Australian writer du jour Kodie Bedford is showing no signs of slowing down, with writing credits including Reckless for SBS and NITV, RFDS for the Seven Network, Territory for Netflix and Firebite for Prime Video, not to mention a myriad of projects for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) including Return to Paradise, Summer Love, Mystery Road, Mystery Road: Origin, Squinters, Troppo and All My Friends are Racist. Currently splitting her time between Perth, Sydney and London, this “girl from Gero” in Western Australia is just getting started.
How’s London? What does today look like for you?
I was up early this morning for my French lesson. I’m only learning French because my nephews, who live in France, are native speakers and like a nosey writer, I want to know if they are gossiping about me when they grow up. I’m currently in my local café in East London drinking a flat white (found a place that makes them almost as good as Australian flat whites!). I’ve done a lot of writing in here so the lovely baristas straight up know my order when I walk in. It’s a rare sunny day so I’ll just do a morning writing session and then walk my neighbour’s dog, Ethel the westie, and enjoy the mild weather. I know, I know, writers will do anything to avoid writing!
Growing up in Gero*, did you always want to be a writer? How did you find yourself in the industry?
I grew up around a lot of storytellers in my family. I listened to many tall stories and many great yarns and I used to write short stories out of them for my Nan to read. I knew I wanted to write but it wasn’t until I saw Buffy that I wanted to specifically be a screenwriter. Of course, being in regional WA, I had no idea how to break into the industry so I decided it would be easier for me to move into journalism. That career took me to Sydney. I never forgot my dream of being a screenwriter though and since I was already living in Sydney, I just looked for pathways into film and television. My big break came when I got hired to be a notetaker in the Mystery Road series writer’s room.
*Gero = Geraldton in Western Australia.
How did you score a literary agent in the UK?
I was looking to grow my craft outside of Australia. I mostly got called up to provide expertise for Indigenous characters and I felt I was just a box ticking hire. I thought to myself that I wasn’t going to grow as a better writer by getting hired for the same old jobs so I decided to take a leap and move overseas. I was thinking either LA or London. I grew up watching English comedies like Fawlty Towers with my Nan and Pop, so I felt more confident to go to London. I interviewed a few international agencies. It’s important to “date” agents to see if they have the same values and have the same career goals and are on the same page as my lovely Australian agent Candice at RGM. My UK agent Rachel and I bonded straight away, and she got my cheeky sense of humour. Rachel, Candice and I all work as a team. With the changing landscape of financing television, I have a lot of UK/Australian projects brought to me so it’s working out well.
Who are your career idols?
I’m told you should never meet your idols in this business! That’s true, but I had two blak women who I looked up to growing up. Leah Purcell and Tasma Walton. I read Leah’s Box the Pony play in high school, and it blew my mind. And I watched Tasma on Blue Heelers (Dash McKinley!). She’s also from Geraldton so it planted a seed that regional WA kids can get into the industry. I have been fortunate enough to work with them both in my career and they are the most inspiring and kind women who I seek advice from. If you told teenage Kodie I’d be working with them both, I would laugh!
From a writing point of view: Vince Gilligan, Jesse Armstrong, Sally Wainwright. I think everyone would have them on their list. I just love the way they all push characters. Also, the entire Buffy writing staff! They’re the reason I’m here.
What genre do you enjoy writing the most?
I write a lot of drama. I’ve also written comedy. I think my sweet spot is black comedy. I love exploring the psychology of f***ed up situations. I can’t write drama without a bit of light comedy sprinkled in. Life is absurd and I like to lean into the absurdity. But I love writing any genre with good characters. Characters are what makes TV for me.
You’ve written loads of television, what kind of feature films do you see yourself writing?
I want to write a horror and a rom com. Vastly different I know, but as a 90s kid, I was hiring both out at the video shop on those 7 for 7 deals.
What are some of the most underrated Australian TV series of all time?
At the moment, I think RFDS is the series with the most heart and drama. I love the way creator Ian Meadows crafts a season together and I was lucky enough to work under Ian for the latest season. The show has drawn in a huge audience so I don’t think it’s been underrated by the public (and my Mum) but more underrated by fellow peers in the industry. I was disappointed it wasn’t nominated for an AACTA award because I thought the latest season should have been recognised.
Other underrated shows: well I love Nick Verso’s works of Crazy Fun Park and Invisible Boys. Both coming-of-age pieces and targeted at a younger audience but damn it hits you in the adult heart too. Nick is a visual storyteller and he directs with boldness, creating some of the most authentic characters.
What advice would you give emerging Western Australian writers?
Give yourself permission to write vulnerably. Don’t limit yourself. Finish that script! And remember this industry is a business. If you face rejection (and we ALL do) it’s not a reflection on your work or you. Sometimes we take it personally because we do write from vulnerable places. But it’s never personal once it gets in the machine. It’s just simply business. That’s why it’s important to find your people that will take care of your work and respect it.
Where in Western Australia would you love to shoot?
Obviously hard to pass Geraldton! Would love to find something to shoot there. And of course, my dream is to make a sexy, boundary-pushing Western in the Kimberley on my traditional land. I have written the screenplay, I just need the money to make it!
What are you currently working on? What’s next for Kodie Bedford?
Last year was huge for me. I got to make Reckless for SBS and NITV with such a talented cast and crew in Fremantle, working with the wonderful director Beck Cole. It was the first time I got to EP a show (it’s on SBS On Demand if you haven’t seen it!) and I learned a hell of a lot which will set me up for the next thing I EP. This year though is a bit of a reset. I think it’s important as a writer to always find time to live life as well as it serves as inspiration in your work. I love working on other people’s projects to keep up my craft so I’ve been doing that.
But immediately what’s next? Walking Ethel. I better get to her, the sun is still out in London!
Learn more about partnering with talented Western Australian writers and filmmakers like Kodie.
Contact Melissa Hayward from Screenwest.
