ACMI to co-host a panel with Australia's best true crime broadcasters

They make a living in crime – true crime. Now they reveal how they do it and why they get massive audiences.

Underbelly writer and Herald Sun Associate Editor Andrew Rule; comedian and true crime podcaster Meshel Laurie; Foxtel’s General Manager of Factual Jim Buchan; East West 101, Catching Milat and Chopper director Peter Andrikidis; and CJZ’s Head of Factual Andrew Farrell come together for a live YouTube panel event on the success of crime production in Australia.

Running Free Live, presented in partnership with ACMI, Film Victoria and Media Mentors Australia, is an online only event series that brings together the best of Australia’s screen industry talent to tackle topical issues, while sharing knowledge and advice. This month the expert panel will dive into the dark world of true crime. Find out how to make great content, what stories are most appealing and what makes audiences flock to the underbelly of our world. All guests will be available for live virtual networking following the discussion.   

About the panelists: 

Andrew Rule

Herald Sun Associate Editor Andrew Rule – a legend of Australian crime writing who co-authored both the Underbelly and Chopper book series – is the man behind the mic of Life and Crimes, a gritty and revealing weekly true crime podcast.

Meshel Laurie

Leading Melbourne comedian Meshel Laurie is a true crime obsessive. With author Emily Webb, she hosts True Crime Australia and, along with writers, victims, investigators and perpetrators, they probe the dark side of Australian lives in our towns and suburbs.

Jim Buchan

Few know true crime television better than Jim Buchan, Foxtel’s General Manager of Factual. After all, crime programming is one of Foxtel’s most successful offerings – in scripted and unscripted form– and there are separate channels dedicated to the genre. Foxtel have also commissioned local successes, including Debi Marshall’s Frozen Lies series.

Peter Andrikidis

Director Peter Andrikidis knows how to tell riveting crime stories (true and fictional), having directed Brothers in Arms, The Informant, False Witness, Catching Milat, Chopper and the ground-breaking first series of Underbelly. He recently directed Netflix's Reckoning and Reef Break.

Andrew Farrell

CJZ’s Head of Factual, Andrew Farrell, has dabbled in the crime world for years internationally. Most recently, he was Executive Producer of Logie award winning Ron Iddles: The Good Cop for Foxtel and he has also run shows like Deadly Women, Dark Minds and Facing Evil & Still Alive for the Discovery Channel and Beyond Productions.

Running Free Live: Crime Pays

Thursday 4 June (AEST)

Live: 7pm-8.30pm 

This is an online only event. All guests will be available for live virtual networking following the discussion.   

To take part in live networking after the panel discussion: Zoom meeting room links will be provided in the YouTube video description just before the event starts.

Visit ACMI's YouTube channel.

Running Free Live is held on the first Thursday of every month.

Running Free Live is presented in partnership with ACMI, Film Victoria and Media Mentors Australia.

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