Interviews

Interview: Parker Finn on executing the perfect jump scare in Smile 2; “I’m always trying to subvert and do things that will catch people off guard.”

Following the critical and commercial success of Smile in 2022, writer/director Parker Finn knew that if he was going to make a sequel, it had to be an “insane” idea. Centering on a global pop sensation, Skye Riley (played by Naomi Scott), who begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events ahead of a world tour,…

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Interview: Sam Corlett on playing an addict in He Ain’t Heavy; “I feel like characters tend to find me in a time of my life that I need to explore something deeply.”

He Ain’t Heavy follows 30-year-old Jade (Leila George) who has sacrificed the better part of her life to rescue her little brother Max (Sam Corlett) from drug addiction. In desperation, unbeknownst to their ever-forgiving mother Bev (Greta Scacchi) Jade locks Max inside their vacant rural home in an attempt to “get him clean’. But when Bev arrives, a…

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Interview: Adam Elliot on the slow, reflective process of making Memoir of a Snail; “Life can only be understood backwards.”

Grace Pudel is a lonely misfit with an affinity for collecting ornamental snails and an intense love for books. At a young age, when Grace is separated from her fire-breathing twin brother Gilbert, she falls into a spiral of anxiety and angst. Despite a continued series of hardships, inspiration and hope emerge when she strikes…

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Interview: Director Stefan Hunt and choreographer Vanessa Marian on their short film Yeah The Boys and exploring Aussie larrikinism and masculinity

Created by the Sydney’s husband-and-wife director-choreographer duo Stefan Hunt and Vanessa Marian, Yeah The Boys explores Aussie larrikinism and masculinity, while offering an insightful observation of Australian identity and the nation’s relationship with drinking culture, with a unique blend of choreography and screen storytelling, without a word being spoken for the whole film. Winner of Best Australia Short at Flickerfest, and nominated…

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Interview: Christopher Scott on choreographing Wicked for the big screen and honouring the stage show through the film

After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this holiday season. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu, Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Wicked Part Two is scheduled to arrive…

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Interview: Nathan Crowley on producing the design of Wicked; “You’re touching on something that everyone loves.”

After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this holiday season. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu, Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Wicked Part Two is scheduled to arrive…

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Interview: Wicked Hair and Make-up Designer Frances Hannon on finding her own vision within the land of Oz

After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this holiday season. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu, Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Wicked Part Two is scheduled to arrive…

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Interview: Damien Leone on pushing the boundaries in Terrifier 3, being cautious of “icon” status and paying homage to classic horror

The little horror movie series that could, Terrifier has taken both the terrifying Art the Clown and its creator, writer/director/special effects artist Damien Leone, to gory heights as each film pushes the boundaries on what it is to truly unnerve genre audiences. As Terrifier 3 massacres its way into Australian theatres this weekend (you can…

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Interview: Jack Kesy on inhabiting comic book royalty in Hellboy: The Crooked Man; “There’s always an element of wanting the validation of the people that really want to see it.”

Actor Jack Kesy is no stranger to dabbling in the realms of the action (The Killer), comic book (Deadpool 2) and horror genres (TV’s The Strain) across his career thus far.  But what about an amalgamation of all three? Following in the footsteps of Ron Perlman and David Harbour before him, Kesy is stepping into…

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Interview: Focus on Ability Short Film Festival ambassador Paula Duncan on the importance of inclusivity

For the 16th consecutive year, NOVA Employment proudly presents the Focus on Ability Short Film Festival, a vibrant festival which invites filmmakers to celebrate the abilities of people with disabilities, sharing powerful stories that can captivate audiences around the globe. This year has been nothing short of spectacular, with generous sponsors contributing over $100,000 in…

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Interview: Megan Park and Maisy Stella on the cathartic experience of making My Old Ass and working with “good human” Margot Robbie

Following its winning over audiences at both this year’s Sundance and Sydney Film Festivals, My Old Ass is arriving in Australian theatres this week for all to witness Megan Park‘s “deliriously sweet, always charming, oft-hilarious venture.” (You can read the rest of our review here). Featuring a stand-out performance from Maisy Stella, My Old Ass…

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Interview: Director Peter Hastings on the unique animated style of Dog Man; “It’s all driven by the feeling we wanted.”

Part dog, part man, all hero. From DreamWorks Animation, creators of the beloved blockbuster franchises Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon and The Boss Baby, comes the canine-crime-fighting film adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s New York Times bestselling literary phenomenon: Dog Man. When a faithful police dog and his human police officer owner are…

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Interview: Kate Hudson, Kaia Gerber and director Max Minghella on their campy black comedy Shell

If you could restore youthful beauty and guarantee longevity by committing to a few days of mysterious treatments, would you? Would you trust your life and health to science and technology that might be more hype than healthy?  Enter Shell. Samantha (Elisabeth Moss) is thinking it over. She’s a slightly unkempt, earnest, talented actress who…

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Interview: Dacre Montgomery, Vicky Krieps and the creatives behind Went Up The Hill on the TIFF Red Carpet

Jack (Dacre Montgomery) travels to a remote region of New Zealand to attend the wake of his estranged mother Elizabeth, a troubled architect who abandoned him as a child. Jack claims he was invited to the funeral by his mother’s widow, Jill (Vicky Krieps), who has no recollection of contacting him. Out of a sense…

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Interview: Runt star Matt Day on his villainous role in the new Australian comedy; “Sometimes I made Baz Luhrmann look understated.”

Runt, based on Craig Silvey’s best-selling novel, is a delightful Australian family film that blends heartfelt moments with humour. The story revolves around eleven-year-old Annie Shearer and her best friend, Runt, an adopted stray dog. The novel was released in 2022 and has achieved significant acclaim, winning several major Australian literary awards. These accolades include…

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Interview: Josh Margolin on honouring his grandmother in action love letter Thelma and the stunt work of June Squibb

Thelma Post is a 93-year-old grandmother who loses $10,000 to a con artist on the phone. With help from a friend and his motorized scooter, she soon embarks on a treacherous journey across Los Angeles to reclaim what was taken from her. Not the most likely action narrative, but it’s the perfect genre entry for…

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Interview: Kneecap director Rich Peppiatt on collaborating with the Irish band to tell their story and the importance of preserving indigenous languages

There are 80,000 native Irish speakers in Ireland. 6,000 live in Northern Ireland. Three of them became a rap group called Kneecap. From up-and-coming British director Rich Peppiatt, Kneecap is the real-life story of how this anarchic Belfast trio became the unlikely figureheads of a civil rights movement to save their mother tongue. The film won the Audience…

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Interview: Neil McGregor on uncovering history for his provocative documentary John Hinckley: I Shot the President

In March 1981, John Hinckley shot U.S. President Ronald Reagan in a failed assassination attempt driven by a dangerous obsession with the Martin Scorsese film Taxi Driver and actress Jodie Foster.  The attack shocked the world and forever changed American history.  Found not guilty by reason of insanity, John spent thirty-five years in a psychiatric…

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Interview: Director Karl R. Hearne and star Dale Dickey on revenge drama The G; “We did something that’s original and different.”

Written and directed by Karl R. Hearne, The G, which focuses on a mysterious older woman seeking revenge on the corrupt legal guardian who destroyed her life, is a unique take on the classic revenge thriller. Inspired by this real-life grandmother and lead by renowned character actress Dale Dickey (Winter’s Bone, Iron Man 3, Leave…

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Interview: Baltasar Kormákur on directing the time-spanning romance of Touch; “It’s never too late to fix a relationship.”

The last time our Peter Gray spoke with director Baltasar Kormákur it was when he was placing Idris Elba in the biting line of a ferocious lion in 2022’s underrated survivalist actioner Beast. For his latest turn behind the camera, the Icelandic filmmaker couldn’t be further from the dangerous throws of South Africa with his tender…

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Interview: Ashley Zukerman on the challenging themes of his new film In Vitro and how his career has altered after Succession

Like many farmers tending to land and livestock around the country, Layla and Jack live an isolated existence. While their son is away at boarding school, Jack experiments with biotechnology to breed cattle, and Layla quietly laments her child’s absence and her strained relationship with her husband. When Jack is injured during a storm-induced blackout…

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Interview: Director Paul Feig and the cast of Jackpot!, John Cena, Awkwafina and Simu Liu, on their wild new comedy

In the near future, a ‘Grand Lottery’ has been newly established in California – the catch: kill the winner before sundown to legally claim their multi-billion dollar jackpot. When Katie Kim (Awkwafina) moves to Los Angeles, she mistakenly finds herself with the winning ticket. Desperate to survive the hordes of jackpot hunters, she reluctantly joins forces with amateur…

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Interview: Jocelyn Moorhouse on directing The Fabulous Four; “It was beautiful and exciting, and a little scary to meet my heroes.”

Australian director Jocelyn Moorhouse is no stranger to working with some of the industry’s finest actresses.  But what about the most fabulous? Starring Susan Sarandon, Bette Midler, Megan Mullally and Sheryl Lee Ralph, The Fabulous Four is an uproarious comedy about a group of life-long friends (Sarandon, Mullally, and Ralph) who travel to Key West,…

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Interview: In A Violent Nature director Chris Nash on taking genre risks and finding inspiration through the works of Gus Van Sant

In A Violent Nature is being praised as a one-of-a-kind horror experience that must be enjoyed on the big screen. Following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January as part of the festivals celebrated ‘Midnight’ program, this unique horror film released theatrically in the US on 1,426 screens and grossed US$3 million in…

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Interview: Henry Cavill and the cast of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare on being reinvigorated by Guy Ritchie

Arriving on Prime Video in Australia on July 25th, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is an action comedy that tells of the story of the first-ever special forces organisation formed during WWII by UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill and a small group of military officials, including author Ian Fleming. Directed by Guy Ritchie and featuring…

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Interview: Director Ian Ebright, Patrick Fabian, Diana Coconubo and Kailey Rhodes on The Way We Speak

A moving debut feature film from Seattle filmmaker Ian Ebright, The Way We Speak is a modern day cautionary tale. Headlined by 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards nominee Patrick Fabian (Better Call Saul), the compelling drama (you can read our full review here) centres on an up-and-coming writer who refuses to leave the spotlight when…

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Interview: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman and director Shawn Levy on delivering “unbridled joy and audacity” to audiences with Deadpool & Wolverine

The Merc with a Mouth is back! Marvel Studios presents their most significant mistake to date – Deadpool & Wolverine. A listless Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) toils away in civilian life. His days as the morally flexible mercenary, Deadpool, behind him. When his homeworld faces an existential threat, Wade must reluctantly suit-up again with an…

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Interview: Director Osgood Perkins and Maika Monroe on crafting Longlegs and working with Nicolas Cage

Recently crowned the #1 movie in America* (*behind Despicable Me 4), Longlegs broke barriers as indie distributor Neon’s biggest debut ever with over $20 million in ticket sales. A winner with both audiences and critics, the terrifying thriller – that’s been hailed as the “Best serial killer horror film since The Silence of the Lambs”…

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Interview: Jack Clark and Jim Weir on deconstructing Australian men with their horror film Birdeater

Described in our review as “visceral and feral” (you can read the full review here), Birdeater is a film that embraces what it is to be truly horrific, leaning into the brutality of psychological and emotional abuse. Following acclaimed runs at such festivals as last year’s Sydney Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival and the…

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Interview: Patrick Warburton on the projects he’s most proud of, his love of The Dish and surviving Disney Jail

You know his face, and you REALLY know his voice! From spinach puffs to spoons to Quahog hijinks, we all know and love Patrick Warburton! Amongst dozens and dozens of other roles, he’s starred in shows, films and games including The Emperor’s New Groove, The Tick, Family Guy, Seinfeld, Kim Possible, Get Smart, Men in…

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