Ear Movies

Ear Movies inhabit the space between radio plays, audio books and storytelling, a place where the projector is not light, but the imagination. As the saying goes, the best thing about radio is the pictures. This is life at 48,000 Hz.

I had great readers – some legends, to be honest.

My name is Simon Luckhurst.

I’ve had three books published (including Eddie’s Country, described by noted journalist John Pilger as ‘one of the best Australian stories of his lifetime’,) and optioned for a movie. I’ve had plays produced on ABC radio and the stage and I’ve won or been shortlisted in a bunch of awards.

Check out my website if you want.

Ear-Movies are feel good, powerful and intimate.

Please rate them on your podcast platform so others know what you think.

Winner of the 2020 Dotcomm Awards: Best Podcast Series

Ear-Movies

Season Three: Murder Ballads

Just the Two of Us

Two cops, one stakeout, a determined killer and a mysterious secret.

Bryan Dawe is one of Australia’s finest political satirists. He has enjoyed a long career on ABC radio and stage, writing and performing his much loved characters Sir Murray Rivers QC and Roly Parks’ Letter from Kalangadoo.

On television he was best known for his work with the late John Clarke. Their Clarke & Dawe segment on radio and television ran for 30 years. He was also a cast member with John Clarke and Gina Riley in the much acclaimed ABC Television series The Games’. Bryan has also appeared in various films including the hit Australian film The Castle’. In addition, Bryan is a very accomplished digital artist, having held many exhibitions in Australia as well as one in his current home of Tangier in Morocco. He is currently preparing a new exhibition to be shown in Morocco and Australia in 2023.

Music: Trevor Brown

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

Down Among the Dead Men

An impossible crime leads two detectives along a road littered with forensic clues.

Nancy Denis is a multidisciplinary artist who began her career early in Annie the Musical. Since then she has appeared on TV and films such as ABC’s Cleverman, Netflix's 600 Bottles of Wine and Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby. Nancy debuted with Sydney Theatre Company earlier this year in Blithe Spirit followed by her acclaimed performance as Mrs Johnson in A Raisin In The Sun.

Nancy wrote a play with songs, Ma’p Boulé performed at Darlinghurst Theatre. You can also keep up with Nancy on her YouTube channel The Nancy Denis Show where she interviews a variety of local artists, guests and musical acts. She has an Artist in Residency with Red Rattler Theatre in 2023.

Music: Trevor Brown

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

Live and Let Die

A tale of fond reminiscence, country towns - and the Southern Slopes Strangler...

Catherine McClements has recently starred in the second season of the Network Seven series Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries and the Netflix series Pieces of Her alongside Toni Collette, David Wenham and Jessica Barden. Her other television credits include the HBO series The Leftovers, Sisters for the Ten Network, The Beautiful Lie, Rake and Time Of Our Lives for the ABC, the Foxtel series Wentworth, Showtime’s Tangle, Network Ten’s drama series Rush, The Pacific, Crashburn, The Secret Life of Us, Water Rats, Waiting at The Royals, Call Me Mum, GP, Tomorow’s End, My Brother Tom and the telemovies The Broken Shore, After the Deluge, Mary Bryant and The Falls.

She won the 2010 AFI Award for Best Actress in a Television Drama for Tangle, a Silver Logie Award for Water Rats (Most Outstanding Actress) and an AFI Award for her guest role in The Secret Life of Us. She also received an AFI Award for Best Actress in her feature film debut, Weekend with Kate.

Music: Trevor Brown

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

God Save the Queen

Australia's most beloved diva is murdered in her locked dressing room in the Sydney Opera House. The chief suspect is her husband - who was on stage in front of 1200 people at the time she died.

Michael is both a narrator and a director for radio and film. His short film The Projectionist premiered at the 40th New York Film Festival in 2002. It was awarded the Grand Prix at the 2003 Tampere Film Festival (Finland), and went on to win a further ten international awards at festivals in Valladolid (Spain), Los Angeles, Nashville, Melbourne and Sydney, and has screened at over seventy film festivals worldwide - most recently in Moscow and Berlin.

Michael holds a Masters degree in Film and Television, specialising in Directing, from AFTRS and teaches screen acting and directing. He has presented programs of his work to audiences in St. Petersburg, Zagreb, Dresden, Telluride, Szolnok (Hungary) and London.

Music: Trevor Brown

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

Help!

A simple plea in a court case leads a reporter to take a trip back into Sydney's seedy past - leading to an unexpected conclusion.

Nadine Garner’s extensive list of theatre credits include The Lifespan of a Fact, Emerald City, Photograph 51, Di and Viv and Rose, The Distance, The Weir, Private Lives, The Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard for MTC; Zebra! and Life After George for STC; Miss Julie for Perth Theatre Company; Romeo and Juliet and Taming of the Shrew for The Australian Shakespeare Company. She starred in Sam Mendes’ production of Cabaret and received a Helpmann Award and Green Room Award for her performance as Fraulein Kost.

She will next star in Scott Major’s debut feature film Darklands. Her other feature film credits include Ben Hackworth’s debut feature Celeste, Ana Kokkinos’ The Book of Revelation, Darren Ashton’s Razzle Dazzle and Amanda Jane’s The Wedding Party, which earned her a New York City International Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Nadine appeared in the Network 10/Channel 5 (UK) series Lie With Me and the ABC crime drama series Savage River. Her other television credits include the Stan original series Bloom, My Life is Murder and Mr Black for Network 10, The Blake Mysteries: Ghost Stories for the Seven Network, ABC’s The Doctor Blake Mysteries, the Seven Network drama City Homicide, the ABC comedy It’s a Date as well as Blue Water High, The Henderson Kids, GP, The Flying Doctors, Boys From the Bush and RAW FM for which she was nominated for an AFI Award for Best Actress in a Television Drama.

Nadine received an AFI Award for Best Actress for her role in Mull and in 1995, a Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Supporting Actress and an AFI Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in Metal Skin.

Music: Trevor Brown

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

Sixteen Lovers Lane

It's summer in Sydney and a serial killer is on the loose. Will he be caught before he kills someone you love?

Samuel Johnson is an actor, voiceover artist and philanthropist. He won the AFI award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Telefeature in 2001 for The Secret Life of Us. He played Molly Meldrum in the miniseries Molly for which he won the AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama and won the Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Television of 2017. Since 2012, Sam and his sister Connie have run the charity Love Your Sister.

Music: Trevor Brown

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

Looking for an Echo

In this special episode Trevor Brown and Simon Luckhurst chat about the music Trevor composed and produced for Murder Ballads.

Trevor and Simon are in Trevor's studio in Lilyfield, overlooking the community garden and park and are surrounded by an eclectic assortment of instruments, none of which they play with during the entire interview.

If you want to know more about Trevor (and you should) his bio is in the Conversation with Trevor episode link at the end of Season 2 below.

Astute listeners will notice that although this episode is named for a song in line with the other episodes of Season 3, no one is murdered during the entire conversation.

Music: Trevor Brown

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

Season Two: Conversations With Buckthumper

Distinction Winner 2022 Communicator Awards:
Best Podcast Episode

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

East of Goulburn is a place called Eight Mile. No one knows what it's eight miles from. It's in the middle of nowhere, only two people live there - and they haven't spoken to each other for a decade.

Reader: Lynette Curran who said, ‘Wow, you wrote this?  It's beautiful.. When can we do it?’

Lynette Curran’s classic Australian TV shows include seven years on Bellbird, as well as stints on Country Town, Number 96, Homicide, Division 4, Bluey, Cop Shop and The Restless Years. More recently she’s been in Love My Way, Underbelly: The Golden Mile, The Reckoning and Wentworth.

Her film roles have included Alvin Purple, Caddie, Bliss, Somersault (winner of the AFI’s and FCCA’s Best Actress in a Supporting Role awards), Heatwave and The Boys (winner of the FCCA’s Best Supporting Actor award). You can also see her Marvel’s Shang-Chi to be released later in 2021.

Music: Trevor Brown

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

The Golden Bell

Lucky runs a cafe called The Golden Bell. He's kind, caring and generous. He wouldn't call himself 'lucky' though.

Reader:  Lex Marinos who said, ‘I love being enticed into a world I think I know, only to be delighted to find there’s magic where I least expected it.’

Lex Marinos OAM, was born into a family of Greek cafe owners. After studying drama at uni he has worked in all areas of the entertainment industry as an actor, director, writer, broadcaster and teacher.

He’s best known for his roles in Kingswood Country and The Slap. He has also worked extensively on ABC radio since the riotous inception of 2JJ. His book Blood and Circuses: an irresponsible memoir was published by Allen & Unwin.

Music: Trevor Brown

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

Co-nominee (With 'Whispering Moths')
2022 Australian Podcast Awards:
The Indigenous Award

On Thursday

On Thursday Island an earnest government worker, a daughter missing her mother and a garden gnome find a way to work together to bring happiness.

Reader:  Sylvia Tabua, who said, ‘Thanks so much, I'd love to do more of these if there are any other opportunities. It brought me joy’

Sylvia Tabua is a senior broadcaster with Radio 4MW on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait where she hosts the Brekky Bot (breakfast show). She has worked passionately in this area for more than 18 years.

She produced the documentary Striking Pearls and co-produced Dinghy Gurls, which looks at how Torres Strait women challenge the sea country they live and work in. As well as coordinating cultural and music festivals, she also appeared in both seasons of the radio series Kasa Por Yarn.

Music: Trevor Brown

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

Wishing Well

Catching a fairy is great. You get a wish. But when you're faced with all that choice, how do you decide what to wish for?

Reader:  Genevieve Davis, who said, ‘Loved this take on a fairy story and making wishes. Wishing Well is written well.’

Genevieve started professional life in musical theatre, including the Australian cast productions of Hair and Rent. She also had roles in Sisterella, Porgy and Bess, The Wedding Song, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Blues in the Night and Albert Herring, for Opera Australia.

She's a talented actor who has had some roles in television and films. She still sings. She was a founding member of the The Glamma Rays.

Music: Trevor Brown

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

Olympus

Tina has been married to Lucky for over 30 years. Their greatest challenge tests both her and her relationship. Neither she, nor her husband, expects what happens next.

Reader:  Victoria Haralabidou, who said, ‘Such a pleasure to be asked to read this tender and moving story.  I hope the audience enjoys this magical journey.’

Victoria's debut film role was as the lead Martin Scorsese’s feature Brides alongside Golden Globe winner Damian Lewis.

Her other features include Going Going, The Drover’s Wife, Thirst, Blessed and With Heart and Soul. Her most recent screen work includes HBO’s The Leftovers, ABC’s Wakefield, Barracuda (Logie Award nomination), The Code, Parent Up! and My Place. She’s also appeared in The Tailings, Deep Water and East West 101 on SBS.

Victoria has also worked as dramaturge, assessor and writer at STC, Griffin and other theatres in Sydney.

Music: Trevor Brown

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

Conversations With Buckthumper

One night of 'fun' can change your life. How Jason Riley responds to the mistake he made, and tries to heal things, involves introspection, a lot of driving and kangaroos.

Reader,  Darren Gilshenan, who said, ‘I love Simon’s stories, they have such an Aussie tone to them… Buckthumper gave me great joy.’

Darren’s extensive performing history includes ten years with the Bell Shakespeare Company and three on TV’s Full Frontal. His recent TV credits include How To Stay Married, Stateless, Harrow, Here Come the Habibs, Maximum Choppage, The Killing Field, The Moodys and Devil’s Playground.

He won the 2020 AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Drama Series for Stateless and a Best Actor Helpmann Award for The Servant of Two Masters.

Music: Trevor Brown

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

Excellence Winner 2022 Communicator Awards:
Best Podcast Episode

Co-nominee (With 'On Thursday')
2022 Australian Podcast Awards:
The Indigenous Award

Whispering Moths

Timmy Reay was normally a quiet bloke, but after a few drinks anything could happen. He'd never been in jail before, but after things went too far one night, he ended up being sentenced. Once released, he never went back inside - and this story tells you why.

Reader:  Billy Macpherson, who said, ‘Deadly story, should be a movie!’

A Kamilaroi and Kooma man from south-west Queensland, Billy is an actor, playwright and accomplished didgeridoo player.

His recent screen work includes guest roles in RFDS and Frayed. Other television roles include Thalu, Black Comedy, Redfern Now, My Place, Dead Heart and Heartland. He also appeared in the films Around the Block and The Combination. He has performed in numerous roles for the theatre.

Music: Trevor Brown

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

First place 2022 Vega Awards:
Fiction Podcast

Nominee 2022 AWGIE Awards
Audio - Fiction

The Great Mantini

The Great Mantini is a magician who specialises in disappearances. Unfortunately.

Reader:  Tiriel Mora, who said, ‘The magic of love. And the love of magic. Talk about coming out of the armoire. Enjoy.’

Tiriel is best known for his iconic performances as Martin de Stasio in the classic Australian current affairs parody, Frontline, and lawyer Dennis Denuto in The Castle. His other TV work includes Operation Buffalo, Mr Inbetween, Home and Away, Love Child, Janet King, Rake, All Saints, Underbelly, City Homicide, The Secret Life of Us, Seachange and Redfern Now.

His other film appearances include roles in Happy Feet, Crocodile Dundee in LA, This Little Love of Mine, Book Week, Harmony, Other Life, Unindian, The Wolverine, Windsor, King Kong, The Parlour, Garage Days, Queen of the Damned, The Elixir, The Inheritance and Gods of Egypt.

Music: Trevor Brown

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

Conversation With Trevor

Trevor Brown composed the episode music for season two of Ear Movies. In this special episode he chats to Simon Luckhurst about his music and the processes he follows when he's composing.

Interviewer:  Simon Luckhurst, who said, ‘While I'm exploring new places to go with long "short" stories, Trevor is moving the other way and is composing mini-symphonies.’

Trevor Brown is an Australian freelance composer, multi-instrumentalist, improviser, artistic director, producer, sound designer, occasional academic, and radio presenter who works across several artistic and cultural fields.

Currently completing a Doctor of Music Arts at the Sydney Conservatorium on 'Composing with Volatile Media (playing with fire, working with the unknown and the uncontrollable via Improvised Conduction, Technological Interventions, Multi-Art form Collaboration and Environmental Compostition').

Music: Trevor Brown

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

Season One: The Society of Miracles

Biological Poker

When Katy Becker found love in the chemotherapy ward she knew that the heart-warming discoveries ahead of her would last a lifetime – she just didn’t know how long that would be for.

Reader: Ann Burbrook, who said, ‘This is such a beautiful story… it made me cry. Thank you so much for asking. I'm honoured to read it for you.’

Ann’s first two careers were as a classical ballet dancer followed by a stage, screen and voice actor.

She believes that at heart of every performance are great stories. As a performer she loves to explore story and character in order to open audiences eyes to others journeys and truths. She loves great writing and relishes working with thought provoking writers and directors.

After over 20 years as a performer she decided it was time to give back. She now runs her own business where she designs and facilitates communication programs to a range of participants, works for a vibrant and exciting social enterprise supporting young people, former refugees and the planet, and does her best with her partner as a parent to two teenagers.

Every now and again she is tempted back to performance… but only when the right story comes along. She says that Biological Poker was one of these stories.

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

The Other ANZAC War

Two outback towns fought in a war no one has ever heard of in this funny story of ANZAC and rural Australia.

Reader:  Brett Hunt, who said, ‘What you’ve captured here is just simply stunning... I’m speechless…’

Brett Hunt is a graduate of Wollongong University’s Creative Arts program.

As a singer, songwriter and actor Brett has released a number of CDs and toured Australia and overseas. He performs his one man show, Dusted Off, in schools around Australia.

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

Soul Searching

Trevor never laughed so much until he joined the funeral industry and met Knippler, Jimmy and Gavin, the ghost of an old mate.

Reader:  Tug Dumbly, who said, ‘Soul Searching is an inventive, macabre and blackly fun worm's-eye view of the funeral industry, from hyper earthy to hyper surreal, with real pathos too. It has great flesh and blood characters who I could really get my teeth into as I read it!’

Tug Dumbly is a poet, performer, songwriter and satirist who has worked widely in live venues, schools, and radio (Triple J and ABC 702). He established some seminal spoken word nights in Sydney, including the legendary Bardflys in Glebe.

He has released two spoken word CDs, once won the Spirit of Woodford storytelling award, twice won the Banjo Paterson Prize, and three times won the Nimbin Performance Poetry Cup.

Most of his career has focused on live performance but his work has also appeared in various publications including Southerly, the Canberra Times and the Australian. His first poetry collection, Son Songs, was released by Flying Islands Books in 2018.

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

Third place 2020 Vega Awards:
Best Podcast Episode

The Society of Miracles

Becoming invisible was no hardship for Leonie Morrison, as she’d been overlooked by most people for years anyway. Disappearing permanently from public view, however, was only the start of her story.

Reader:  Kate Fitzpatrick, who said, ‘I loved this curious, sad, fascinating story from the first time I read it. I could hear the voices.’

Kate Fitzpatrick has had a long happy career.

From stage to page and lots in between, Kate is a highly accomplished actor & four-time published author. Passionate, intelligent, witty and amusing, Kate has appeared on stage and screen, playing everyone from Marilyn Monroe, to Hamlet’s mother, Don Juan – and most recently, Fräulein Schneider in Cabaret.

She loves playing drama as well as comedy. Her professionalism and natural story-telling ability add to her success in the sound booth as a reader and voice over artist.

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

Deus ex Coke Machina

God appears to everyone at least once in their life. Or so he claims. For Pete Monroe, finding God in a Coke machine was not what he expected on his lunch break.

Reader:  Michael Thompson, who said, ‘Far out, this was funny. Made me think, too. Well done, mate.’

Michael has starred in numerous roles on television and in feature films.

He played the lead role in the feature film Daddy’s Little Girl along with supporting roles in 80 Proof and Battalion.

He is also the producer and co-host of the very funny podcast, The Dunces.

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

The Long Road

Lance Riley never set out to become a masseur. How this former long-distance truck driver became one of the best in the world is a touching story of endurance and compassion.

Reader,  Ian Rogerson, who said, ‘I’ve always loved Australian short stories and Simon has tapped into the working class ethos with great skill and affection.’

Ian originally leapt into radio at the ABC’S enfant terrible 2JJ in 1980. He presented almost every shift on the station. With his friend Jono Coleman as 'Jono and Dano' they established themselves as a radio and television comedy team for the rest of the decade.

From JJJ’s breakfast show to number one in consecutive Sydney surveys on Triple M nights, 2SM Breakfast and Melbourne’s Triple M, they romped across Australia’s airwaves for years.

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

First place 2020 Dotcomm Awards:
Best Podcast Episode

Erc, the Last Waler

A swagman, an Aboriginal stockman and a talking horse head to France in 1916. Although they have many laughs and adventures along the way, their real journey begins once the war is over.

Reader:  David Field, who said, ‘Great story... So touching and really the talking horse is just so f***ing great. It keeps the humour alive the whole way!!!! Simon brought this touching surreal story to me two years ago. What a pleasure to finally orate it. Hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did reading it!’

David Field has been a performer for the last 35 years. Though considered a character actor, he thinks that 'character' should be part of every actor’s work. He has appeared in many many films, TV productions and plays. He'd mention them but knows if you're interested that Google will reveal all!!!

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

2020 Christmas Special:
The Night Raider Before Christmas

A mother, a bikie, a bushranger and a believer in miracles appear in this podcast where elements of all the stories in Season One combine to create a unique Christmas episode.

Reader:  Elizabeth Surbey, who said, ‘This was funny, but then it made me cry!’

Elizabeth Surbey is a talented actor who studied drama and then went into teaching. She's a passionate advocate of the arts, of the need for theatre and for stories in general.

A note on the Podbean player. If you pause and episode and want to resume playing, just click the 'x' in the top right hand side of the player, and then press 'play' again.

Coming Soon

Season Four: The Stories we Tell

Get in touch

Drop us a line to let us know what you think of Ear-Movies.
producer@ear-movies.com

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Production

Music
Trevor Brown
Season Three underscores and Season Two interstitial music written and performed by Trevor.
Ear-Movies theme music and Season One music bought from the internet. A couple of sound effects in Season Three were sourced from Pixabay, however most were field recordings made by Trevor.

Thanks to
King Sound Studios

Thanks to
Relativity Studios

Ear-Movies is brought to you by Charlie's Wives.

Comments

I've just finished reading Charlie's Wives and hand-on-heart can say it's one of the most beautiful books I have ever read! Compassionate, gentle, kind, loving and real and I was up until 12 midnight last night reading it because I couldn't put the bloody thing down!! That's 2 and a half hours past my bedtime! - Tim via email.

That was one champion book. It just flows from first page to last. - Bryan on Facebook.

Just finished this book - a wonderful read. I highly recommend it. - Carole on Facebook.

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Interstice photo credits - top and bottom photos Season 1: Simon Luckhurst, all the rest: Adam Luckhurst, all photos Season 2: Simon Luckhurst, all photos Season 3: Adam Luckhurst. Thanks, bro!