The Assembly on ABC and ABC iview S1E1 – Mentored by one of Australia’s most renowned interviewers, Leigh Sales, The Assembly follows autistic journalism students as they interview Australia’s biggest names including legendary actor Sam Neill, beloved radio and television personality Hamish Blake, Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese, award-winning singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem, sporting legend Adam Goodes and radio and television star Amanda Keller.
In the first episode of The Assembly, the student journalists meet Leigh and begin their preparation for their first celebrity interview with actor Sam Neill. The students are excited to ask him a variety of questions, including acting tips, his experiences on Jurassic Park and the details of the chickens on his farm.
During the preparation, we meet Dale, an 18-year-old student who was homeschooled for most his school life and Evie, a 20-year-old student who shares their ‘wonderland’ – a fascinating insight into what autism is like for them.
All the students bring a fresh and engaging approach to preparing for their interview, while also offering unique insights into their lives on the autism spectrum.
During the interview, the Autistic journalism students ask whatever questions they want, nothing is off the table, and anything can happen. The questions are often unexpected, with the results ranging from hilarious to deeply moving. The interview gives a rare insight into a side of Sam Neill that we have never seen before.
Production credit: A HELIUM Pictures production
The Assembly on ABC and ABC iview – Tuesday 20 August at 8:30pm
TV Central ABC content HERE
The Assembly on ABC and ABC iview S1E1
