1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:04,000 Speaker 1: Welcome to Fear and Greed Sunday feature. I'm Michael Thompson. 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:06,320 Speaker 1: A bit of a change at Pace today. Nothing too 3 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:10,480 Speaker 1: serious because today is all about Hollywood. Back in December 4 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: twenty twenty, Sean Aylmer spoke with Rob Masala, who is 5 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,639 Speaker 1: a talent manager for film and TV now. Rob's in Australian, 6 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:20,479 Speaker 1: normally based in the US, but when he joined the 7 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: podcast to talk to Sean, he was back in Australia 8 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:26,439 Speaker 1: during what was really a very strange time for the 9 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: film industry. The pandemic and lockdowns were changing the way 10 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 1: that movies were being made, changing the way that TV 11 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: shows were being made, and during that twenty twenty twenty 12 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: twenty one period the industry actually boomed here in Australia, 13 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: with a huge number of local and overseas productions being made. 14 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 1: Rob talked to Sean though about the industry as it 15 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:50,480 Speaker 1: stood in December twenty twenty and really about the fascinating 16 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 1: job of managing talent, managing people like actors in Hollywood. 17 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 2: It's a great chat. I hope you enjoy it. 18 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:05,479 Speaker 3: On Fridays, we like to look at the business of leisure. 19 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 3: The entertainment industry has copped a hammering this year. COVID 20 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:11,679 Speaker 3: nineteen has meant that we've consumed a lot more content 21 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,959 Speaker 3: than usual. The audiences for television, radio and on demand viewing, 22 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 3: listening and reading have been huge. Film and television production 23 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 3: around the world, however, was paused, started, and then paused again. 24 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 3: Blockbuster movies that were ready for release were either sent 25 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 3: straight to streaming or held off until the time when 26 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 3: audiences could return to cinemas. We thought would find out 27 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 3: the status of the film and television industry from an expert. 28 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 3: Rob Masala is a talent manager, usually based in Hollywood. 29 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 3: He's now returned to Australia done his Stinton quarantine and 30 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 3: he's working remotely from Sydney. Rob, Welcome to Fear and Greed. 31 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 2: Thank you, Sean. It's nice to be here. 32 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 3: So what does a talent manager do? 33 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 2: Basically, I represent actors so guide their careers, seek employment 34 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 2: for them, manage their professional life and their careers. So 35 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 2: it's a pretty amorphous job also depending on where somebody's 36 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 2: at in their career. So early on, if you're the 37 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 2: only representative involved, it's really about rolling the sleeves up 38 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 2: and trying to get them work and get them established, 39 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:12,079 Speaker 2: and then the more they're established, the job becomes very 40 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 2: different because you may have an agent as well, or 41 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 2: a lawyer, or a business manager or a publicist. In 42 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 2: that way, my job becomes more of managing the whole 43 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 2: sort of team together for that client. 44 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 3: So it's almost like a chief of operations, or I'm 45 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 3: just trying to think of in a business world, we 46 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 3: might have a co. 47 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:32,839 Speaker 2: It's funny you say that, because sometimes in deciding mating, 48 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:34,799 Speaker 2: that's sort of how I describe it. But I try 49 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 2: not to get to technical on business terms to artistic 50 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 2: people as so as to not put them off. But 51 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 2: it is, Yeah, if somebody's at that point, it is 52 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 2: like being like their CEO. Let them focus on their 53 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:47,919 Speaker 2: artistry and running all the different divisions. 54 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 3: Okay, so how did you end up in Hollywood? I 55 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 3: mean a Hollywood manager That must be the top of 56 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 3: the tree in terms of your role. 57 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 2: Well, I'm not at the top of the Hollywood manager tree. 58 00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:01,119 Speaker 2: But look, I was a kid from per that loved movies, 59 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 2: and I went to law school and really did not 60 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 2: enjoy being a lawyer. Worked in Perth as a lawyer 61 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 2: for a couple of years, and I always loved to 62 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:11,519 Speaker 2: film and TV, but I didn't know where I was 63 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 2: supposed to fit in there. So I went to grad 64 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:16,639 Speaker 2: school in New York, and as I was finishing that 65 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 2: up was trying to do some internships and everybody told me, 66 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 2: you know, you should go to Hollywood and work at 67 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 2: a big agency. And I didn't really want to be 68 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 2: an agent because it's all very corporate. I'm sure a 69 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 2: lot of your listeners have watched Entourage. 70 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 3: You're no Ari Gold, I think, well, and look, and. 71 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 2: That's not even a remote exaggeration. I wish it was. 72 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 2: I did start in the mail room at a big agency, 73 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 2: and I pushed a mail cart. So I was a 74 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 2: lawyer with an MBA and I pushed a mail cart, 75 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 2: and I started that way, and I went from there 76 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 2: to a desk of a junior agent, to the desk 77 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 2: of the president of that agency. And then he left 78 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:53,119 Speaker 2: and started a management company, and I left with him. 79 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 3: I was being quite colorful when I talked about Ari 80 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 3: Gold and Entourage. Is it really like that or not? 81 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 2: It's worse than It's absolutely like that. That is not 82 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 2: a remote exaggeration whatsoever of what it's like. In fact, 83 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 2: it could actually be worse than that. Look, that was 84 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 2: my experience at the agency I was at. I don't 85 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 2: know if things have changed nowadays. I managers tend to 86 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 2: be a different breed where a lot softer and gentler. 87 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,799 Speaker 2: So what was his name, like E was his manager 88 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:23,479 Speaker 2: buddy kind of thing, So that's more of your manager relationship. 89 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 2: But yeah, it's very very corporate at the agency world, 90 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 2: and for me personally, it just didn't suit my personality. 91 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 2: Not that they don't work hard. They work really hard, 92 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 2: it's just not. 93 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, it wasn't your cup of team. No, I know. 94 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 3: And so some of the people that you've managed, would 95 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 3: we have heard of them? 96 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 2: You know? A couple of people in Game of Thrones 97 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 2: which people in Australia tend to always know best Ian 98 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:47,919 Speaker 2: Glenn and Joe Dempsey and Will Tudor. I had a 99 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,160 Speaker 2: guy on Madman, Jay Ferguson, who's on The Connors now, 100 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 2: which is the Roseanne spin off. In the past, I've 101 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 2: had other people Australians that are very well known. But 102 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 2: a guy named Dominic sherwhen I represent is very popular 103 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:02,040 Speaker 2: amongst teenage jos on a show called Shadow Hunters. 104 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 3: So let's get on the pre COVID. Yes, what's been 105 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 3: the impact of streaming services like Netflix on that industry. 106 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 2: Well, they're already sort of taking over. So it used 107 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 2: to be like ten years ago in the States, it 108 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 2: was all about the networks, and so they had what's 109 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 2: called pilot season. So if you didn't book a TV 110 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 2: job during pilot season, which ran in February, you weren't 111 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 2: going to get a TV job. Then sort of the 112 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 2: hbos and the show times came along and they started 113 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 2: DOINGMWS movies of the Week, and then they started, you know, 114 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:34,919 Speaker 2: doing like The Sopranos, Sex and the City. So TV 115 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:37,719 Speaker 2: became a bit more ubiquitous throughout the year. So and 116 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 2: then when Netflix came and Hulu, it's just now everybody 117 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 2: there's TV all year round, and just creatively for me personally, 118 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 2: you know, I got into this because I grew up 119 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 2: in the eighties, and you know, I loved all the 120 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 2: movies from the seventies and the eighties, like Dangerous Liaisons 121 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,360 Speaker 2: and broadcast News and Cramer versus Cramer and ordinary people, 122 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 2: and they just don't make movies like that menmore the studios, 123 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 2: And so I think TV's come along and really been 124 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 2: that place where people can really do creative, interesting work. 125 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 3: But if I think of the shows I have watched 126 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:11,600 Speaker 3: in recent times, you know, one had Nicole Kidman as 127 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 3: a star, one had Jason Bateman, one had Russell Crowe, 128 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 3: and they're all streaming services. So certainly has COVID nineteen 129 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 3: you said it was already underway, But has COVID nineteen 130 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:22,480 Speaker 3: presumably just accelerated that whole trend. 131 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:25,159 Speaker 2: No, I don't think so. I think it was already happening. 132 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:27,359 Speaker 2: And there's no When I started doing this, like twenty 133 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:29,360 Speaker 2: five years ago, you were a film actor or a 134 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:31,799 Speaker 2: TV actor, and TV actors wanted to be film actors, 135 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 2: but they couldn't get a break, you know, and then 136 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:36,840 Speaker 2: you suddenly had like George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston, all these 137 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 2: people crossing over. But film people still didn't want to 138 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:42,720 Speaker 2: go to TV because it was they were snobby about it. 139 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:45,920 Speaker 2: Whereas now, if you just want to do good, solid work, 140 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 2: it seems to be in TV. So there's just everyone 141 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:51,040 Speaker 2: just sort of now looks at the material and where 142 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 2: it's going to be distributed. It's not as important in 143 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 2: terms of the quality of the work. So there's no 144 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,599 Speaker 2: stigma about doing TV anymore, and people go back and 145 00:06:57,640 --> 00:06:58,559 Speaker 2: forth all the time. 146 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 3: We'll be back with more in a mint. My guest 147 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:08,480 Speaker 3: this morning is film and television talent manager Rob Masala. 148 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 3: So do people get paid as much of the paychecks 149 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 3: as big in TV as they are in movies? Supposedly, 150 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 3: but look. 151 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 2: I've never represented one of those A listers that green 152 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 2: lights movies, so I'm sure if you're Leo DiCaprio, you're 153 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 2: still getting paid pretty well. What I do know in 154 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 2: the last five years is they used to pay say 155 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 2: number five on the core sheets, a decent actor who 156 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 2: had the fifth largest role in a movie. You used 157 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 2: to be able to get them a decent paycheck. And 158 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 2: what they've done in movies has really squeezed those margins. 159 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 2: So you either get paid all of it or you know, 160 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 2: they're just sort of squeezed it down. So TV's definitely 161 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 2: more lucrative if you're you know, if you're not Leo DiCaprio, 162 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 2: certainly now. 163 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 3: Look, recently, Warner Brothers announced that that actually be releasing 164 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 3: their movies in twenty twenty one simultaneously on the big 165 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 3: screen end the small screen. What do you think of that? 166 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 2: It's really interesting, isn't it? Because I think during COVID. 167 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 2: I mean, certainly in LA everybody's been locked in for 168 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 2: the last nine months, so we haven't been able to 169 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 2: go to the cinema for the last nine months. So 170 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 2: one part of me thinks it's really dangerous to just 171 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 2: keep that trend alive and give people the option to 172 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 2: just watch things at home. But I don't know if 173 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 2: that's just for twenty twenty one. I don't know if 174 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 2: that's you know, just sort of the library that they 175 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 2: have now and they're going to go back to the 176 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 2: old model. People for years have been talking about changing 177 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 2: the system of exhibition because of the netflixes of the world, 178 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:33,959 Speaker 2: who seem to be making some really interesting movies. What's 179 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,679 Speaker 2: interesting to me about it all is a lot of 180 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:40,560 Speaker 2: the bigger agents right now who do represent these big 181 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 2: directors and actors, you know, in fairness to them, they 182 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,240 Speaker 2: may deals with back ends and all sorts of things 183 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:51,559 Speaker 2: that involve these films being released theatrically for a certain window, 184 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 2: and there's no question it's going to affect box office 185 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 2: if you're releasing it on HBO Max at the same time. 186 00:08:57,360 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 2: And so a lot of people are up in arms 187 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 2: because it feels like it feels like they're doing this 188 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 2: more to sort of have HBO Max compete with Netflix. 189 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 2: It's slightly disingenuous to what deal was negotiated back in 190 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 2: the day, so people are very unhappy about it. But 191 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:14,600 Speaker 2: I kind of see both sides to it as well. 192 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 2: It's like, if if cinemas aren't going to be open, 193 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:18,960 Speaker 2: some of these films may not be very relevant in 194 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:21,680 Speaker 2: twenty twenty two. So I can see both sides. 195 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 3: What do you think, Sean, Well, I've got a lot 196 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:25,719 Speaker 3: of kids, so I don't go to the movies, and 197 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 3: I mean that's just reality. 198 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 2: It's good for you. You can see the next Fixile film 199 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 2: and Afo Bangs. You don't have to pay for a 200 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:33,840 Speaker 2: Bavisit are already being well. 201 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:35,960 Speaker 3: But it is an interesting thing because I mean, we 202 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 3: watch a lot of streaming services, and I'm happy to 203 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:41,079 Speaker 3: pay for all the streaming services because as a monthly rate, 204 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 3: it's actually very cheap. Yeah, and it's much more cost 205 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:46,319 Speaker 3: effective than going to the movies. And if I'm going 206 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 3: to go to the movies, I'd actually prefer to spend 207 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 3: a lot of money and have a really great experience 208 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:53,319 Speaker 3: in terms of food and wine whilst watching the movie. 209 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 3: I think that middle ground in the movies where you 210 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 3: just go and buy a season you watch a movie. 211 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,200 Speaker 3: I think I just wouldn't do that anymore. I don't 212 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 3: think it really lucks or somewhere at home. 213 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 2: It's interesting because I think that's why they now make 214 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:09,319 Speaker 2: these huge blockbusters, like you know, the Avatars of the World, 215 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 2: where you kind of do have to go to the 216 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 2: cinema to get the full experience of it, and then 217 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 2: they're not the movies I like. I like these gab 218 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:19,199 Speaker 2: fests where people just sit around talking, and I think 219 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:21,199 Speaker 2: those are the ones that are going to suffer about 220 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 2: getting PACTA cor releases. 221 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, now, Dee, you have been based overseas for a 222 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 3: while now, but you've come back home. What's your sense 223 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 3: of how the local film and TV industry is performing 224 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 3: and handling COVID nineteen In fact, Oh, go. 225 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:35,319 Speaker 2: To get kill for saying this. I think the Australian 226 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 2: film industry I feel like it's been suffering for a 227 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 2: while now in terms of we haven't had that Mural's 228 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 2: Wedding strictly bare Room, you know, kind of shine, big 229 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:48,560 Speaker 2: sort of film that's reached worldwide, and i'd love to 230 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 2: see some Australian films do better. I think Australian television 231 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 2: has really gotten fantastic. It actuallys like Wetworth and I 232 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:57,079 Speaker 2: think are just incredible. And you know, the good news 233 00:10:57,120 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 2: about the netflixes and the Hulu's of the world is 234 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 2: all of these shows are getting international audiences now, so 235 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 2: you can stream Wentworth on Netflix USA, and I remember 236 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 2: at one point, you know, it was in the top 237 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 2: ten one day when I switched out in the US, 238 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 2: and I was so happy to see that. So I 239 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 2: think it's a great show. In terms of COVID, it's 240 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:18,320 Speaker 2: been amazing for the Australian film industry because all these 241 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 2: US big productions are coming down here because Australia's COVID 242 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 2: free and it's a great place to be filming right now. 243 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 2: So there's so much stuff shooting down here already and 244 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:29,439 Speaker 2: a lot more coming down the pipeline. 245 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:32,240 Speaker 3: I mean, it is incredible. When you read anything out 246 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 3: of Byron Bay seems to have a star from zac 247 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,679 Speaker 3: Efron to Marky Mark peering in the local grocery store 248 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 3: in places like that. 249 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 2: I was there two weeks ago with a friend of 250 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:44,719 Speaker 2: mine who's an agent here, and it was hilarious. It 251 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 2: was like being in la or New York in that 252 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 2: every time he walked into a restaurant and you're like, oh, 253 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 2: there's Michael Shannon sitting at that table over there. It 254 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 2: did feel like that up there. And then you've got 255 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 2: like Melissa McCarthy, who's in that Nine Perfect Strangers are 256 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 2: the thing that's shooting up there, and now she's going 257 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 2: to be producing a comedy for Netflix that's going to 258 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 2: be shooting down here as well because she's fallen in 259 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:09,599 Speaker 2: love with the country. So it's really good. I was 260 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 2: talking to a friend of mine who's an hour director 261 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:15,679 Speaker 2: and if anything, they're just they have an embarrassment of 262 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:18,680 Speaker 2: riches right now. Good crew because everybody's just trying to 263 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 2: like crew up professionally, and there's so much competition for 264 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:23,079 Speaker 2: it now. So it's great. 265 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:24,840 Speaker 3: So what do you hope for the next twelve months? 266 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:28,000 Speaker 3: And in the industry, generally vaccine. 267 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 2: And for things to get back to normal. So we 268 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 2: pretty much shut down production from March to around August, 269 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 2: so there was like nothing to do. Maybe I had 270 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 2: one percent of my job to do, so it was 271 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 2: pretty brutal. And then around August things started coming back 272 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:47,600 Speaker 2: into production, but it was more returning series things that 273 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:50,679 Speaker 2: had started but had to shut down more so than 274 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 2: new stuff. So I would say worried about forty to 275 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 2: forty five percent of what it would have been but 276 00:12:57,080 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 2: for COVID. But I I have a client on Chicago, 277 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:03,640 Speaker 2: for instance, and they got back up pretty early in Chicago, 278 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 2: and then they had to shut down for two weeks 279 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 2: because two of the cast members got COVID. So there's 280 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 2: a lot of that stuff going on as well. And 281 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:14,200 Speaker 2: it's not as much fun at least for actors on 282 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 2: sets right now because you basically you come out, take 283 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 2: your mask off, do your scene, have to go straight 284 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:24,319 Speaker 2: back into the trailer. There's no socializing, so it's become less. 285 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 2: Everyone's so happy to be working, so they're not complaining, 286 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 2: but it's you know, I don't think it's as festive 287 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 2: a job right now. So I'm hoping this vaccine kicks it. 288 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 2: I mean, the States is a mess, as everybody that 289 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:39,080 Speaker 2: watches news knows, so I don't see at this point 290 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 2: how they're going to get under control until everybody's vaccinated. 291 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 2: So hopefully that will kick in and come midyear we 292 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 2: might be back to normal. But I think that's what 293 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 2: it's going to take. 294 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:50,720 Speaker 3: So Rob, you're operating out of Sydney, are you heading 295 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 3: back to Hollywood anytime soon? 296 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 2: I was supposed to go back after the Christmas holidays, 297 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 2: but they've not got to hear this. But yeah, I'm 298 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 2: not going back. I have been in front of my 299 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 2: computer in my house since March. So, as I said 300 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 2: to the company I work for, if I'm in front 301 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 2: of a computer in LA or in front of a 302 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:13,719 Speaker 2: computer in Sydney, what difference does it make. So I'm 303 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:15,800 Speaker 2: getting up at four point thirty as you do to 304 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 2: do your podcast, so that I'm on the LA time zone. 305 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 2: I got very lucky when I arrived at about a 306 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 2: month ago. It was when things started getting exponentially worse. 307 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 2: So I'm being literal. Now it's one thousand percent worse 308 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 2: in LA than it was a month ago when I left. 309 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 3: So why would you go back until the vaccine has 310 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 3: been rolled out. 311 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 2: I'm not going to go back and be stuck in 312 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 2: my house in an LA winter when I can have 313 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 2: an Aussie summer. And you know, I haven't been able 314 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 2: to be here for more than three weeks at a 315 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 2: time for twenty years, so I'm thrilled to be back 316 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 2: and I'm milking it. This is the silver lining to 317 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 2: the COVID cloud. 318 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 3: Rob, thanks for talking to Fear and Greed. 319 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 2: Col Thank you, Sean. 320 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 3: That was Rob Masala, talent manager from Hollywood or perhaps Sydney, 321 00:14:57,600 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 3: We're not sure.