The Curb

As I tell Gabrielle in the following interview, when a new Gabrielle Brady film emerges into the world, it is like the arrival of a gift, one that pulls us into a mindset of considering the lives of others, including those of the crabs of Christmas Island, or maybe the horses of the Gobi Desert. It's one that encourages us to see the world of truth differently. That notion of truth is something I've asked filmmakers a lot lately, and I'm conscious of its almost accusatory nature, as if documentary filmmaking must adhere to one True Reality. But it's impossible. The truth can never be captured on screen, and truth is in itself a falsity. After all, as soon as you put a camera on an event, or slice it with an editing suite, or apply a score to it, you are skewing reality away from the truth. Documentary storytelling is, by its own creation, not the truth. Yet, the emotions that we're left with and the memories that linger in our mind after the film has long played out, become a source of truth. Yet, as I slip into this spiral a little further, it's clear that co-authored filmmaking like that of Gabrielle Brady's exists to explore versions of the truth, to bring stories of subjects and collaborators to life, and to enrich our collective world.These notions are underpinned by Gabrielle's choice to study at the prestigious La Escuela Internacional de Cine in Cuba, a place which fosters the notion to 'defend the rights to ones own image' and to 'liberate the viewer's gaze'. These are ideas that I ask Gabrielle about in the following interview, which gives way to an open conversation about her creative process, and what it means to be able to work alongside people like Poh Lin, Davaa and Zaya, and Michael Latham, on her films.This interview was recorded ahead of Wolves' screenings at the Sydney Film Festival on 10 and 12 June. This is a film I urge audiences to see in a cinema, let it overwhelm your senses. Let it change you. If you're interested in reading about how the film changed me, then you can read my review here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As I tell Gabrielle in the following interview, when a new Gabrielle Brady film emerges into the world, it is like the arrival of a gift, one that pulls us into a mindset of considering the lives of others, including those of the crabs of Christmas Island, or maybe the horses of the Gobi Desert. It's one that encourages us to see the world of truth differently. That notion of truth is something I've asked filmmakers a lot lately, and I'm conscious of its almost accusatory nature, as if documentary filmmaking must adhere to one True Reality. But it's impossible. The truth can never be captured on screen, and truth is in itself a falsity. After all, as soon as you put a camera on an event, or slice it with an editing suite, or apply a score to it, you are skewing reality away from the truth. Documentary storytelling is, by its own creation, not the truth. Yet, the emotions that we're left with and the memories that linger in our mind after the film has long played out, become a source of truth. Yet, as I slip into this spiral a little further, it's clear that co-authored filmmaking like that of Gabrielle Brady's exists to explore versions of the truth, to bring stories of subjects and collaborators to life, and to enrich our collective world.These notions are underpinned by Gabrielle's choice to study at the prestigious La Escuela Internacional de Cine in Cuba, a place which fosters the notion to 'defend the rights to ones own image' and to 'liberate the viewer's gaze'. These are ideas that I ask Gabrielle about in the following interview, which gives way to an open conversation about her creative process, and what it means to be able to work alongside people like Poh Lin, Davaa and Zaya, and Michael Latham, on her films.This interview was recorded ahead of Wolves' screenings at the Sydney Film Festival on 10 and 12 June. This is a film I urge audiences to see in a cinema, let it overwhelm your senses. Let it change you. If you're interested in reading about how the film changed me, then you can read my review here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zoe Pepper mines the generational wealth divide for all its worth in the acidic WA-made comedy Birthright. Cory (a perfectly cast deadpan Travis Jeffery) and his very pregnant wife Jasmine (an equally deadpan and delightful Maria Angelico) are getting the shaft from their rental. Stuffed in more ways than one, they load up all they can into the boot of their car and trundle off to the sanctuary of mum and dad, Cory's baby-boomer parents, Richard and Lyn (pitch perfect casting of Michael Hurst and Linda Cropper).Cory's parents live in a swanky abode in a leafy green suburb somewhere in Perth. Their house has more rooms than they need, with costly, barely used furniture swaddled in sheets and blankets to protect them from dust. Their home feels, well, a little soulless, like the misused result of decades of wealth accumulation; by any other name they might be called 'hoarders'.I couldn't help but unleash my praise on Zoe in the following interview, one which explores the foundations of the film, its relevance to now, the casting process, and the joys of bringing dark comedy to life on screen. I also apply a misreading to the film about a rock that Richard holds during one scene, summoning the name of one Scott Morrison, and alluding to his infamous embrace of coal in Parliament House.Birthright is the kind of film that'll shine with an audience, and for Aussies in Sydney, they'll get the chance to do so on Thursday 12 June, with two more sessions on 13 and 14 June at the Sydney Film Festival. Check out SFF.org.au for tickets and more details.Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky @thecurbau. We are a completely independent and ad free website that lives on the support of listeners and readers just like you. Visit Patreon.com/thecurbau, where you can support our work from as little as $1 a month. If you are unable to financially support us, then please consider sharing this interview with your podcast loving friends.We'd also love it if you could rate and review us on the podcast player of your choice. Every review helps amplify the interviews and stories to a wider audience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zoe Pepper mines the generational wealth divide for all its worth in the acidic WA-made comedy Birthright. Cory (a perfectly cast deadpan Travis Jeffery) and his very pregnant wife Jasmine (an equally deadpan and delightful Maria Angelico) are getting the shaft from their rental. Stuffed in more ways than one, they load up all they can into the boot of their car and trundle off to the sanctuary of mum and dad, Cory's baby-boomer parents, Richard and Lyn (pitch perfect casting of Michael Hurst and Linda Cropper).Cory's parents live in a swanky abode in a leafy green suburb somewhere in Perth. Their house has more rooms than they need, with costly, barely used furniture swaddled in sheets and blankets to protect them from dust. Their home feels, well, a little soulless, like the misused result of decades of wealth accumulation; by any other name they might be called 'hoarders'.I couldn't help but unleash my praise on Zoe in the following interview, one which explores the foundations of the film, its relevance to now, the casting process, and the joys of bringing dark comedy to life on screen. I also apply a misreading to the film about a rock that Richard holds during one scene, summoning the name of one Scott Morrison, and alluding to his infamous embrace of coal in Parliament House.Birthright is the kind of film that'll shine with an audience, and for Aussies in Sydney, they'll get the chance to do so on Thursday 12 June, with two more sessions on 13 and 14 June at the Sydney Film Festival. Check out SFF.org.au for tickets and more details.Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky @thecurbau. We are a completely independent and ad free website that lives on the support of listeners and readers just like you. Visit Patreon.com/thecurbau, where you can support our work from as little as $1 a month. If you are unable to financially support us, then please consider sharing this interview with your podcast loving friends.We'd also love it if you could rate and review us on the podcast player of your choice. Every review helps amplify the interviews and stories to a wider audience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Judith Hancock has always felt that was different from her siblings. Having spent her youth in boarding schools, Judith felt disconnected from her family in more ways than just distance. When she returned home from boarding school, she spent most of her time with children from an orphanage where her father worked.Judith felt other aspects of difference in her family that caused her to wonder whether she was adopted - her siblings were much older than she was, and her mother was not particularly caring or loving. This lingering lack of closure for Judith was amplified after her mother passed away with the question of Judith's parental connection never being truly resolved.Judith is now 87, and with the support of her grandson, Archie Hancock, and his creative filmmaking partner Jack Zimmerman, she is given the opportunity to have that discussion in the documentary short film The 'Conversation'. This dramatic short film plays out like a cinematic sibling to the work of Kitty Green, notably her impressive 2017 film, Casting JonBenet, which saw actors play the roles of JonBenet Ramsay's family, trying to get to the core of the truth of that enduring mystery.With The 'Conversation', the mystery of whether Judith was adopted or not is almost secondary to the experience of talking through her concerns with someone 'acting' as her mother, with Judith given the chance to expend the emotional weight she has been carrying over these years. Call it manufacturing muscle memory or role playing if you will. What results is a film about catharsis and the mental toll that was left behind from the era of forced adoptions that occurred in Australia in the decades between the 1940s to 1970s. These are lingering emotional and traumatic events that have been left unresolved in the nations history, and it's with younger generations, like the ones that Archie and Jack are part of, who are seeking to resolve and rectify the trauma at hand.The following interview with Archie and Jack sees them both talking about the foundation of The 'Conversation' and how they worked with Archie's grandmother to give her the space to explore this aspect of her life on screen. They also discuss the emotional resolution that the film might offer to other people who are equally experiencing confusion about their heritage. Along the way, Archie and Jack also discuss the foundation of their production company, Tally Productions, and a lot more.The 'Conversation' screens at the St Kilda Film Festival, with an online release in the future on the horizon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Judith Hancock has always felt that was different from her siblings. Having spent her youth in boarding schools, Judith felt disconnected from her family in more ways than just distance. When she returned home from boarding school, she spent most of her time with children from an orphanage where her father worked.Judith felt other aspects of difference in her family that caused her to wonder whether she was adopted - her siblings were much older than she was, and her mother was not particularly caring or loving. This lingering lack of closure for Judith was amplified after her mother passed away with the question of Judith's parental connection never being truly resolved.Judith is now 87, and with the support of her grandson, Archie Hancock, and his creative filmmaking partner Jack Zimmerman, she is given the opportunity to have that discussion in the documentary short film The 'Conversation'. This dramatic short film plays out like a cinematic sibling to the work of Kitty Green, notably her impressive 2017 film, Casting JonBenet, which saw actors play the roles of JonBenet Ramsay's family, trying to get to the core of the truth of that enduring mystery.With The 'Conversation', the mystery of whether Judith was adopted or not is almost secondary to the experience of talking through her concerns with someone 'acting' as her mother, with Judith given the chance to expend the emotional weight she has been carrying over these years. Call it manufacturing muscle memory or role playing if you will. What results is a film about catharsis and the mental toll that was left behind from the era of forced adoptions that occurred in Australia in the decades between the 1940s to 1970s. These are lingering emotional and traumatic events that have been left unresolved in the nations history, and it's with younger generations, like the ones that Archie and Jack are part of, who are seeking to resolve and rectify the trauma at hand.The following interview with Archie and Jack sees them both talking about the foundation of The 'Conversation' and how they worked with Archie's grandmother to give her the space to explore this aspect of her life on screen. They also discuss the emotional resolution that the film might offer to other people who are equally experiencing confusion about their heritage. Along the way, Archie and Jack also discuss the foundation of their production company, Tally Productions, and a lot more.The 'Conversation' screens at the St Kilda Film Festival, with an online release in the future on the horizon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I remember sitting in the Mercury at the Adelaide Film Festival and watching Unspoken and getting to see a rare talent emerge on screen in the form of Kat Dominis. Her lead performance left me moved, shaken, and stunned by the depth of emotions she presented on screen. As the credits rolled, I saw she was the co-writer of this award-winning short film, a credit she shares with Mariana Rudan and director Damian Walshe-Howling. Unspoken is a story about family, it's a story about division, and it's a story built on intergenerational trauma.Kat plays Marina, a Croatian born young woman living with her family in 1979. She's in a secret relationship with a white Aussie man, with the two keeping the relationship hidden from her parents. Marina's brothers also live under the same house, with the two brothers falling into the political unrest that unfurls on the streets of Sydney in the form of protests and demonstrations. Acting as a thematic layer to Unspoken is the true story of the Croatian Six; six Croatian-Australian men who were sentenced to 15 years jail in 1981 for a conspiracy to bomb several sites in Sydney.Much of the evidence that was used in the trial of the Croatian Six was fabricated, with the men being set up as part of a sting operation by the Yugoslav foreign intelligence service. The weight of this event sits in the background of Unspoken, with tensions emerging throughout the film between family members, between Croatian-Australians and white Australians, and between girlfriend and boyfriend.Underpinning this tension is that stunning central performance from Kat Dominis who commands the screen with a guiding, lived-in understanding of the weight of her characters lives and the societal and political upheaval they're undergoing. As Marina, Kat presents the conflicted nature of wanting to fit in to a new culture while also trying to navigate the familial heritage of her homelands culture. In this regard, Unspoken becomes a universal story that many migrant families can relate to, especially from the frequently xenophobic landscape of Australian culture and society.These notions, and a lot more, are explored in this expansive interview with Kat Dominis, recorded ahead of Unspoken's screening at the St Kilda Film Festival on 7 June. Unspoken has screened nationally around Australia, and took home the Grand Prix at the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival earlier this year, a rare achievement for an Australian film. Less prestigious, but notable still, is that Unspoken featured in my personal Best Australian Films of 2024 list. It marks the grand arrival of actor-turned-director Damian Walshe-Howling, of producer and co-writer Mariana Rudan, and of course, Kat Dominis as actor, co-writer, and producer. It's a stunning filmic achievement.Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky @thecurbau. We are a completely independent and ad free website that lives on the support of listeners and readers just like you. Visit Patreon.com/thecurbau, where you can support our work from as little as $1 a month. If you are unable to financially support us, then please consider sharing this interview with your podcast loving friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I remember sitting in the Mercury at the Adelaide Film Festival and watching Unspoken and getting to see a rare talent emerge on screen in the form of Kat Dominis. Her lead performance left me moved, shaken, and stunned by the depth of emotions she presented on screen. As the credits rolled, I saw she was the co-writer of this award-winning short film, a credit she shares with Mariana Rudan and director Damian Walshe-Howling. Unspoken is a story about family, it's a story about division, and it's a story built on intergenerational trauma.Kat plays Marina, a Croatian born young woman living with her family in 1979. She's in a secret relationship with a white Aussie man, with the two keeping the relationship hidden from her parents. Marina's brothers also live under the same house, with the two brothers falling into the political unrest that unfurls on the streets of Sydney in the form of protests and demonstrations. Acting as a thematic layer to Unspoken is the true story of the Croatian Six; six Croatian-Australian men who were sentenced to 15 years jail in 1981 for a conspiracy to bomb several sites in Sydney.Much of the evidence that was used in the trial of the Croatian Six was fabricated, with the men being set up as part of a sting operation by the Yugoslav foreign intelligence service. The weight of this event sits in the background of Unspoken, with tensions emerging throughout the film between family members, between Croatian-Australians and white Australians, and between girlfriend and boyfriend.Underpinning this tension is that stunning central performance from Kat Dominis who commands the screen with a guiding, lived-in understanding of the weight of her characters lives and the societal and political upheaval they're undergoing. As Marina, Kat presents the conflicted nature of wanting to fit in to a new culture while also trying to navigate the familial heritage of her homelands culture. In this regard, Unspoken becomes a universal story that many migrant families can relate to, especially from the frequently xenophobic landscape of Australian culture and society.These notions, and a lot more, are explored in this expansive interview with Kat Dominis, recorded ahead of Unspoken's screening at the St Kilda Film Festival on 7 June. Unspoken has screened nationally around Australia, and took home the Grand Prix at the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival earlier this year, a rare achievement for an Australian film. Less prestigious, but notable still, is that Unspoken featured in my personal Best Australian Films of 2024 list. It marks the grand arrival of actor-turned-director Damian Walshe-Howling, of producer and co-writer Mariana Rudan, and of course, Kat Dominis as actor, co-writer, and producer. It's a stunning filmic achievement.Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky @thecurbau. We are a completely independent and ad free website that lives on the support of listeners and readers just like you. Visit Patreon.com/thecurbau, where you can support our work from as little as $1 a month. If you are unable to financially support us, then please consider sharing this interview with your podcast loving friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amalie Atkins loving documentary Agatha's Almanac follows Agatha Bock, Amalie's aunt, as she lives her life on a farm in southern Manitoba, tending to the vegetables, beans, and the soil. She preserves the heirloom seeds she has nurtured and maintained for decades, connecting her to her families past, and tenderly supporting herself using traditional methods. Agatha is also 90 years old, with her connection to the soil being a life-enriching experience.The charm of the film not only comes from Agatha's connection to her farming skills, but also from the various stories about her life that she tells. Whether it's the different suitors who have proposed to her over the years, or an accident that she had while tending to a window, or in one poignant moment, her memories of her siblings who have passed, Agatha's stories show a life fully lived with love, sadness, and joy.Agatha's Almanac is shot on 16-mm film, creating a warm, tangible feeling that lingers through every frame. The kiss of the sun on a cold day is felt so keenly, with the varied shades of green lifting spirits as the joyous score of 'Green garden music' plays over the soundtrack. The film was shot with an all-female crew over six years, culminating in an experience that is unexpected and delightful, like a warm hug you had no idea you needed.The following interview with Amalie was recorded ahead of the films screenings at the Sydney Film Festival on 6, 7 and 9 June, where she will be in attendance for Q&A sessions. In this chat, Amalie talks about the tangible nature of the film, one that is interspersed with shots of much-loved gloves, of Amalie's fabric-based artwork, and of course, of the gardens. She also talks about getting to bring her families history to life on screen. We also talk about intergenerational love, and why passing along work practices is important. I had a delight watching Agatha's Almanac, and that delight was matched by this charming discussion with Amalie. To find out more about her work, visit AmalieAtkins.ca, and to pick up tickets to the film, visit SFF.org.au.Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky @thecurbau. We are a completely independent and ad free website that lives on the support of listeners and readers just like you. Visit Patreon.com/thecurbau, where you can support our work from as little as $1 a month. If you are unable to financially support us, then please consider sharing this interview with your podcast loving friends.We'd also love it if you could rate and review us on the podcast player of your choice. Every review helps amplify the interviews and stories from storytellers to a wider audience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amalie Atkins loving documentary Agatha's Almanac follows Agatha Bock, Amalie's aunt, as she lives her life on a farm in southern Manitoba, tending to the vegetables, beans, and the soil. She preserves the heirloom seeds she has nurtured and maintained for decades, connecting her to her families past, and tenderly supporting herself using traditional methods. Agatha is also 90 years old, with her connection to the soil being a life-enriching experience.The charm of the film not only comes from Agatha's connection to her farming skills, but also from the various stories about her life that she tells. Whether it's the different suitors who have proposed to her over the years, or an accident that she had while tending to a window, or in one poignant moment, her memories of her siblings who have passed, Agatha's stories show a life fully lived with love, sadness, and joy.Agatha's Almanac is shot on 16-mm film, creating a warm, tangible feeling that lingers through every frame. The kiss of the sun on a cold day is felt so keenly, with the varied shades of green lifting spirits as the joyous score of 'Green garden music' plays over the soundtrack. The film was shot with an all-female crew over six years, culminating in an experience that is unexpected and delightful, like a warm hug you had no idea you needed.The following interview with Amalie was recorded ahead of the films screenings at the Sydney Film Festival on 6, 7 and 9 June, where she will be in attendance for Q&A sessions. In this chat, Amalie talks about the tangible nature of the film, one that is interspersed with shots of much-loved gloves, of Amalie's fabric-based artwork, and of course, of the gardens. She also talks about getting to bring her families history to life on screen. We also talk about intergenerational love, and why passing along work practices is important. I had a delight watching Agatha's Almanac, and that delight was matched by this charming discussion with Amalie. To find out more about her work, visit AmalieAtkins.ca, and to pick up tickets to the film, visit SFF.org.au.Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky @thecurbau. We are a completely independent and ad free website that lives on the support of listeners and readers just like you. Visit Patreon.com/thecurbau, where you can support our work from as little as $1 a month. If you are unable to financially support us, then please consider sharing this interview with your podcast loving friends.We'd also love it if you could rate and review us on the podcast player of your choice. Every review helps amplify the interviews and stories from storytellers to a wider audience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.