First of all, here's what we have for you this week:
- Killer Grabs: Quotes from around the traps.
- How Labor’s Fear of Standing Up to the US Could Kill Australian Film and Television— By Scott Mitchell
- The Good Ones: The best journalism, opinion and entertainment for you to enjoy.
At Lamestream, we want to cover the full breadth of the media landscape, from the news media that drives most of our conversations, through to entertainment, sport, culture and more.
Our stories on the state of the music industry, Triple J's role in supporting Australian music, and the state of the influencer ecosystem are some of our most read.
Over the past few weeks, a combination of important developments in Australian politics and the state of global affairs have kept us pretty focused on hard news and political issues. But in this week's newsletter we're shifting gears a little.
The future of Australia's film and TV industry is something we both care about deeply. Not only because we've worked in, and have close friends who continue to do so, but because keeping arts and cultural production alive and healthy is fundamental to living in a progressive and fair society.
Sadly, the industry is in dire straits thanks to a slow-moving federal government has failed to deliver on its election promises and a new assault from Donald Trump that threatens to knock out what's left of Australian filmmaking.
Make sure to read Scott's story this week on the challenges facing Australian storytelling on screen, and what we can do to save it.
Killer Grabs
"Now, there is some in the older generation that grew up with The Simpsons who still have that sort of outdated mindset." – Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan, on why the Coalition's nuclear policy didn't win over voters.
Imagine admitting you lost in the election, in part, thanks to The Simpsons memes. Incredible.
"The only thing that has ever worked – time and time again – is solidarity: binding together, finding bravery in numbers too big to ignore, and standing up for one another." – Jane Fonda.
Fonda was speaking about her decision to relaunch the Committee for the First Amendment, the McCarthy-era initiative started by her father, Henry Fonda, and pushback against the US government's attempt to restrict freedom of speech.
But you know what? It's just a good, general principle to abide by in life. Especially when things feel as dark and overwhelming as they do right now.
