Cinema Nova Night 2025

FAME PRESIDENT Lewis Ironside welcoming everyone to the event

FAME LSA’s Cinema Nova Networking Night may have been on April Fools, but the event was no joke! Many of the best Entertainment and Media lawyers in Melbourne gathered to meet our members at Cinema Nova in Carlton while getting the chance to watch the upcoming ‘Breaking Plates’, an incredible backdrop for an incredible event. So let's recap.

‘Breaking Plates’ is a short film / documentary (only 25 minutes!) created by Karen Pearlman and Richard James Allen of the Sydney Based Physical TV Company. It explores the portrayal of women in the silent film era and how many found their voice in a world that systematically silenced them. An incredibly thoughtful film that went on to win the Best Australian Short Award at the 2025 Antenna Documentary Film Festival.

There are many ways I could describe Breaking Plates, but the best few words I would use include quirky, subversive and most importantly, fun. In particular, I loved how the film incorporated scenes from the silent film era into the storytelling and was thoroughly impressed with how, despite being silent, it felt like there was a cohesive story with the cuts not feeling jarring at all. It truly felt like there was a conversation happening between the old and new generations.

The lessons shared from the past were incredibly interesting too, with the main sentiment behind the film being that the revolution does not come in a sprint, but is something that takes time and endurance. This is an incredibly important message and this film just goes to show that there is still much work to be done. At the end of the day, the struggle for revolution is a marathon with hurdles along the way, requiring grit and energy the entire time.

Also, we can’t talk about Breaking Plates without mentioning the incredible Violette Ayad, who played an amazing lead. She really seemed to engage well with both the substance and message of the film, culminating in a stellar performance. Emma Watkins was another key player in the film and she looked like she was having a blast during her entire scene. The former Yellow Wiggle really leaned into the physicality of the silent film era, with her exaggerated facial expressions and over-the-top movements being a true highlight of the film.

So, what could top an incredible film? The chance to meet people who work in the Creative Industries of course! With everyone packed into the Nova Bar, everyone got the chance to have a chat with people working in industry, from those who have been well-renowned for decades, to those who are only a few months into their careers. A great opportunity to get their thoughts on the film and the Media and Entertainment law industry as well as tips and tricks for the upcoming clerkship application season!

Overall, this night was incredibly fun, and on behalf of FAME LSA, thanks to all students and lawyers who could come on down! We hope you all had a great time!