Episode #136 | Mia’Kate Russell

On this episode, I’m joined by writer and director Mia’Kate Russell to discuss her very excellent, highly entertaining, violent and bloody cat-and-mouse horror, Penny Lane is Dead. Set in 1986, during a scorching Aussie summer, Penny Lane is Dead follows three best friends who’s celebration at a beach house turns into a blood-soaked fight for survival when a prank goes horribly wrong. The films cast includes veterans Steve Le Marquand, Fletcher Humphrys and Ben O’Toole, and exciting new comers Sophia Wright-Mendelsohn (daughter of Ben), Tahlee Fereday, Alexandra Jensen and Bailey Spalding. Despite Penny Lane is Dead being her debut feature film as writer and director, Mia’kate Russell has worked in the Australian film industry for decades as a makeup and special effects artist on countless films including 2040, What If It Works and Scare Campaign and has been a make-up artist for major productions including Nitram and The Leftovers. As a writer and director, her short films have won more than 30 awards and screened at prestigious festivals all around the world. I absolutely loved this chat with Mia. She is such a great personality, and her humorous approach to filmmaking was a true delight. I should note that Mia did have some audio issues at the beginning of this interview, but they correct them quite quickly. Anyway… enjoy.