“Aussiewood”: Acting Mastery Academy Joins the Conversation About Sydney's Growing Screen Industry

Something exciting is happening in Australia's screen industry — and particularly in Sydney. The Wentworth Courier recently explored the rise of what has increasingly been dubbed "Aussiewood" — a nod to the growing number of major international productions, filmmakers and actors choosing to work, and increasingly live, in Australia.

The name has also been given to the proposed $650 million Pacific Bay Resort Studios and Village in Coffs Harbour, a major film-studio precinct backed by Russell Crowe. While the project is still in development, its ambition reflects the broader momentum building across Australia's screen industry.

The feature written by Rupert Noffs looked at the extraordinary level of production currently flowing through NSW, from major international films to new investment in studio infrastructure, alongside the opportunities this growth is creating for Australian crews and performers.

Among the Australian filmmakers featured were Benjamin and Holly-Anna Mathews, founders of Acting Mastery Academy. And fellow industry colleague Nick Hardcastle graced the cover for the feature story.

Benjamin and Holly-Anna's inclusion in the story was particularly rewarding because it reflected how our publicity campaign had evolved. Our initial focus was their 2026 Tropfest wins. Then we moved to the launch of Acting Mastery Academy and the arrival of renowned Hollywood acting coach Ivana Chubbuck in Sydney for the academy's first major international masterclass.

But good publicity campaigns often evolve as you go!!!

As we continued talking with media, a broader story emerged: what does this extraordinary period of international investment and production actually mean for Australian actors and filmmakers?

Benjamin told the Wentworth Courier that while Sydney has always had world-class actors and crews, geography is no longer the barrier it once was. Self-tapes, global casting and streaming have fundamentally changed how Australian talent can build international careers. At the same time, international productions are increasingly coming to Australia.

Holly-Anna also raised an important point about what needs to happen alongside that growth. Australia must continue investing in its own stories and developing the next generation of Australian writers, directors and actors. And I fully support this.

It's a conversation that extends far beyond one acting academy.

Australia has the talent. It has world-class crews, locations and production infrastructure. International productions are arriving; new opportunities are being created, and the traditional idea that Australian talent must leave the country to build an international career is changing. For the past month, I've listened to Ivana tell the media that it is very important for actors to develop a quality reel and experience before even considering the leap to competitive Hollywood in North America.

For Acting Mastery Academy, that's precisely the environment in which it has launched. They connect Australian actors with leading international coaches and casting professionals while helping them build careers from Australia. They help their students create quality launchpads.

For me as a publicist, this placement was also a reminder of something I love about media relations: sometimes the strongest story isn't exactly the one you started pitching. You find the larger conversation your client genuinely belongs in.

And right now, Australia's growing place in the global screen industry is a very interesting conversation to be part of. Rupert wrote a very thoughtful article, and he included so many perspectives. Read the full Wentworth Courier feature: "Sydney's film industry on the rise as Hollywood stars come to live and work."