At the end of 2022, Aaron Lenden found him sitting at a roundtable with one of the biggest names in Australian cinema.
It was surreal moment, the Screen Media student finding himself surrounded by emerging directors and content creators as they listened to advice and industry insight from Madman Entertainment CEO Paul Wiegard - the guy responsible for international hits such as Animal Kingdom and Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
"Hearing from Paul Wiegard helped me in a big way," Aaron says. "It was a really good moment.
"He emphasised that a film needs a clear, direct statement of why that story needs to be told. He wants to know why you're the best director to tell it."
It's advice Aaron was able to use almost immediately, emphasizing those points when he applied to the Sunshine Coast Council's Regional Arts Development Fund for a $5,000 filmmaking grant. His application was successful.
