My Role
Co-host, editor, writer, film director, designer
WHat is hungry talks?
Hungry Talks is an RMIT student-run, online seminar series created to induct our fellow young creatives into the rapidly developing world of advertising. Previously, the show was simply a live lecture, encouraging advertising students to come along, chat to industry professionals and seek any answers to pressing questions.
This year, the 2021 Hungry Talks team saw an opportunity to create a more engaging and casual production combining the fun of 70s game shows with the innovation of the ad industry.
We broke up the show introducing new segments including ‘Perri’s News’ and ‘Ben on the Street’ as well as smaller game segments including ‘hot seat’, ‘hot or not’, ‘higher or lower’ and many more.
We had 29 gusts appear on the show from all departments and sides of advertising and design. We discussed areas of policy and regulation, to going brandside and how the industry looks internationally.
We scored Russel Howcroft and Kimberlee Wells, panellists on Gruen and accomplished ad people, head of creative and production of Walt Disney, Andrew Hutchison, and many more impressive guests.
The quick briefs we set for the students also went global, from The Body Shop Tokyo to TikTok Sydney.
Highlight reel
Production
Unfortunately, it was not all smooth sailing! Our ambitions were high and we definitely bit off more than we could chew. Luckily for us though, our determination and hard work matched our oversized ambition.
Moving the show from a simple lecture on teams to a live production broadcast to YouTube was definitely a challenge, having many tech crashes, we really needed some on the spot thinking and fixes to ensure our live audience of 80 were staying engaged and not leaving.
Luckily it wasn’t just the 5 advertising students under the pump. Our team quickly grew to 23 including three second year advertising interns and 15 media and production students.
My role
For Hungry talks I took the main role as editor and co-host yet I would do my share to help out where I can designing small additions that were needed for smaller game segments for the guests.
I storyboarded, Directed, edited and shot the opening intro for the show, as well as created and ran my own segment…
Hello and welcome to my segment. 'Ben on the street', a segment where we take advertising out of the class room giving students a chance to have a taste of what industry life is like, by talking to guests such as past graduates such as (Grace Tenaglia, Liam Ratliff, Lily Lazzarotti), industry professionals (Sarah McGregor) and Celebrities (Russel Howcroft & Campbell Walker aka Stuthless). In total there were 14 guests on the show with an outstanding 10 episodes.
Some of the topics I spoke about included: Ethical advertising, preparing for pitch night, how to get your foot in the door, pitching to clients, brand activism (whether it's genuine or not), and the benefits of finding your DUO!
'Ben on the Street' was my baby, it was finally a chance to be behind the camera and in front for a full production segment.
Episodes
Ep1 - Student only premiere
Starring John Dingeldi - RMIT.
Ben on the Street guests: Gid Goldberg, Sophie Adam, Victoria Grech
Ep2 - Duos
Starring Zac Blakemore and Grga Calic - Akcelo
Ben on the Street guests: Hannah Lawson and Kate Davies
Ep3 - Accounts Management
Starring Dan Collado - AKQA
Ben on the Street guests: Lily Lazzarotti, Liam Ratliff and Grace Tenaglia
Ep4 - Digital Strategy
Starring Tommy Jackson - Hardhat
Ben on the Street guests: Hannah Lawson and Kate Davies
Ep5 - Brand Side
Starring Olivia Gatt - Bondi Sands
Ben on the Street guests: Lily Lazzarotti, Liam Ratliff and Grace Tenaglia
Ep6 - Ethical Advertising
Starring Megan McEwin - Australian Association of National Advertisers
Ben on the Street guest: Sarah McGregor
Ep7 - Creative Direction
Tom Curtis - MediaCom, London
Ben on the Street guests: Evelyn Zgrablic, Pat Bucoy, Noa Shenker
Ep8 - Unconventional Advertising
Andrew Hutchison - Walt Disney
Ben on the Street guest: Campbell Walker AKA Struthless
Ep9 - Special Game Night
Starring Kimberlee Wells - TBWA, Matthew Stoddart - TBWA,
and Hilary Badger - Clemenger BBDO
Ben on the Street guest: Russel Howcroft
Ep10 - Pitch Night/Being Job Ready
Starring Sally Browbill - The Brownbill Effect
Ben on the Street guests: Lily Lazzarotti, Liam Ratliff and Grace Tenaglia
Meet the team
Advertising team
Alana Wood - Creative Director, Producer, Co-host, Scriptwriter
Bella Polazzon - Co-host, Content Creator, Scriptwriter
Benjamin Caruso - "Ben on the Street" Presenter, Art Director
Christine Nguyen - Art Director, Content Creator
Perri Kapnias - "Hungry News" Presenter, Lead Strategist, Copywriter
Aimee Tadmore, Olivia Stewart, Gemma Srijan - Episode Planning Assistants
John Dingeldei - "Hungry Talks" Mentor
Production team
Charlie Fenderson - Production Manager, Live Cross Coordinator
Conor Lynch - Technical Producer, Show Caller, Director
Tom Mok - Technical Producer, Audio Director, EVS Operator
Valentina Miranda - Technical Director
Niall Allen - Graphics Designer, Graphics Operator
Jacob Deguara - Media Playout, Vision
Tamsyn Meader - Autocue operator, Floor Manager
Will Alexander - Audio Operator
Cong Nguyen - Camera 1
Abby Hambleton - Camera 2
Wallace Wang - Camera 3
Jett Manzie - Autocue
Jacob Leighton - Lighting Operator
Lachie Braithwaite - Directors Assistant
Damien Buckland - Director's Assistant, Autocue Operator
Ron Frim - Technical Crew Supervisor
