
063: June Industry News Round-Up: YouTube Features, Crew Pay, Record Box Office & More...
We Interrupt This BroadcastShow Notes
Have thoughts to share about this episode, Screen Forever, or anything else happening in the industry? Join Loani, Aven, Robbie and Kirsty this Thursday 2nd June at 8:30pm for our monthly Instagram Live: https://www.instagram.com/weinterruptpodcast --- Robbie and Kirsty catch up to discuss everything that happened in the industry in June, from the release of “YouTube feature films” Backrooms, Obsession and our very own Australian contribution The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act. They also explore the question of fair pay for crew on independent feature films, and break down May’s record Australian box office takings. Plus, a Sydney Film Festival wrap-up, what we’ve both been watching in cinemas, productions currently shooting around Australia, and more! --- Links to topics mentioned in this episode: The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act - Australian YouTube phenomenon just beat Star Wars at the box office: https://thenightly.com.au/culture/film/the-amazing-digital-circus-the-last-act-australian-youtube-phenomenon-just-beat-star-wars-at-the-box-office-c-22403900 ‘Obsession’ Art Director Calls for Industry Reform After Getting Paid Less Than $7,000 as Film Nears $175 Million: https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/obsession-art-director-salary-complaint-sally-choi Australian Box Office Posts Biggest May Results of All Time: https://au.variety.com/2026/film/news/australian-box-office-posts-biggest-may-results-of-all-time-37185/ Netflix Originals and Cultural Memory: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cinema-netflix-streamingwars-share-7466148857072992256-MPHC/ Kate Separovich’s fabulous Australia in Cinemas blog: https://australiaincinemas.substack.com/
Past episodes of We Interrupt This Broadcast we mentioned: Jasmine Yang (The Amazing Digital Circus): https://www.weinterruptthisbroadcast.com.au/episodes?grid1-dialog=recVN5R4R020S0EKn David Hutchinson (Boy and Dragon): https://www.weinterruptthisbroadcast.com.au/episodes?grid1-dialog=recofZdKYcJcZV9aB Mike Schwarz (Beast): https://www.weinterruptthisbroadcast.com.au/episodes?grid1-dialog=recfh66GZCH5cBHit --- If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple or give us 5 stars on Spotify to help us spread the word. This episode of We Interrupt This Broadcast was hosted and edited by Robbie Miles and Kirsty Stark. Follow us on: Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn
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Kirsty Stark sits down with the team behind Leviticus: Writer/Director Adrian Chiarella, Producer Sam Jennings (Causeway Films), and Distributor Marc Wooldridge (Maslow Entertainment) for Part 2 of a two-part conversation about what it takes to make a million dollars at the Australian box office. If you missed Part 1, head back to last week's episode, #77. The queer horror feature reached almost 1.5 million dollars domestically, and in this conversation the three share what happens on the ground when you make a sale at Sundance, the strategy behind opening weekend, and how to turn audience members into fans. --- Listen to hear Adrian, Marc and Sam discuss: What actually happens in the 48 hours after a Sundance screening How to choose the right partner when you have multiple offers on the table Why going day and date with the US gave Leviticus the advantages of a global release The accidental in-season Q&A strategy that gave the film's theatrical run a boost What number you need to hit on opening weekend to reach a million dollars How involving and empowering their audience helped turn viewers into passionate advocates
Kirsty Stark sits down with the team behind Leviticus: Writer/Director Adrian Chiarella, Producer Sam Jennings (Causeway Films), and Distributor Marc Wooldridge (Maslow Entertainment) for Part 1 of a two-part conversation about what it takes to make a million dollars at the Australian box office. The queer horror feature reached almost 1.5 million dollars domestically, and in this conversation the three share how they got there, from an idea developed through VicScreen’s Originate program to their breakout Sundance premiere. Come back next week for Part 2, where they’ll discuss what happens on the ground when you make a sale at Sundance, the strategy behind opening weekend, and how to turn audience members into fans. --- Listen to hear Adrian, Sam and Marc discuss: Why horror is intrinsically theatrical and how they positioned Leviticus for both queer and broad horror audiences. Causeway Films’ financing strategy for the film, which allowed them to build a theatrical model that wasn’t centred on international pre-sales. What Maslow looks for in a script, concept and pathway to market before saying yes to distribution. The casting and packaging process and what actually mattered when putting the project together. Why they kept news about the film quiet through production and launched it as a breakout festival film. How they planned their Sundance premiere, including pre-screenings, PR and festival strategy. --- If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe & leave a rating or review to help us reach more listeners for We Interrupt This Broadcast.
Loani and Robbie cover all of your screen industry news from September, digging into the Screen Queensland funding cuts, 46 production jobs going at the ABC, and what it means to lose an internal champion on a project. They discuss the reboot-heavy upfronts, the reversal on the ABC Indigenous department, and the new Shared Ground initiative. Plus the Emmys, the Tilly Norwood “interview”, the cancelled Clayton Jacobson ACS workshop, upcoming conference and festival appearances for the team, and what they’ve been watching.
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