as he talks about Trump, the Epstein files, meme coins, insider trading, the Gulf states, gas prices and the politics of grievance.Then the conversation turns to the bigger question: why did so many Americans, including people outside the traditional Trump base, vote for him again?Scaramucci’s answer is blunt: sometimes elections are less about choosing a good option and more about choosing what people see as the lesser of two evils.And then there’s the culture war.A sharp, provocative conversation from The Rest Is Politics: Leading, viewed and shared here through the lens of POLI RANTS — political observation, art, culture and creative commentary.🎙️ Anthony Scaramucci — The Rest Is Politics: LeadingWatch the full episode:

Welcome to StudioZer0 • Beyond Survival 🫖✨#PoliRants #Politics #ArtAndActivism

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💙 MANILA — LIVE IN BARCELONA

The most beautiful version

There is something extraordinary about watching Ngulmiya, our Indigenous Australian musicians, travelling the world and meeting other musicians and cultures through music.

This is Manila — Live in Barcelona, featuring Pau Figueres, with music by Francis Diatschenko and Nayurryurr Nundhirribala.

Music becomes a meeting place here — Australia and Spain, Indigenous Australian culture and other musical traditions, artists sharing, listening and creating together.

The name Manila comes from Maynilà, the Tagalog name associated with “where indigo is found”. Nilà refers to indigo, the plant used to produce that deep blue dye.

And perhaps there is something fitting about that word travelling too — changing languages, crossing borders and gathering new meanings along the way.

🌏 Music travels. Culture travels. Stories travel.

🎶 Ngulmiya — Manila, Live in Barcelona

Keep exploring StudioZer0

🎥 ⁠StudioZer0 on YouTube🎧 ⁠Beyond Survival on Spotify✍️ ⁠Art Smart StudioZer0 on Substack

#Ngulmiya #IndigenousAustralianMusic #FirstNationsMusic #Manila

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WE’RE NEARLY THERE.

We are officially at the finish line.

This is the moment when the pace gets faster, the chaos gets bigger and everyone has to dig just a little deeper to get those final pieces across the line.

In this short behind-the-scenes moment, the Director rallies the team for one last push:

“Please stick with us. We’re nearly there.”

It’s funny, emotional, chaotic and completely real.

Because behind every finished film is a group of people who have given their time, energy, creativity and enormous amounts of themselves to make it happen.

So this one is for the crew.

Thank you. We love you.

Now listen to directions…

…and LET’S GO DO IT. 🎬❤️

STUDIOZER0 — ART • SPIRIT • CULTURE • ACTIVISM

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