Film

The Milking Stool is an evening of complete relaxation in the company of fascinating speakers and of people, like you, who enjoy exploring ideas.

These aren’t talks, debates or lectures. This is the pleasure of listening to three wildly different opinions on the same subject from three wildly interesting people – film-makers, farmers, writers, executives, persuaders, chefs, environmentalists, musicians, activists.

We can’t promise you’ll leave the evening as a more interesting, sexier, more open version of yourself, but it’s a damn fine place to start.

We all love the movies, but have they become a cultural battleground?  Critics love Nomadland but Thor packs in the audiences.  Women Oscar nominees are a talking point.  Studio heads (yep, Harvey) have been ousted. Coppola calls comic-book movies ‘despicable’, while Scorsese says they aren’t even cinema.  Are the Hollywood days over, or are the movies as good as they ever were?   

Our speakers have produced, directed, written, bought and distributed award-winning films in Australia, Europe and the US.  They give us their views on film and the film industry – what’s great, what’s not, and what’s changing.