Welcome to the August issue of The Acorn TV Dispatch.

We start this month’s newsletter with an interview with Amy Huberman. Acorn TV recently got to chat with the popular Irish actress about her new series, Finding Joy. It’s all about life, love, fulfillment, and “looking for happiness in all the wrong places.”

In this second issue of our Summer Destination series we’re continuing to explore some of the countries featured in the Acorn TV library. Last month we started with Wales, this time we’ll take a look at Australia.

For the August issue, we’ve got lots of Acorn TV shows from “Oz” to recommend for you (and some from New Zealand, too). We’ll take a closer look at Aussie slang. And to test just what you know about “speaking Australian” we’ve got a quiz on some of the peculiar terms they use Down Under.

So, as the Australians would say – keep on streamin,’ mate!

In this issue:

Amy Huberman chats with Acorn TV about her upcoming series
Quick Fire Questions with Amy Huberman
Australian and New Zealand Shows to Inspire Your Next Vacation
Understanding Australians and their slang
Ten Aussie terms to put you to the test
Acorn TV Watchlist: Discover Australia and New Zealand
Upcoming Aussie Premieres on Acorn TV
Trending topics in the Acorn TV fan community
Answers to this month’s Ask Acorn TV question
Upcoming premieres on Acorn TV

Surprised by Joy

Popular Irish actress Amy Huberman chats about her new Acorn TV series

Finding Joy is a six-part series created and written by the delightful Amy Huberman. She also stars in the lead role. You may know Amy from Striking Out, the hit Acorn TV legal drama. For the award-winning actress, Finding Joy is a distinct change of pace.

Last month, we chatted with Amy about this latest project. It’s the first series she has ever written and her first major foray into television comedy. You’ll be able to watch it later this year on Acorn TV. A joy indeed!

Tell us about Joy and what she’s doing when we first meet her.

Joy is a thirty-something copyeditor for a media organization. She has just broken up with her long-term boyfriend but seems to be coping quite well. She’s very self-contained and a bit of loner – a creature of habit with her own routine. She would say she’s got a fulfilled life.

However, everything changes when she has to stand in for the lifestyle reporter at work – the “happiness hunter.” That means Joy has to cover stories about all the ways people are looking for happiness in their lives. It’s the kind of self-discovery stuff that would normally make her break out in a rash. But the change at work ends up making her take a deeper look at herself.

And all this serious content comes in a comedy?

It’s a comedy-drama – the kind that can make you laugh but can also kick you in the gut.

Finding Joy looks into universal human emotions – happiness, sadness, joy, sorrow, regret. And it does it in the context of our modern, social media world. We’re always supposed to be multitasking and rediscovering ourselves, constantly comparing ourselves to others, thinking about what we’re supposed to have achieved by this stage in life. That brings pressure.

Do you enjoy comedy?

There’s a technical side to it that you have to work at. But on a comedy set the energy level is usually high. I like that. For comedy to work it has to be collaborative process.

Comedy is also really subjective. There are things people laugh at that I don’t think are funny. Or I could be chuckling away about something that others don’t find funny. I tried to be as honest as I could in Finding Joy. You have to write about what you know, about what makes you laugh.

You seem very different from Joy. How was it to play this introverted character?

I found Joy very easy to play. Our differences created a distance between me and the project. I found it easy to disappear into her world.

Joy is not bubbly or giddy at all. She’s quiet and still – a bit of a strange person really. But I’m very protective of her. And in the editing I’m trying to make sure she doesn’t become “every girl.”

I’ve never seen a character like Joy in a comedy before. I wanted to write a heroine who wasn’t “miss popular,” who wasn’t the extrovert. I wanted to get to know her – and then see what happens when her world turns upside down.

What is it like to see characters and scenes that you’ve created come to life on camera?

When I’m writing, I only really hear voices. I usually don’t visualize the characters. So it’s strange when you have to hand those characters and scenes over to somebody else. Other actors have to put their own layer onto things and figure out what they want to do.

The first day, I found that really hard. But by day two we really just found our rhythm and our pace. I would tell everyone, “this is the intention of the scene and what I what I think needs to happen.” And then they would bring their own flavor to it. I got totally engrossed in watching the other actors do what they were doing in a scene. I had to remind myself I also had to concentrate on Joy and delivering my own lines.

That happened a lot. Because, like a narcissist, I had written myself into nearly every scene!

What is your process for writing?

I’m quite disciplined. I get up at about six in the morning, maybe go to the gym, then go to a little office I have down the road. I’m usually done by noon. That way I feel like I still have my day and am able to be with my kids. It does mean going to bed early, though, which I wasn’t very good at. But I’ve gotten better – through shear tiredness.

Are you satisfied with what you have created?

I’ve never written a TV series before, so it’s been a steep learning curve for me. It feels a bit like walking the plank sometimes, like I’m putting myself on the line. But I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m terrified and intrigued to see the end result.

Back to our heroine – does she find joy?

I think she does. She lifts the lid on happiness. And she also lifts the lid on the pain she has chosen to ignore. I think she probably finds both in equal measure. You’ll just have to watch the series for yourself to find out!

Acorn TV Original Finding Joy will premiere this Fall, exclusively on Acorn TV! In the meantime, catch Amy in Acorn TV Original Striking Out and Irish drama The Clinic, both available now on Acorn TV.

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Australia and New Zealand Filming Locations

6 Australian and New Zealand Shows to Inspire Your Next Vacation

By CHRISTINE SARKIS, SmarterTravel.com

Raise a glass to multitasking—specifically the kind that allows you to binge watch great television and plan your next vacation at the same time. If you’ve had your eye on Australia or New Zealand, but you need a little visual inspiration to decide exactly where to go, then consider letting your remote lead the way. Here are six New Zealand and Australian shows on Acorn TV packed with the sort of scenery worth a trip Down Under.

The Abbreviating Aussies

Understanding Australians and their slang

Australians love their diminutives. If a word can be abbreviated, they think “why not?” From cuppas (cups of tea) to prezzies (presents) to sickies (days off sick from work), Australians like to shorten their words whenever they can. (Did you know that “selfie” started in Australia?)

The down-to-earth Aussies

Shortening words probably saves time. But it also sums up the relaxed, casual attitude to life of many Aussies (as they, not surprisingly, like to call themselves). Theirs is a laid-back style that they see as quite different from, say, the English. Or as they like to call them, the Pommies.

No one is quite sure where “Pommie” (or “Pom”) comes from. It might be a shortened form of Pomegranate – the color many British people turn when exposed to the hot Australian sun. Another theory harks back to the convict origins of some Australians. It claims that the acronym P.O.M.E. stands for “prisoner of mother England.”

The arrival of large numbers of convicts from the British Isles certainly had an impact on how people began to speak in this far-flung part of the empire. One early-1800s visitor to Sydney was appalled by what he heard. “The base language of English thieves is becoming the established language of the colony,” he complained.

No worries, mate!

Aussies are considered friendly and easygoing. Everyone’s their buddy – or as they would say, their “mate.” That’s a word that sums up Australians’ informality and egalitarianism, their shared sense of camaraderie and “being in it together.”

But sometimes the culture of “mateship” can go too far. At least that’s what the government in Canberra decided. In 2005, it banned use of the word “mate” in the Australian parliament. There were howls of protest from members.

But no worries! The ban only lasted 24 hours before it was withdrawn. All sides agreed that “mateship” was an essential part of Australian culture.

So what do you know?

As you might have suspected, Aussies also have their own word for Australian slang or their way of speaking. They call it “Strine.”

See how much Aussie slang you understand by taking our “Speak Australian” quiz below.

Speak Aussie? Ten Aussie terms to put you to the test

Some Australian slang words are well known, like “barbie” (barbeque) or “roo” (kangaroo). The 10 in our quiz might be a little harder to work out.

TAKE THE QUIZ →

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Acorn TV Watchlist: Discover Australia and New Zealand

Our Down Under dramas and comedies are among the most popular in the Acorn TV library. This month we’re adding two more – Mystery Road and 800 Words. See what other past favorites we’re recommending for you.

800 Words, Series 1-3

This sweet, refreshing family drama hailed as “wonderful” (Tribune News Service) follows recent widower George Turner’s impulsive decision to start afresh in the New Zealand coastal town of Weld, where he spent his summer vacations as a child. The Aussie invaders quickly become the center of attention in this small town populated by weird and wonderful locals. Watch 800 Words

The Brokenwood Mysteries, Series 1-4

This quirky New Zealand mystery follows DI Mike Shepherd, who arrives to the seemingly peaceful town of Brokenwood with a classic car, a country music collection, and an indeterminate number of ex-wives. His assistant, DC Kristin Sims, is a by-the-book investigator 15 years younger than her boss’s car. Shepherd soon discovers that Brokenwood is full of secrets and suspicions. Series 5 premieres Winter 2018. Watch Brokenwood Mysteries

Dear Murderer, Series 1

This raucous drama tells the true story of New Zealand’s most controversial lawyer, Mike Bungay (Mark Mitchinson, The Hobbit films, Spartacus). In a high-profile career that spans decades, he successfully defends alleged murderers, spies, and gang members. But no matter how many legal victories he wins, Bungay can’t quit his self-destructive habits and escape his own inner demons. Watch Dear Murderer

East of Everything, Series 1-2

In this addictive Australian drama, travel writer Art Watkins (Richard Roxburgh, Rake, Moulin Rouge!) is forced to return home to Broken Bay when his mother dies and dictates in her will that he reopen the family resort along with his estranged brother, Vance (Tom Long, SeaChange). Watch East of Everything

East West 101, Series 1-3

This “terrific, satisfying drama series” (The Sydney Morning Herald) follows driven and ambitious detective Zane Malik (Don Hany, Serangoon Road) as he investigates terrorism and other major crimes on the streets of Sydney. Winner of numerous awards-including Best Drama Series and Best Actor-this gritty and cinematic series tackles complex themes in a realistic, riveting way. Watch East West 101

The Heart Guy, Series 1-2

In this smash-hit Aussie drama, Rodger Corser (The Doctor Blake Mysteries) stars as Hugh Knight, a rising star in the Sydney heart surgery ranks. He is gifted, charmed, and seemingly infallible, believing he can live outside the rules. But after an incident involving drugs and alcohol, Hugh is banned from surgery and sent back to practice in his rural hometown. Watch The Heart Guy

Janet King, Series 1-3

Award-winning actress Marta Dusseldorp (A Place to Call Home, Jack Irish) returns as brilliant senior crown prosecutor Janet King in this acclaimed Australian legal drama. Full of twists and turns, this “astutely realized mystery” (The Australian) is “unnervingly intricate, dark, but steadily intriguing” (The Wall Street Journal). Watch Janet King

The Code, Series 1-2

Dan Spielman, Ashley Zukerman, and Lucy Lawless star in this “edge-of-your-seat portrayal of political skullduggery and subterfuge” (The Australian). After video of a deadly crash is sent to journalist Ned Banks, he and his hacker brother find themselves embroiled in matters of national security. “Highly entertaining but chillingly prescient” (The Australian). Watch The Code

Upcoming Aussie Premieres

**Acorn TV Original Mystery Road Premieres August 20**

Set against Australia’s majestic landscapes and stunning scenery, Mystery Road stars Aaron Pedersen (Jack Irish, A Place to Call Home) as detective Jay Swan, who is sent to the remote outback town of Patterson for what he thinks will be a simple investigation into the disappearance of two young jackaroos (workers on a sheep or cattle station). Partnered with tough local cop Emma James (Emmy, BAFTA, and Golden Globe winner Judy Davis), their investigation will gradually unpeel the layers of the town, as Jay’s ability to hunt beneath the surface reveals crimes and miscarriages of justice that stretch back into Patterson’s history. In solving the mystery of the missing boys, Jay and Emma – and the town – will learn a hard lesson – that you have to be truthful about your past to understand your present, and to have any sort of future.

Watch Trailer →

Jack Irish Returns This Fall

Emmy Award-winner Guy Pearce (Memento, Iron Man 3) is back in his iconic role as Jack Irish, a former criminal lawyer, and part-time debt collector, with a penchant for getting wrapped up in things he shouldn’t. Aided by journalist – and sometimes girlfriend – Linda Hillier (Marta Dusseldorp, A Place to Call Home, Janet King), Jack takes on cases that plunge him into Melbourne’s criminal underbelly in this acclaimed Aussie noir series. Series 2 premieres Sep. 10.

Watch Series 1 →

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Acorn TV Fan Community

Ask Acorn TV

Answers to common questions from Acorn TV fans

Why is the second part of 800 Words Season 3 premiering weekly? I was able to binge all eight episodes of Part 1 at once.

We know fans of the light-hearted family dramedy are anxious for more episodes, so we’re excited to have the opportunity to premiere each episode of Part 2 just one day after the Australian broadcast! The Turner family will return to Acorn TV on Wednesday, August 15 and a new episode will premiere every Wednesday, so mark your calendars!

I’m so excited for the new season of Agatha Raisin to premiere in November! Are there any other updates on Series 2?

Yes! The world premiere of Agatha Raisin Season 2 is set for November, exclusively on Acorn TV. The all-new season will adapt three of M.C. Beaton’s novels, The Wizard of Evesham, The Curious Curate, and The Fairies of Fryham. Revisit our June issue for a behind-the-scenes peek at the season 2 read-through, or visit Acorn TV on Facebook to go on set with stars Matt McCooey and Katy Wix.

The Acorn TV Original follows London PR whiz turned amateur sleuth Agatha Raisin (Emmy®-nominated actress Ashley Jensen, Love, Lies & Records, Ugly Betty) after she opts for early retirement in a small village in the Cotswolds and becomes entangled in mischief, mayhem, and murder.

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