Guy Sebastian reliving a painful chapter of his music career; Richard Roxburgh pondering his dying wish; Julia Morris sharing her struggles with ADHD – these are just some of the moments that stopped time for Leigh Sales while she was filming the second season of The Assembly, in which she mentors neurodivergent journalism students.
“Neurodivergent people look at the world in a different way, and so they come up with some unique questions,” says Australian Story presenter. “There’s no agenda. They’re just genuinely curious. The person at the receiving end of the question understands that. They feel safe knowing that someone’s not trying to ‘get’ them, so that helps them to relax, and it can be quite an emotional rollercoaster.”
Leigh Sales says the student journalists featured on The Assembly are “genuinely curious”.
Building on the success of the first season, which was inspired by a French concept, this time there are 20 participants, up from 15. Hailing from more regional locations, they range in age from 18 to 57. Among them are aspiring actor Ciannan, 35, from Perth; Oliver, 27, a musical theatre creator from Bribie Island, Queensland; and 22-year-old north-west Sydney musician, Soph, who is non-verbal. Several of the original cast are behind the scenes, as camera and audio crew, and in post-production. Two are now broadcasters: Angus Hamill at Triple J and Abbey Faulkner at ABC Sport.
“It’s been fantastic to see the way that [the series] has helped with people’s confidence, and some of the opportunities that have come their way,” says Sales. “For example, [season one participant] Anastasia [Revelos] was working as a camera assistant with the clapperboard, and just to see her stand in the centre of the room and then wait for the director to say, ‘OK, Anastasia, we’re good to go’, and the fact that she was confident to do that. I remember when she walked in for the first time, there’s just no way you could have said to her, ‘You’ll be as part of the crew standing in front of everyone.’”
Sales recalls a telling question that season one participant Dylan Lamb had for Delta Goodrem. “He had a very robotic way of speaking and he said, ‘I would like to ask Delta, “What does it feel like to be confident?“’ It absolutely smashed me.”
Ray Martin, Steve Waugh and Maggie Beer are also in the hot seat. Not every guest cries, but all are led into dark territory, in a manner Sales finds refreshingly different.
Richard Roxburgh with student Daniel in season two of The Assembly.
“If I was interviewing a person about something awful, I would build up to that,” she says. “I wouldn’t open with that as question one. And when they got talking about that, I wouldn’t then interrupt them and ask what their favourite flavour of ice-cream was, whereas on The Assembly, one second you’re being asked a really philosophical question, and then the next person stands up, and they ask, ‘Have you ever ridden a camel on the beach at sunset?’ Sometimes the manner in which the questions are asked can either elicit real emotion unexpectedly, or it can be really funny.”
The studio, at Sydney’s Macquarie University, uses natural light and a soft colour palette. A “super flattering” light diffuser replaces the glare of a regular television set. There are fidget aids, and it is not uncommon for participants to spend time in sensory rooms.
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