Newsletter #1 (2025)
MEET OUR NEW EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
A/Prof. Julia Erhart (President)Associate Professor in Screen & Media, Flinders University
Julia Erhart is an internationally recognised feminist film scholar and expert in the fields of feminist, LGBTQ, and documentary media. She is author of three books: Gendering History on Screen: Women Filmmakers and Historical Films (IB Tauris/Bloomsbury 2018), Gillian Armstrong: popular, sensual & ethical cinema (Edinburgh UP 2020), and The Children’s Hour (McGill-Queens UP 2024). If there is something you think SSAAANZ should be doing, please let Julia know (julia.erhart@flinders.edu.au).
A/Prof. Allison Craven (Treasurer) Associate Professor in English & Screen, James Cook University
Allison Craven teaches courses in Gothic literature and screen media, and Children’s Literature. Her primary research interests are in: fairy tale and gothic narrative; and in Australian film and cinema, and regional cinemas. She is the author of two monographs, and her most recent books are co-edited collections: Gothic in the Oceanic South: Maritime, Marine and Aquatic Uncanny in Southern Waters (2024); Monstrous Beings and Media Cultures: Folk Monsters, Im/materiality, Regionality (2023). She is an editor of Anthem’s Film and Culture series. As Treasurer, Allison looks after SSAAANZ’s financials, so please reach out to her about anything money-related (allison.craven@jcu.edu.au).
Dr Jessica Ford (General Secretary)Senior Lecturer in Media, University of Adelaide
Jessica Ford is a feminist media studies scholar who specialises in how, when and why feminism happens on television. Jessica writes about a wide range of television series, including Girls, Orange is the New Black, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Better Things, publishing in academic journals, such as Feminist Media Studies and Continuum, as well as academic anthologies and in journalistic outlets. As SSAAANZ Secretary, Jessica is responsible for administration, so if there’s something that should be on SSAAANZ’s agenda, let her know (jessica.ford@adelaide.edu.au).
Dr Fincina Hopgood (Vice President – Australia)Senior Lecturer in Screen Studies, University of New England
Fincina Hopgood is widely recognised for her expertise in screen portrayals of mental illness and her research collaborations with mental health and disability communities. Starting out as a freelance writer for Cinema Papers and Metro Magazine, Fincina has published widely on Australian cinema and is currently writing a monograph for Palgrave Macmillan Moving Images of Mental Illness on Australian Screens: The Shift Towards Empathy. Fincina is eager to hear from our Australian members about the opportunities and challenges related to screen studies in Australia (fhopgood@une.edu.au).
A/Prof. Arezou Zalipour (Vice President – Aotearoa New ZealandAssociate Professor in Screen Production and Cultural Studies, Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
Arezou Zalipour is an internationally recognised expert in migration, diaspora, and socio-cultural diversity in screen storytelling, practice, and industries. She conducts both traditional and creative practice research. Her book Migrant and Diasporic Film and Filmmaking in New Zealand (2019) was the first to examine multicultural filmmaking in New Zealand. Editor of Film International (Intellect), Director of AUT’s Centre for Screen Practice Research, and member of NZFC’s Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Group, Arezou is available to discuss how SSAAANZ can shape impactful Australasian research initiatives; do get in touch. (arezou.zalipour@aut.ac.nz)
Dr Tara Lomax (Ordinary Member – Communication Officer)Discipline Lead of Screen Studies, Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS)
Tara Lomax’s expertise is in contemporary Hollywood entertainment, including blockbuster franchising, multiplatform storytelling, and visual effects. She has published in JCMS: Journal of Cinema and Media Studies, Quarterly Review of Film and Video, and Senses of Cinema, as well as book collections including The Screens of Virtual Production: What is Real? (Routledge, 2025), Starring Tom Cruise (Wayne State UP, 2021) and The Superhero Symbol (Rutgers UP, 2020). She is on the editorial committee of Pop Junctions and is the Teaching Staff Member of the AFTRS Academic Board. For SSAAANZ Communication requests, please contact Tara (tlomax@aftrs.edu.au).
Dr Chris Comerford (Ordinary Member)Lecturer in Communication and Media, University of Wollongong
Chris Comerford is a Lecturer in Communication and Media at the University of Wollongong. He researches digital and screen media developments, fan cultures, serious leisure and digital pedagogies. He is the author of Cinematic Digital Television: Negotiating the Nexus of Production, Reception and Aesthetics (Routledge, 2022). Chris has also published on topics including superheroes and jurisprudence, the benefits of video game play in Animal Crossing during COVID-19, and the archiving of materials in fan wikis. You can reach Chris via email (ccomerfo@uow.edu.au) or on BlueSky (@chriscomerford.bsky.social).
Dr Amy Boyle (Ordinary Member – Early Career Researcher)Sessional Academic in screen, media and cultural studies, University of New South Wales and the University of Adelaide
Amy Boyle’s research explores the representation of gender and race, and the circulation of white heteropatriarchies and feminisms through Anglo-western television and popular culture. Her PhD thesis mapped the emergence and value of “popular feminist television” in the subscription environment (2024, University of Wollongong) and her work is published in Television & New Media, Violence Against Women, Feminist Media Studies and Signs. Amy has worked across four universities, holding representative positions as a HDR and now ECR. For questions or information about the SSAAANZ Mentorship Scheme, please contact Amy (amy.boyle@unsw.edu.au or amy.boyle@adelaide.edu.au).
Dr Andrew Couzens (Ordinary Member – Early Career Researcher)Lecturer in Digital Media, Central Queensland University
Andrew Couzens’ research interrogates intersections between place, industry, and culture on the screen. He seeks to empower filmmakers, especially from regional Australia, to represent themselves and their communities authentically, bringing that same drive to screen studies, where he aims to dismantle structural barriers to participation. Andrew encourages ECR members to reach out about how SSAAANZ can better represent and support those building their research careers while in precarious or teaching-focused employment (a.couzens@cqu.edu.au). He is also the best contact for information about the the Regional & Dispersed (R&D) Hub.
Sophie Tallis (Ordinary Member – Higher Degree Researcher)PhD candidate in Screen Studies, Australian National University
Sophie Tallis’ thesis examines the representation of feminine adolescent bodies in contemporary French and francophone cinema and the relationship between girlhood cinema and national identity. Her research has been published in academic journals and public-facing outlets including the Australian Journal of French Studies, the Burgmann Journal and Sacreblue! She is also a casual academic at ANU, teaching in the Screen Studies and English programs. If you have any ideas about how SSAAANZ can best support and advocate for HDR Students, please reach out to Sophie (Sophie.Tallis@anu.edu.au).
NEW HUB: Regional and Dispersed (R&D) SSAAANZ Hub
You are invited to attend the first event for the new Regional and Dispersed (R&D) SSAAANZ Hub. This Hub aims to support screen studies scholars who may experience geographic or institutional isolation in their careers. Though all are welcome to attend R&D hub events, they are particularly designed with the following groups in mind:
Scholars living/working in regional areas or for regional universities;
Scholars in New Zealand;
Scholars who are not attached to a campus or who do not have a “home” institution;
Scholars working for institutions with very small (or even no) screen studies departments.
Most events for the R&D Hub will be run online. There will be a mix of events throughout the year, ranging from relaxed catch ups for building collegial and collaborative relationships between members to more formal workshops and seminars examining challenges specific to being regional and dispersed researchers. If you have ideas or feedback that could help the R&D Hub better meet your needs as a regional or dispersed scholar, please contact the Hub Lead, Dr Andrew Couzens: a.couzens@cqu.edu.
First Event
Date: Friday 16th May, 2025
Time: 11:30am to 12:30pm AEST
Meeting Link: https://tinyurl.com/SSAAANZRDHubEvent
Theme: Research Work in Progress
Attendees are invited to share their in-progress or early-concept research projects to build their research profile and facilitate networking for potential future collaboration opportunities. Those interested in sharing their work should prepare a short talk of no longer than 3 minutes to allow time for discussion. ECR and RHD scholars will be given priority.
RSVP: If you wish to share your work, please email Andrew Couzens (a.couzens@cqu.edu.au) by 12 May to assist with planning. No RSVP is required for non-presenters.
SSAAANZ MEMBERSHIPS
SSAAANZ annual membership runs from 1st July to 30th June of the following year regardless of when a member joins. Annual memberships are to be renewed from 1st July each year. If you are already a member, you will receive a reminder to renew your membership in June.
Membership price for 12 months is $60 for continuing salaried Academics or Industry personnel and $20 AUD for precariously employed Academics, ECRs or Industry personnel and students.
Benefits
Connect with other Screen Studies colleagues, participate in a biennial Screen Studies conference and access to discounted conference registration.
Apply for funding to write a sponsored research paper that fosters discussion of the state of the field of Screen Studies.
Participate in our mentorship program, Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and Hubs.
For more information or to sign up, visit our website.
Please encourage colleagues, ECRs and HDRs in Screen Studies to join SSAAANZ! Feel free to forward this newsletter or reach out to ssaaaanz@gmail.com to get involved!