Category: Interview
Interview: Understanding the Film Hawk Behind Kevin Smith
For most Australians, the name Bob Hawk conjures up images of one our more recognised former Prime Ministers, Bob Hawke. But in the American independent film world, the name is more commonly associated with a well-renowned film consultant, most celebrated for shining a light on filmmakers like Kevin Smith, Edward Burns and Barbara Hammer. In…
Aaron Biebert discusses A Billion Lives
Ahead of its Australian premiere at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival, I recently had the opportunity to see A Billion Lives, the documentary feature film debut of director, Aaron Biebert. The subject matter is likely to be controversial, and I must confess to having started writing this article on numerous occasions, looking for the best…
The Unknown Stuntman Talks Ozploitation
I’ve long been a fan of Australian exploitation or “ozploitation” cinema, so I’m always excited when this under-appreciated segment of Aussie film history gets a little recognition. The idea that new audiences might be exposed to our long history of low-budget horror classics, genre mash-ups, comedies, sex romps and so-bad-its-goodies gives me a vicarious thrill…
Interview: Em Baker hits the road in ‘Spoke’
For most of us, travelling across the United States would likely involve a lot of flying, tour buses, and train travel. Not so for Em Baker, whose film Spoke will soon screen at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival. Baker filmed herself and her companions as they rode 5600 kilometres from one side of the United…
Interviewing Gavin Bond: Todd Who? Todd Rundgren!
Ahead of the premiere screening of his new film, Todd Who?, at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival, I sat down with filmmaker and film critic Gavin Bond to discuss two things. Firstly, I wanted to know what inspired his love of cinema. And secondly, I wanted to know more about how his life-long obsession with…