“Share Plates is the kind of work I came to film school hoping I'd one day get to make,” said Caden Pearson.

“A national broadcast credit, made in Far North Queensland (where I'm from), with a crew who all live here, telling stories about the people who live and belong here. The fact that Kate and I made Share Plates here, with a local team, for SBS Food, feels like a real full-circle moment.”

“Writing and co-producing Share Plates alongside Caden was a genuine career highlight,” said Kate Boylan-Ascione.

“This was a true creative collaboration rooted in respect for place, people, and the small shared moments that make these stories resonate so widely. We engaged the brilliant Steph Tisdell as host, the thread that pulls the episode together, unpacking identity, memory and complex identities through the guise of food.”

The series was supported by Screen Queensland, Screenworks and SBS through a talent development initiative designed to build broadcast experience for emerging regional producers. As Far North Queensland locals, Boylan-Ascione and Pearson emphasised the importance of programs like these in creating opportunities for early-career creatives looking to showcase their lived experience outside of metropolitan settings.

“When I was at Griffith Film School, I had to leave Far North Queensland to chase that kind of dream career,” Pearson said. “It makes it extra meaningful that I’ve been able to produce three productions in FNQ in 2025 — Share Plates, the Screen Queensland-funded web series Lakefield (which I also wrote and directed), and the indie feature Storm Bird, with more good news from that team coming soon.” The pair first connected through Screen Queensland’s Script to Screen program, later collaborating on multiple productions including Lakefield and Storm Bird.

“While I’ve always been excited to work with Caden, finding out he was also a Griffith graduate solidified our working relationship,” said Boylan-Ascione. “Coming from the same education, practical background and industry circles created a foundation of trust that has been reflected in the success of this episode. Share Plates was an exciting opportunity to champion regional stories while contributing to a national conversation about identity through a commercial format.”

Reflecting on their time at Griffith Film School, both alumni credited the institution with shaping their professional journeys.

“I feel really proud of my journey from Griffith Film School to now,” said Boylan-Ascione. “Coming from Cairns, the pathway into this industry can feel ambiguous, but Griffith connected me with mentors who continue to advocate for me today. This industry is built on relationships, and my time at university helped me form connections that still support my career.”

“What’s stuck with me from Griffith is that every production faces the same challenges and shares the same joys,” Pearson said. “Whether it’s a student short or a national broadcast shoot, the discipline of serving the story and the audience remains the same.”

Both also highlighted the importance of collaboration for emerging filmmakers.

“The strong focus on collaboration at film school has been foundational to my work,” said Boylan-Ascione. “The only way to tell stories with reach and impact is to invite people into your process.”

“Take your time. Listen more than you speak. Treat people well and act with integrity,” Pearson added. “This career is a marathon, not a sprint.”

Boylan-Ascione also co-wrote and co-produced the series’ final episode, Tropical Innovators, alongside director Karen Jackson. The episode explores innovators transforming tropical food industries, featuring local growers, entrepreneurs and a space medicine scientist utilising bush medicine for astronaut nutrition.

Tropical Innovators airs 7:30pm Thursday 14 May on SBS Food, and the full Taste of the Tropics series is available to watch on SBS On Demand.