NURTURING CREATIVITY AND INCLUSIVITY

Queer Screen turned the tables on two community radio hosts, interviewing them about their volunteer work covering MGFF25 for Gaywaves on 2SER. The program is co-hosted by Phil McNulty and Nikki Facchin who put their hand up to promote MGFF on the show. When Nikki headed off on holidays, Phil recruited an apprentice interviewer – 21-year-old Jayden, who is studying Screen and Media online through TAFE. We asked Phil and Jayden to tell us all about it.

Could you introduce yourselves?

Phil McNulty: During daylight hours, I am an NDIS provider, working with autistic adults to gain social and employability skills. My office is in Parramatta and my participants travel from as far afield as Pennant Hills, Cabramatta and the mid Blue Mountains. They are a wonderful bunch of young men and women who make me smile every day. My greatest joy is helping these very deserving young guys reach their goals.

Just to make me smile even more, on a Friday evening, I am one of the presenters on 2SER’s Gaywaves radio show. Along with Nikki Facchin, we talk about all that’s happening in the LGBTQIA+ community, including events, music and theatre. 

Jayden: I am 21 years old, I live in Baulkham Hills, NSW in a brick house, I draw things, I have mild autism (my functionality is good though) and I like movies and games. I am currently studying a TAFE online course called Certificate III Screen and Media. I have dreams of making movies, cartoons, games and I wish to have a media business afterwards.

How did you both come to be interviewing MGFF guests on the gay airwaves? 

Phil: Jayden is one of my participants, and I have known him since he was a 5-year-old in my classroom. For many years, Jayden has spoken about his desire to work in the media industry. He recently commenced his Screen and Media course at TAFE and has helped out on the show several times, reading news stories and giving opinions on the show.

Several of the MGFF guests were available for Zoom meetings during USA afternoon hours. These hours were during my regular work hours and Jayden saw this as a great opportunity to develop his skills. We set up three cross-continental meetings … all of which are available to hear on our podcasts, of course.

After our first interview, with Jake Holley from Riley, Jayden watched previews and researched IMDB pages to gain information and create some questions for the next two interviews (Under the Influencer and The Rebrand.) His questions were quite insightful and led to great discussions with the guests.

Jayden: I knew Phil when I was at a primary school at Blacktown, he was a teacher there. I still call him Mr McNulty or sometimes ‘Sir’. At high school, he was also helping me and some of my mates with work experience. At the last day of work experience at Coles, I showed my resume to the team members, and that’s how I currently work there. When I heard about Keads, Phil’s SLES organisation, I decided to join NDIS in order to go to Keads, to help me with what I want to accomplish and how to live my life.

Part of my dream is also to voice act characters in cartoons, so Mr McNulty asked me if I want to be part of the radio show he has made with his friends at a radio station. I was only on a few episodes before I had the interview with the movie stars and directors.

What was your favourite thing about interviewing filmmakers and actors? 

Phil: Juan Pablo di Pace [writer/director, Duino] was a highlight for me, as he featured in a wonderful moment in time that was important to me and my friends, from a much younger point in my life. However, feeling their passion and hearing about the important messages that all of the actors and filmmakers were trying to get across in their works was exhilarating for me. Spending a moment in time with people who share a true community spirit and mindset was so refreshing.

Jayden: My favourite part about interviewing these stars was when they were relating to me, and I got to hear Interesting behind the scenes facts about the movies they were a part of.

Given we all have an extensive array of LGBTQI+ film and TV at our fingertips these days, why do you think events like MGFF are important? 

Phil: Community spirit. The gay world is so different these days. There is no need to even leave your house to “connect” but, we also do not connect. MGFF showed that we can still get together and celebrate and share a moment of happiness together. And, as many of the filmmakers and actors added, it is so infrequent that they get to hear and feel the audience reaction. It’s so important. 

Jayden, what sort of films do you like to watch, and what do you want to make?

I do like watching most Marvel movies, I do enjoy watching animated films as well, I sometimes would also watch movies and TV shows that everyone keeps talking over and over about, and films based on games I like. I haven’t watched Family Guy in a while, but I do love that show too.

I do wish to be a part of big projects, but I would like to make a contract of my preferences for Hollywood that are hopefully not too strict, and work on projects outside of Hollywood.

Phil, why should people listen to Gaywaves? 

Phil: Where can I start? Gaywaves was the original queer radio show in Sydney, and for some time it was the longest running queer radio show worldwide. After a quite lengthy break, it returned during the late stages of Covid and… it has continued to be both informative and fun.

We are community focussed and love to speak to community members about their events and ideas. We promote queer music, theatre and film and cover the local and international queer issues that matter to you.

Nikki is an amazing and funny star and interviewer who knows everyone who is anyone in the Sydney scene. And cooks amazing shortbread. And I am good at timekeeping. I might also be the most interesting gay man you never noticed while you were out partying. I may have been serving bread to you at some point.

Tune in to Gaywaves on Friday nights at 7:30pm at 2SER 107.3, or listen anytime at 

2ser.com or via your favourite podcast app.