Acmi Podcasts

Prison Songs is an award-winning documentary musical made by WA filmmakers Kelrick Martin and Harry Bardwell, working in association with Indigenous singer/songwriter Shellie Morris and acclaimed British documentary maker, and pioneer of the documentary musical form, Brian Hill. It is a real musical set in a very real situation, and like any musical it uses the expressive qualities of music, songs and dance to communicate intimacy and conviction, giving it an emotional resonance unfamiliar to conventional documentary forms. In this session, Prison Songs forms the basis of a case study in documentary musicals, acting as a launching point to illuminate elements like structure, casting, musical composition and intended impact. Speakers: Kelrick Martin (Director), Harry Bardwell (Producer) and Shellie Morris and Casey Bennetto (Composers) Host: Leanne Pooley

In 2015, a number of very high profile blockbuster documentaries or docbusters showed cinema managers and audiences that it is possible to lure patrons to the cinema in large numbers to experience non-fiction feature length films. The rise and rise of cinema on demand as a way to de-risk the decision to screen documentaries in the cinema has also meant that many more films have a shot at drawing audiences (in large numbers) to the cinema. This session looks at the financial model of cinema on demand and what it takes, in general, to mount a successful theatrical release using crowd-sourced audiences and discuss in particular what it took to make two films – Graceful Girls and Black Hole –two of 2015’s docbusters. Speakers: David Doepel (Managing Director Leap Frog Films and TUGG Australia & NZ), Olivia Peniston-Bird (Producer, Writer and Director of Graceful Girls) and Joao Dujon Pereira (Producer, Writer and Director of Black Hole) Host: Roy Ackerman (Pulse Films UK)

Screenrights is the not for profit collecting society for the Australian and New Zealand screen industry. It collects licence fees related to the use of broadcast programs and distributes the money to rights-holders. Screenrights licensees include Government, Educational institutions and Pay TV operators. 2015 marked an eventful year for Screenrights. In addition to relaunching its Disbursement Service, Screenrights negotiated licences with Australian schools and universities, and advocated for a simplification of the Copyright Act. In this session, Screenrights representatives update AIDC attendees on progress across these fronts and answer questions about their work in the year ahead Speakers: Simon Lake (CEO, Screenrights), Emma Madison (Head of Member Relations, Screenrights) and Veronica Fury (Producer, WildBear Entertainment) Host: Ruari Elkington

In this session, a panel of experts illuminate the opportunities, success factors and deal terms existing in the booming VOD sector that is disrupting the programming plans of established channels. Key topics addressed include defining SVOD, TVOD and AVOD; identifying what Netflix, Amazon and platforms like CuriosityStream pay for programs; considering the differences in deals; exploring how they commission originals; and also how producers can sell to them. Speakers: Rebecca Heap (Head of Strategy and Digital, iView), Roger Jackson (Producer and Co-founder, Kinonation), Sharon Ramsay-Luck (Head of Sales & amp; Business Development, ABC Commercial) Host: Peter Hamilton (DocumentaryTelevision.com)

With tough local TV market conditions and the influence of globalisation on the film and television industry, 'patchwork' financing has become a way for producers to secure financing by cobbling together multiple markets and platforms. But in order to successfully finance and secure multiple deals, it is important to understand these international marketplaces and manage the expectations of multiple deals.  This session explores the issues around managing stakeholder expectations and the pressure of keeping everyone happy; issues around delivering one offs vs multiple versions; and issues around different languages, tones and styles as well as cultural and historic differences. Speakers: Ewan Angus (BBC Scotland), Seniha Tunaboylu (Modern Times Group) and Julia Redwood (Prospero Productions) Host: Veronica Fury (WildBear Entertainment)

It’s not often that a documentary makes headlines, but that’s what happened during The Jinx’s six-week run on HBO in 2015. It was one of the most fascinating and celebrated documentary series of recent times – the now-famous finale reported on the front page of the New York Times and its revelations prompting a new murder trial for its subject, Robert Durst. Two of the series’ filmmakers – Marc Smerling and Zac Stuart-Pontier – discuss the long and complicated production of the series and the ethics of investigation in a revealing discussion with The Saturday Paper’s Martin McKenzie-Murray. The session examines questions of access – and considers whether Australia’s legal jurisdictions would ever permit a project of similar scope. Marc and Zac also provide a sneak preview of their latest project, a true crime podcast about the American mob. Speakers: Marc Smerling and Zac Stuart-Pontier Host: Martin McKenzie-Murray

Opportunities for commissioning, financing and distributing short form docs are increasing every day. Short form is arguably better suited to the dynamic shifts and new opportunities occurring in global media than long form. They are less complicated to finance and produce, and more agile and quick to reach target audiences. Alongside the shrinking demand for long-form and the log-jam at the door of broadcasters, comes a boom in online platforms and a growing appetite for short form. Whether it’s arts and culture, powerful human-interest stories or urgent global issues, audience demand for short docs is growing. In this session, leading players in the burgeoning short docs space explore what these changes mean for the future of documentary, and also provide insight into what they’re looking for and what their platforms offer. Speakers: Lindsay Crouse (New York Times Op-Docs Coordinating Producer), Katy Roberts (VICE Media), Jennifer Byrne (Head of Video at Dazed Media, UK) and Charlie Phillips (Guardian

Filmmakers Marc Smerling and Zac Stuart-Pontier of The Jinx reveal how the tools of narrative filmmaking – in particular, ‘detective stories’ – can serve the documentarian, and share the cinema and television that has most informed their approach to documentary storytelling. By taking us inside scenes from their landmark HBO docuseries, Smerling and Stuart- Pontier dissect the techniques and challenges of unravelling a mystery with suspense, character and complexity, and also unpack the ethics of applying the conventions of fiction to documentary. It provides a unique insight into the relationship between storytelling and truth, and the philosophies and techniques that go into building narratives around real people and real events. Speakers: Marc Smerling and Zac Stuart-Pontier Host: Sari Braithwaite

Traditionalists may be outraged, but it is possible to create quality, popular factual content that is later formatted and sold to broadcasters around the world. These ‘Format’ concepts keep on giving for their creators and make it easier for broadcasters to commit their dollars to ambitious factual projects with less risk. The three speakers in this session know all about this ‘F’ word. They’ve created, sold and adapted formats and, between them, have been responsible for content in dozens of countries around the world. Speakers: Julie Christie (Director, Julie Christie Inc. Ltd.), Magnus Temple (Co-Founder and Chief Executive, The Garden) and Lyndal Marks (Executive Producer, Factual, Network Seven). Host: Denise Eriksen (Executive Producer, Eriksen Media)

Magnus Temple is one of the UK’s most successful and most respected television executives. His company The Garden is a prolific supplier of acclaimed long form documentary series, including 24 Hours in A&E and 24 Hours in Police Custody, and with Nick Curwin he pioneered the fixed-rig genre with The Family and One Born Every Minute. In this comprehensive Masterclass, Temple explores the conceptual philosophy behind The Garden’s success by deconstructing series like 24 Hours in A&E and illuminating the methods used to create long-running formats that keep people coming back. He also reveals how his team pulled off the feat of organising 100 crews across Britain on a single day for Keeping Britain Alive: One Day in the NHS - a format sold to the ABC and now screening as Keeping Australia Alive. Speaker: Magnus Temple Host: Mandy Chang

Grieving following the death of his young son, Parker reluctantly returns to work as a private investigator, observing a woman from an abandoned apartment. Unsure of whether he’s losing his mind, Parker soon witnesses bizarre happenings, unaware that the derelict building that he surveys her from has birthed a dark presence that slowly threatens to consume him. This is a recording of the Q&A with director Joseph Sims-Dennett that followed the screening of the film at ACMI

An increased demand for ‘super-premium’ documentary content is examined in The Rise of the Superdoc, as one of the world’s top factual producers, John Smithson (Touching the Void, 127 hours, Sherpa), discusses his extensive career in storytelling with producer Phil Craig. Exploring mega-budget commissions, international co-productions and the content demands of broadcasters, subscriber channels and new VOD players, Smithson provides an expert insight into how producers can make the best of ‘the age of the superdoc’. Speaker: John Smithson Host: Phil Craig

In this revealing panel discussion, the filmmakers behind acclaimed feature documentary Sherpa explore the process of creating a film in the aftermath of unexpected disaster. Director, writer and co-producer Jennifer Peedom (Miracle on Everest, Solo), editor Christian Gazal (Happy Feet, The Little Death) and producers Bridget Ikin (An Angel at My Table, Look Both Ways) and John Smithson (Touching the Void, 127 Hours) give their account of how an avalanche that killed 16 sherpas on Everest gave rise to a story different to what they originally planned to tell. Analysing the challenges they faced in capturing it, the panel uncover the creative, physical and emotional effort that goes into making a successful theatrical documentary. Speakers: Jennifer Peedom, Bridget Ikin, Christian Gazal and John Smithson

Vision. Strategy. Distribution. Evaluation – the four key steps to building the perfect campaign. Yet, no matter how closely you follow the rules, sometimes the marrying of art and activism just doesn't seem to want to follow suit. This session gives filmmakers, producers and industry professionals a sneak peek into all the messiness that comes with the job. With a focus on these different stages, experienced panellists provide insight into Australian and international impact campaign design – sharing knowledge and ideas designed to help filmmakers maximise their impact potential. Speakers: Alex Kelly (Impact and Distribution Producer, Echotango), Anna Kaplan (Impact Producer, That Sugar Film) and Mitzi Goldman (CEO, Documentary Australia Foundation) Host: Alice Burgin (Campaign Director, The Bully Project)

Campaign tactics like private influencer screenings for business leaders, lobbying of government officials, and donation or petition drives have become all the rage – in part because the results of these efforts are easy to measure. The rise of big data has made the demand for impact metrics all but impossible to avoid for filmmakers seeking funding. But does any of this actually constitute positive social change? Is it possible that these strategies mirror deregulation and privatisation, concentrating more economic, political and social power into the hands of fewer people? In this session, Borderline Media’s Jennifer MacArthur explores pre-existing, alternative and difficult to measure methods of change, and how they might inform a bigger picture idea of ‘impact’. Speaker: Jennifer MacArthur (Borderline Media, US)

Virtual Reality: Documentary Outside the Frame Virtual Reality has quickly become the most-talked about technology in the media industry. From the BBC to Hollywood, media-makers around the globe are experimenting with VR as an entirely new way to tell stories. But what are the opportunities for non-fiction storytellers in a medium that puts the audience at the centre of the action? This session brings together Australian and international pioneers in documentary Virtual Reality storytelling to share their experiences and reflect on the opportunities that arise when working in this medium, and the new thinking that the format demands of documentary makers. Speakers: Julie Young, Astrid Scott, (Senior Producer/Experience Strategist, ABC) and Katy Morrison (Producer, VRTOV). Host: Jess Linington (Researcher/Producer, i-Docs / VRTOV

Dubbed "The Indie Queen" by TIME magazine, Parker Posey has forged a formidable presence in the world of independent cinema, earning her crown playing an impressive range of quirky characters on the big screen. Along with her star turns in classics such as Dazed and Confused, Party Girl, and The House of Yes, Posey has formed an equally as interesting television resume, popping up on the box with fierce regularity throughout her 25 year career. Complementing In Praise of Parker Posey, this session of Talking TV took an inquisitive look at the small screen outings of this truly unique cinematic royal. After her first professional acting gig on the soap opera As the World Turns, Posey has made some memorable appearances on the small screen throughout her career. From her cult-favourite recurring role in the Tales of the City mini-series to guest voicing on The Simpsons and Futurama, and more recently playing recurring guest characters on seasons of Louie and The Good Wife. Join our panel of guests includin

Relive The Stardom and Celebrity of David Bowie, a two-day multi-discipline symposium we hosted that saw artists, academics and cultural commentators reflect upon the influence of and on David Bowie in rock, pop, film, art, fashion and performance.

Relive The Stardom and Celebrity of David Bowie, a two-day multi-discipline symposium we hosted that saw artists, academics and cultural commentators reflect upon the influence of and on David Bowie in rock, pop, film, art, fashion and performance.

Relive The Stardom and Celebrity of David Bowie, a two-day multi-discipline symposium we hosted that saw artists, academics and cultural commentators reflect upon the influence of and on David Bowie in rock, pop, film, art, fashion and performance.