What's It Like Watching the Love of Your
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DO YOU WANT TO KILL ME? AREN’T YOU JUST A FAME WHORE? WHERE DO YOU HIDE YOUR DICK? WHAT’S IT LIKE WATCHING THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE GET POUNDED? HOW MUCH DID YOU LIE? WHAT BATSHIT CRAZY THINGS DID THEY MAKE YOU DO? HAS IT COMPLETELY RUINED YOUR LIFE? 1 photo or a series of photos You Can’t Ask That will be one of the most Closer to home the series won three United diverse programs on Australian television Nations Association of Australia Media Awards in 2018, featuring the first-person voices of for Promotion of Social Cohesion, Promotion former cult members, priests, swingers, of Disability Rights and Issues and for the people with schizophrenia, drag performers, Promotion of Empowerment of Older People. survivors of sexual assault, people with The series is nominated for the 2018 Logie eating disorders and ex-reality TV stars. Award for the Most Outstanding Factual or SERIES THREE The series shines a light into all corners of Documentary Program. Australian culture and identity, uncovering STARTS WEDNESDAY 11 JULY AT 9PM ON ABC unique perspectives rarely heard with such You Can’t Ask That was the most played (non- honesty or clarity. kids) program on ABC iview in 2017. Short video OR WATCH ALL EPISODES ON ABC IVIEW content complementing the series reached over Guests in the series include: drag queen 200 million people on Facebook, with one online You Can’t Ask That, a proudly homegrown superstar, Courtney Act; Bunbury’s video achieving an unprecedented 45 million ABC original format, puts misunderstood and bum-dancing former Big Brother contestant, views making it the most viewed social media marginalised Australians front and centre. The Sara-Marie Fedele; Anglican Church video published by an ABC TV account ever. series confronts prejudice and discrimination whistleblower, Reverend Roger Dyer; child by offering searing insights into the lives of sexual abuse survivor and advocate, Dr Stuart In every episode of You Can’t Ask That the diverse Australians who live in judgement. By Kidd; former Geelong AFL player who now lives audience witnesses subjects, stories, people asking only the hard questions and allowing with schizophrenia, James McLure; and Liz and perspectives that traditional television interviewees to answer in their own words with Chapman who has lived with anorexia nervosa avoids or shies away from. The show’s guests conviction, candidness, fervour and humour, the for over 40 years. candidly share their insights and experiences series adds new voices and fresh perspectives to illuminate the complexities of Australian life to subjects often dismissed. In 2017 You Can’t Ask That was recognised in 2018. In a world dominated by judgement, globally winning the European Broadcast debate, ignorance and innuendo their voices cut Rarely in Australian public life are the voices of Union’s prestigious Rose d’Or award for Best through unlike any others. the people at the centre of our public debates Reality and Factual Entertainment Program. The actually heard. The majority of media still tends appeal of this ABC original format has resulted Production Credits: to rely on celebrities and social commentators, in six international versions of the show already An ABC Production. experts and professionals, academics and broadcast or in production globally. Options Series Produced and Directed by industry mouthpieces. You Can’t Ask That does have been signed for a further 10 territories Kirk Docker and Aaron Smith the opposite, going straight to the source and worldwide, a testament to the power and ABC Executive Producer Lou Porter. giving only those with the lived experiences flexibility of the format, making it on-track to the opportunity to talk. The series shifts the becoming the ABC’s most successful format For further information contact: typical interviewer/interviewee power dynamic ever. Bridget Stenhouse, ABC Publicity by putting the authority back into the hands of (02) 8333 3847 the interviewees. The questions are blunt, the e: [email protected] answers surprising. AWARDS, TESTIMONIALS AND REVIEWS FROM SERIES 1 & 2 AWARDS TESTIMONIALS REVIEWS WINNER “We congratulate the ABC and the You Can’t “While some programs treat diversity as a box- Rose d’Or Award, 2017 Ask That teams for the deeply authentic and ticking exercise, here’s one that reflects why it is so Best Factual Entertainment & Reality Program respectful way they have shared the stories of important in the first place: to reflect the breadth people who have attempted suicide. We need of human experience. If someone had told me WINNER TV of this quality to reduce the stigma around the best Australian TV series of the last few years United Nations Association of Australia Media suicide and inspire more people to seek help simply involved people reading out questions then Award, 2017 when they feel life is no longer worth living. At answering them, I’d have said they were crazy. But Promotion of Social Cohesion SANE Australia, we have witnessed firsthand here we are.” how much interest and hope this project has Luke Buckmaster - The Guardian WINNER generated. We salute everyone involved in the United Nations Association of Australia Media production, most especially the inspiring people “Hooray for this sublime factual series. You Can’t Award, 2017 who have shared their stories. Thank you all.” Ask That brings the pleasure of having a civilised, Promotion of Disability Rights and Issues Jack Heath - Chief Executive Officer, SANE intelligent conversation with someone you wouldn’t Australia ordinarily meet and provides the kind of exchange WINNER of ideas the world could use a lot more of.” United Nations Association of Australia Media “It is incredibly moving and it contains material Melinda Houston - The Sydney Morning Herald Award, 2017 that most people would never have heard — Promotion of Empowerment of Older People every health professional will be helped by “At the most basic level, the show won me over hearing this honest and inspiring testimony. because it’s been done extremely well. It ends up NOMINEE Thanks to the ABC for groundbreaking program being extremely genuine and heartfelt: real people, United Nations Association of Australia Media #YouCantAskThat on suicide. Illustrates the sitting with friends, families or lovers, having real Award, 2016 pathway and the road back to life.” conversations about the realities of their lives. From Promotion of Social Cohesion Award Professor Patrick McGorry AO - mental these conversations, we can actually learn a lot.” health expert Simon Copland - The Guardian NOMINEE United Nations Association of Australia Media “Watching this episode of You Can’t Ask That “While its aim as a documentary series is worthy Award, 2016 has made me feel less alone, less embarrassed, and sober, it is also witty and amusing and, on Promotion of Disability Rights and Issues less like a failure. Please watch it. It’s important. occasions, laugh-out-loud funny. Surely few It moved me, and I hope it moves you. This other doco series engage with the complexity, NOMINEE episode of brilliantly made television has helped density and contradictions of those living with Logie Award, 2018 me more than you could imagine.” disadvantage.” Most Outstanding Factual or Documentary Rosie Waterland - author Graham Blundell - The Weekend Australian Program AWARDS/SERIES STATISTICS & FIGURES/TESTIMONIALS SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT Asked if she actually said “no” at the time of the SURVIVORS OF assault, Jana says, “I think it’s an important question because I didn’t say ‘no’. But I didn’t say ‘yes’. I was asleep. I woke up and it was all happening. I SEXUAL ASSAULT was in shock”. Jana reflects on the scenario, common WHAT WERE YOU WEARING? to many but rarely discussed openly, “In the years EP1: WEDNESDAY 11 JULY, 9PM following, I did a lot of reading and research into WERE YOU DRUNK? ON ABC & IVIEW other people’s assaults and their stories and it DID YOU LEAD THEM ON? became abundantly clear that it wasn’t my fault. It In the opening episode of You Can’t Ask That, eight was never my fault.” women and men tell their deeply personal stories of YOU CAN’T PROVE IT. sexual assault — sharing what happened, how people “When the police came around to tell me that they’d reacted, whether or not they got justice and what they caught him I was just so relieved. I actually thought WHY SHOULD I BELIEVE YOU? did to recover. Empowering and affirming, the unique he was going to find me and kill me” explains Faith format of You Can’t Ask That adds surprising, new and of Northern NSW, a victim of a late-night violent attack accessible perspectives into the conversations already from a stranger. Unlike the vast majority of sexual DO YOU HATE SEX NOW? occurring worldwide. These are voices you need to assaults occurring in Australia, her’s resulted in a hear — voices and insights you won’t hear anywhere conviction and lengthy prison sentence for the else. perpetrator. “He went to jail for a long time. And he’s still in custody. He is paying the price. He continues DO YOU DREAM OF Answering the first question of the episode, ‘How did to pay the price and I believe that he will continue to YOUR ATTACKER DYING you get yourself into that situation?’, Nicole refutes the pay the price forever”. Years on from the attack, Faith assumption that it was somehow her fault — “I was reflects, “In my higher moments I feel sorry for him. A HORRIBLE DEATH? married and I was in my own home, in my own bed. I forgive him because my life is so much more than That’s how I got myself into that situation.