Rachel Rasker

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Rachel Rasker

This season of sci-fi thriller Severance, fans have demonstrated their commitment to Lumon Industries like never before. Social media has become overrun with convoluted theories about the fictional corporation. We've seen costume parties featuring Severance-themed food and matching lanyards. There have been endless memes and TikToks following each episode's release. And Apple TV+ has leaned in, with a promotion campaign on another floor entirely.

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Rachel Rasker

When drag queen Etcetera Etcetera first came across The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert as a closeted 10-year-old, they made sure to avoid it at all costs. "I literally remember it [felt like it was] coming in 3D out of the TV towards me, because I'd never seen drag before," they explain. "It scared me, because I was like: 'That's like me'."Etcetera didn't watch the film in full until they were 18, worried that by watching it, they'd "unlock Pandora's box".

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Rachel Rasker

Growing up in Melbourne's outer suburbs with family members in and out of prison, Charles Williams credits film with changing his life. What: Australian thriller about the prisons we build for ourselves and each other. Director: Charles WilliamsStarring: Guy Pearce, Cosmo Jarvis, Vincent Miller, Toby Wallace, Chloe HaydenWhen: In cinemas nowLikey to make you feel: Tense and apprehensiveAs a teenager, he often drove an hour-and-a-half to the Astor Theatre in St Kilda to catch a double feature.

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Rachel Rasker

Having children changed the way Chantelle Murray tells stories. The trailblazing writer, director and performer grew up in the Kimberley's Djarindjin community, a few hours north of Broome. She's worked alongside the likes of Taika Waititi and Baz Luhrman, and is behind a string of short films exploring the brutal experiences of First Nations communities, including the Stolen Generations. "All my previous stuff has been quite heavy, and becoming a mum, it changes you as a person," Murray explains.

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Rachel Rasker

Made by community for community, But I'm a Cheerleader has become one of the most iconic queer films of all time. It could have gone terribly wrong — media executives could have become overly involved, toning down the project until it was palatable for mainstream audiences and the male gaze. And yet, this campy, irreverent film set in a conversion camp was somehow greenlit in 1999, and enjoyed a cinematic release in Australia by 2000, premiering at the Mardi Gras Film Festival.