Yolanda Ramke interview: ‘We’ve got great talent in Australia that just can’t get a look-in’

The Cargo and Troppo writer and director used stepping stones in both Hollywood and Sydney to rise through the ranks. Here's how.
Directors in conversation in bush

But Yolanda Ramke, along with her working partner Ben Howling, has gone from a viral short film, to a feature with an International actor, to direct in North America, to receive two AWGIES from the Writers’ Guild, to then create Troppo, the drama series currently running on the ABC. All in less than ten years.

‘I was just trying to learn and figure out how all the pieces fit together. When we made student productions I gravitated very early towards the role of writer and director, and I did draw encouragement from the fact that my classmates would tend to vote to get my projects up.’

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David Tiley was the Editor of Screenhub from 2005 until he became Content Lead for Film in 2021 with a special interest in policy. He is a writer in screen media with a long career in educational programs, documentary, and government funding, with a side order in script editing. He values curiosity, humour and objectivity in support of Australian visions and the art of storytelling.