Funded by Screen Australia and Vicscreen, a new web series titled Monologue aims to have a satirical take on Australian news media and explore the hidden agendas behind clickbait headlines.
The show follows the chaos at Australia’s sixth most influential pop-culture news website Monologue, led by Monique Crawford (Emily Taheny, Mad as Hell), a socially-minded but narcissistic editor, and her conservative, money-hungry business partner Max Jenke (Mike McLeish, Utopia).
“It’s a world full of fiery arguments, ego pushing, and shambolic fun,” explains the show’s creator Nick Melin, who based the show on his experiences – both good and bad – working in the media.
Written by popular Australian comedy writers, including Nina Oyama (Koala Man, Utopia), Deidre Fidge (Get Krack!n), and Vidya Rajan (Why Are You Like This?), Monologue explores the blurred lines between fact and fiction in online journalism.
“Our goal with Monologue was to create a show that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, and we hope that it will start conversations and inspire viewers to approach online media with a more discerning eye,” says Melin.
Each episode delves into a specific element that underlines the credibility of online journalism, such as the use of “news bots” and the prevalence of “native advertising.”
Monologue will also offer a fully functional pop-culture website with satirical content and additional narrative content on social media, allowing viewers to fully immerse themselves in the Monologue world.
The show is available now on Monologue’s website as well as on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, Twitter and Youtube.
The show was produced by Jim Wright (Goodnight Sweetheart), and Elise Trenorden (All These Creatures) who believes that Monologue will resonate with “anyone who has felt disillusioned by the constant barrage of clickbait.”
Produced by Truce Films, and directed by Nicholas Clifford (We’ve All Been There) and Stef Smith (It’s Fine, I’m Fine), Monologue is a must-watch for anyone looking for a fresh and hilarious take on the media landscape.
The series received principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with VicScreen and was financed with support from the Swinburne University of Technology.