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Hug The Sun

Hug the Sun is a six-part Australian Dark Comedy Series, Created by and starring Australian Comedians Xavier Michelides and Ben Russell, about a children’s television show based on the religious teachings of a fictional cult that worships the sun god, Oxtos, led by a leader known only as The Second Prophet Gary.

Episodes

Episode 1 - Gratitude

Welcome, children of Oxtos! In today's recovered episode we are talking about gratitude.
Between June 5th 1990 and February 23rd 1991, a short-lived Children's Edu-tainment Program called 'Hug the Sun' ran on local TV in Perth, WA. Thinly disguised as a variety show, Hug the Sun’s real purpose was the educate its audience in the history, teaching, principles, and values of the notorious Cult of Oxtos – a strange sect who worshiped the Sun and whose members all disappeared on the hottest day on record – February 23rd, 1991 when the mercury hit 46.7C. SCREEN AUSTRALIA Presents In Association with SCREENWEST Produced by HAVEN’T YOU DONE WELL PRODUCTIONS & JOHNNY MA FILMS Series Created by XAVIER MICHELIDES AND BEN RUSSELL Written by BONNIE DAVIES, ANDREA GIBBS, XAVIER MICHELIDES, ERIN MICHELLE, BEN RUSSELL Starring BJ…. BEN RUSSELL Trent…. XAVIER MICHELIDES Linda…. ANDREA GIBBS Trina…. BONNIE DAVIES Co-starring Neighbour George…. BRODEN KELLY Frankie Yabbie bait…. ZACHARY RUANE The Shadowman…. MARK SAMUAL BONANNO The Second Prophet Gary…. GREG LARSEN Paps O’Sullivan…. BEN SUTTON Sal’s Voice/Various…. ANNE EDMONDS Katie Baby/Sal…. ERIN MICHELLE Angry Man…. SEAN CONWAY Amy the Baker…. FARREN WOOD Professor Bloompants…. MAGNUS DANGER MAGNUS With Linda’s Dad…. GEORGE DAVIES Police Officer…. HENRY INGLIS The Face…. AARON MCCANN Stevie the Thief…. JOHNNY MA Director AARON MCCANN Producers GIORDI CAPUTO, JOHNNY MA, AARON MCCANN Cinematographers A.J. COULTIER, ALASTAIR DUFFIELD Production DESIGNERS MADDISON HAYWOOD, PIA NOVACSEK Executive Producers MAX MILLER, THOMAS ARMSTRONG, MARK SAMUAL BONANNO, BRODEN KELLY, SAM LINGHAM, ZACHARY RUANE Costume Design INGRID BEILHARZ, TEXX MONTANA Editor ELAINE SMITH Sound Designer XOE BAIRD Composer ROBERT WOODS Production Managers GIORDI CAPUTO, CLARE TOONEN 1st Assistant Directors GIORDI CAPUTO, CHARMAINE MURRAY Location Managers GIORDI CAPUTO, DAN THOM Unit Managers GIORDI CAPUTO, REGINA WONG Camera Operators/Data Wranglers BEN BERKHOUT, WYE KEEN WONG Gaffers EDUARDO MARTINEZ, HANNAH PALMER, SCOTT POPE Art Director (VIC) ELENA LYONS-DAWSON Art Department CHARLOTTE HEYCOCK, JORDAN PAOLILLO, MARK REEVES Wardrobe Assistant (VIC) PETRIA HOGARTH Make-Up & Hair AMANDA LISSANT-CLAYTON, TESS ROWE Puppet Fabricator (WA) CHLOE FLOCKART Sound Recordists NICK MCKENZIE, DAVID ROSS Animation WINSTON FOO, MAX JOYCE, JAMIE MAC, DUNG NGUYEN Studios STUPID OLD STUDIOS (VIC), JOHNNY MA STUDIOS (WA) Finance SCREEN AUSTRALIA - LEE NAIMO, SCREENWEST - FRANZISKA WAGENFELD Stock Footage POND5, AUDIO NETWORK, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION This Production was filmed on the lands of both the Whadjuk People of the Noongar Nation and the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. We wish to pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge that sovereignty has never been ceded.

9 mins | 2021

Episode 2 - Rituals

Welcome back, children of Oxtos! In today's recovered episode we are talking about rituals!
Between June 5th 1990 and February 23rd 1991, a short-lived Children's Edu-tainment Program called 'Hug the Sun' ran on local TV in Perth, WA. Thinly disguised as a variety show, Hug the Sun’s real purpose was the educate its audience in the history, teaching, principles, and values of the notorious Cult of Oxtos – a strange sect who worshiped the Sun and whose members all disappeared on the hottest day on record – February 23rd, 1991 when the mercury hit 46.7C. SCREEN AUSTRALIA Presents In Association with SCREENWEST Produced by HAVEN’T YOU DONE WELL PRODUCTIONS & JOHNNY MA FILMS Series Created by XAVIER MICHELIDES AND BEN RUSSELL Written by BONNIE DAVIES, ANDREA GIBBS, XAVIER MICHELIDES, ERIN MICHELLE, BEN RUSSELL Starring BJ…. BEN RUSSELL Trent…. XAVIER MICHELIDES Linda…. ANDREA GIBBS Trina…. BONNIE DAVIES Co-starring Neighbour George…. BRODEN KELLY Frankie Yabbie bait…. ZACHARY RUANE The Shadowman…. MARK SAMUAL BONANNO The Second Prophet Gary…. GREG LARSEN Paps O’Sullivan…. BEN SUTTON Sal’s Voice/Various…. ANNE EDMONDS Katie Baby/Sal…. ERIN MICHELLE Angry Man…. SEAN CONWAY Amy the Baker…. FARREN WOOD Professor Bloompants…. MAGNUS DANGER MAGNUS With Linda’s Dad…. GEORGE DAVIES Police Officer…. HENRY INGLIS The Face…. AARON MCCANN Stevie the Thief…. JOHNNY MA Director AARON MCCANN Producers GIORDI CAPUTO, JOHNNY MA, AARON MCCANN Cinematographers A.J. COULTIER, ALASTAIR DUFFIELD Production DESIGNERS MADDISON HAYWOOD, PIA NOVACSEK Executive Producers MAX MILLER, THOMAS ARMSTRONG, MARK SAMUAL BONANNO, BRODEN KELLY, SAM LINGHAM, ZACHARY RUANE Costume Design INGRID BEILHARZ, TEXX MONTANA Editor ELAINE SMITH Sound Designer XOE BAIRD Composer ROBERT WOODS Production Managers GIORDI CAPUTO, CLARE TOONEN 1st Assistant Directors GIORDI CAPUTO, CHARMAINE MURRAY Location Managers GIORDI CAPUTO, DAN THOM Unit Managers GIORDI CAPUTO, REGINA WONG Camera Operators/Data Wranglers BEN BERKHOUT, WYE KEEN WONG Gaffers EDUARDO MARTINEZ, HANNAH PALMER, SCOTT POPE Art Director (VIC) ELENA LYONS-DAWSON Art Department CHARLOTTE HEYCOCK, JORDAN PAOLILLO, MARK REEVES Wardrobe Assistant (VIC) PETRIA HOGARTH Make-Up & Hair AMANDA LISSANT-CLAYTON, TESS ROWE Puppet Fabricator (WA) CHLOE FLOCKART Sound Recordists NICK MCKENZIE, DAVID ROSS Animation WINSTON FOO, MAX JOYCE, JAMIE MAC, DUNG NGUYEN Studios STUPID OLD STUDIOS (VIC), JOHNNY MA STUDIOS (WA) Finance SCREEN AUSTRALIA - LEE NAIMO, SCREENWEST - FRANZISKA WAGENFELD Stock Footage POND5, AUDIO NETWORK, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION This Production was filmed on the lands of both the Whadjuk People of the Noongar Nation and the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. We wish to pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge that sovereignty has never been ceded.

10 mins | 2021

Episode 3 - Nourishment Week

Welcome back, children of Oxtos! In today's recovered episode, it's Nourishment week!
Between June 5th 1990 and February 23rd 1991, a short-lived Children's Edu-tainment Program called 'Hug the Sun' ran on local TV in Perth, WA. Thinly disguised as a variety show, Hug the Sun’s real purpose was the educate its audience in the history, teaching, principles, and values of the notorious Cult of Oxtos – a strange sect who worshiped the Sun and whose members all disappeared on the hottest day on record – February 23rd, 1991 when the mercury hit 46.7C. SCREEN AUSTRALIA Presents In Association with SCREENWEST Produced by HAVEN’T YOU DONE WELL PRODUCTIONS & JOHNNY MA FILMS Series Created by XAVIER MICHELIDES AND BEN RUSSELL Written by BONNIE DAVIES, ANDREA GIBBS, XAVIER MICHELIDES, ERIN MICHELLE, BEN RUSSELL Starring BJ…. BEN RUSSELL Trent…. XAVIER MICHELIDES Linda…. ANDREA GIBBS Trina…. BONNIE DAVIES Co-starring Neighbour George…. BRODEN KELLY Frankie Yabbie bait…. ZACHARY RUANE The Shadowman…. MARK SAMUAL BONANNO The Second Prophet Gary…. GREG LARSEN Paps O’Sullivan…. BEN SUTTON Sal’s Voice/Various…. ANNE EDMONDS Katie Baby/Sal…. ERIN MICHELLE Angry Man…. SEAN CONWAY Amy the Baker…. FARREN WOOD Professor Bloompants…. MAGNUS DANGER MAGNUS With Linda’s Dad…. GEORGE DAVIES Police Officer…. HENRY INGLIS The Face…. AARON MCCANN Stevie the Thief…. JOHNNY MA Director AARON MCCANN Producers GIORDI CAPUTO, JOHNNY MA, AARON MCCANN Cinematographers A.J. COULTIER, ALASTAIR DUFFIELD Production DESIGNERS MADDISON HAYWOOD, PIA NOVACSEK Executive Producers MAX MILLER, THOMAS ARMSTRONG, MARK SAMUAL BONANNO, BRODEN KELLY, SAM LINGHAM, ZACHARY RUANE Costume Design INGRID BEILHARZ, TEXX MONTANA Editor ELAINE SMITH Sound Designer XOE BAIRD Composer ROBERT WOODS Production Managers GIORDI CAPUTO, CLARE TOONEN 1st Assistant Directors GIORDI CAPUTO, CHARMAINE MURRAY Location Managers GIORDI CAPUTO, DAN THOM Unit Managers GIORDI CAPUTO, REGINA WONG Camera Operators/Data Wranglers BEN BERKHOUT, WYE KEEN WONG Gaffers EDUARDO MARTINEZ, HANNAH PALMER, SCOTT POPE Art Director (VIC) ELENA LYONS-DAWSON Art Department CHARLOTTE HEYCOCK, JORDAN PAOLILLO, MARK REEVES Wardrobe Assistant (VIC) PETRIA HOGARTH Make-Up & Hair AMANDA LISSANT-CLAYTON, TESS ROWE Puppet Fabricator (WA) CHLOE FLOCKART Sound Recordists NICK MCKENZIE, DAVID ROSS Animation WINSTON FOO, MAX JOYCE, JAMIE MAC, DUNG NGUYEN Studios STUPID OLD STUDIOS (VIC), JOHNNY MA STUDIOS (WA) Finance SCREEN AUSTRALIA - LEE NAIMO, SCREENWEST - FRANZISKA WAGENFELD Stock Footage POND5, AUDIO NETWORK, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION This Production was filmed on the lands of both the Whadjuk People of the Noongar Nation and the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. We wish to pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge that sovereignty has never been ceded.

9 mins | 2021

Episode 4 - The Dark World

Welcome back, children of Oxtos! In today's recovered episode, we're talking about the dark world. But BEWARE of the Shadowman!
Between June 5th 1990 and February 23rd 1991, a short-lived Children's Edu-tainment Program called 'Hug the Sun' ran on local TV in Perth, WA. Thinly disguised as a variety show, Hug the Sun’s real purpose was the educate its audience in the history, teaching, principles, and values of the notorious Cult of Oxtos – a strange sect who worshiped the Sun and whose members all disappeared on the hottest day on record – February 23rd, 1991 when the mercury hit 46.7C. SCREEN AUSTRALIA Presents In Association with SCREENWEST Produced by HAVEN’T YOU DONE WELL PRODUCTIONS & JOHNNY MA FILMS Series Created by XAVIER MICHELIDES AND BEN RUSSELL Written by BONNIE DAVIES, ANDREA GIBBS, XAVIER MICHELIDES, ERIN MICHELLE, BEN RUSSELL Starring BJ…. BEN RUSSELL Trent…. XAVIER MICHELIDES Linda…. ANDREA GIBBS Trina…. BONNIE DAVIES Co-starring Neighbour George…. BRODEN KELLY Frankie Yabbie bait…. ZACHARY RUANE The Shadowman…. MARK SAMUAL BONANNO The Second Prophet Gary…. GREG LARSEN Paps O’Sullivan…. BEN SUTTON Sal’s Voice/Various…. ANNE EDMONDS Katie Baby/Sal…. ERIN MICHELLE Angry Man…. SEAN CONWAY Amy the Baker…. FARREN WOOD Professor Bloompants…. MAGNUS DANGER MAGNUS With Linda’s Dad…. GEORGE DAVIES Police Officer…. HENRY INGLIS The Face…. AARON MCCANN Stevie the Thief…. JOHNNY MA Director AARON MCCANN Producers GIORDI CAPUTO, JOHNNY MA, AARON MCCANN Cinematographers A.J. COULTIER, ALASTAIR DUFFIELD Production DESIGNERS MADDISON HAYWOOD, PIA NOVACSEK Executive Producers MAX MILLER, THOMAS ARMSTRONG, MARK SAMUAL BONANNO, BRODEN KELLY, SAM LINGHAM, ZACHARY RUANE Costume Design INGRID BEILHARZ, TEXX MONTANA Editor ELAINE SMITH Sound Designer XOE BAIRD Composer ROBERT WOODS Production Managers GIORDI CAPUTO, CLARE TOONEN 1st Assistant Directors GIORDI CAPUTO, CHARMAINE MURRAY Location Managers GIORDI CAPUTO, DAN THOM Unit Managers GIORDI CAPUTO, REGINA WONG Camera Operators/Data Wranglers BEN BERKHOUT, WYE KEEN WONG Gaffers EDUARDO MARTINEZ, HANNAH PALMER, SCOTT POPE Art Director (VIC) ELENA LYONS-DAWSON Art Department CHARLOTTE HEYCOCK, JORDAN PAOLILLO, MARK REEVES Wardrobe Assistant (VIC) PETRIA HOGARTH Make-Up & Hair AMANDA LISSANT-CLAYTON, TESS ROWE Puppet Fabricator (WA) CHLOE FLOCKART Sound Recordists NICK MCKENZIE, DAVID ROSS Animation WINSTON FOO, MAX JOYCE, JAMIE MAC, DUNG NGUYEN Studios STUPID OLD STUDIOS (VIC), JOHNNY MA STUDIOS (WA) Finance SCREEN AUSTRALIA - LEE NAIMO, SCREENWEST - FRANZISKA WAGENFELD Stock Footage POND5, AUDIO NETWORK, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION This Production was filmed on the lands of both the Whadjuk People of the Noongar Nation and the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. We wish to pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge that sovereignty has never been ceded.

9 mins | 2021

Episode 5 - Miracles

Welcome back, children of Oxtos! In today's recovered episode, we're talking about miracles!
Between June 5th 1990 and February 23rd 1991, a short-lived Children's Edu-tainment Program called 'Hug the Sun' ran on local TV in Perth, WA. Thinly disguised as a variety show, Hug the Sun’s real purpose was the educate its audience in the history, teaching, principles, and values of the notorious Cult of Oxtos – a strange sect who worshiped the Sun and whose members all disappeared on the hottest day on record – February 23rd, 1991 when the mercury hit 46.7C. SCREEN AUSTRALIA Presents In Association with SCREENWEST Produced by HAVEN’T YOU DONE WELL PRODUCTIONS & JOHNNY MA FILMS Series Created by XAVIER MICHELIDES AND BEN RUSSELL Written by BONNIE DAVIES, ANDREA GIBBS, XAVIER MICHELIDES, ERIN MICHELLE, BEN RUSSELL Starring BJ…. BEN RUSSELL Trent…. XAVIER MICHELIDES Linda…. ANDREA GIBBS Trina…. BONNIE DAVIES Co-starring Neighbour George…. BRODEN KELLY Frankie Yabbie bait…. ZACHARY RUANE The Shadowman…. MARK SAMUAL BONANNO The Second Prophet Gary…. GREG LARSEN Paps O’Sullivan…. BEN SUTTON Sal’s Voice/Various…. ANNE EDMONDS Katie Baby/Sal…. ERIN MICHELLE Angry Man…. SEAN CONWAY Amy the Baker…. FARREN WOOD Professor Bloompants…. MAGNUS DANGER MAGNUS With Linda’s Dad…. GEORGE DAVIES Police Officer…. HENRY INGLIS The Face…. AARON MCCANN Stevie the Thief…. JOHNNY MA Director AARON MCCANN Producers GIORDI CAPUTO, JOHNNY MA, AARON MCCANN Cinematographers A.J. COULTIER, ALASTAIR DUFFIELD Production DESIGNERS MADDISON HAYWOOD, PIA NOVACSEK Executive Producers MAX MILLER, THOMAS ARMSTRONG, MARK SAMUAL BONANNO, BRODEN KELLY, SAM LINGHAM, ZACHARY RUANE Costume Design INGRID BEILHARZ, TEXX MONTANA Editor ELAINE SMITH Sound Designer XOE BAIRD Composer ROBERT WOODS Production Managers GIORDI CAPUTO, CLARE TOONEN 1st Assistant Directors GIORDI CAPUTO, CHARMAINE MURRAY Location Managers GIORDI CAPUTO, DAN THOM Unit Managers GIORDI CAPUTO, REGINA WONG Camera Operators/Data Wranglers BEN BERKHOUT, WYE KEEN WONG Gaffers EDUARDO MARTINEZ, HANNAH PALMER, SCOTT POPE Art Director (VIC) ELENA LYONS-DAWSON Art Department CHARLOTTE HEYCOCK, JORDAN PAOLILLO, MARK REEVES Wardrobe Assistant (VIC) PETRIA HOGARTH Make-Up & Hair AMANDA LISSANT-CLAYTON, TESS ROWE Puppet Fabricator (WA) CHLOE FLOCKART Sound Recordists NICK MCKENZIE, DAVID ROSS Animation WINSTON FOO, MAX JOYCE, JAMIE MAC, DUNG NGUYEN Studios STUPID OLD STUDIOS (VIC), JOHNNY MA STUDIOS (WA) Finance SCREEN AUSTRALIA - LEE NAIMO, SCREENWEST - FRANZISKA WAGENFELD Stock Footage POND5, AUDIO NETWORK, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION This Production was filmed on the lands of both the Whadjuk People of the Noongar Nation and the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. We wish to pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge that sovereignty has never been ceded.

9 mins | 2021

Episode 6 - Gary

Welcome back, children of Oxtos! In this final recovered episode, well.... you'll have to see it to believe it.
Between June 5th 1990 and February 23rd 1991, a short-lived Children's Edu-tainment Program called 'Hug the Sun' ran on local TV in Perth, WA. Thinly disguised as a variety show, Hug the Sun’s real purpose was the educate its audience in the history, teaching, principles, and values of the notorious Cult of Oxtos – a strange sect who worshiped the Sun and whose members all disappeared on the hottest day on record – February 23rd, 1991 when the mercury hit 46.7C. SCREEN AUSTRALIA Presents In Association with SCREENWEST Produced by HAVEN’T YOU DONE WELL PRODUCTIONS & JOHNNY MA FILMS Series Created by XAVIER MICHELIDES AND BEN RUSSELL Written by BONNIE DAVIES, ANDREA GIBBS, XAVIER MICHELIDES, ERIN MICHELLE, BEN RUSSELL Starring BJ…. BEN RUSSELL Trent…. XAVIER MICHELIDES Linda…. ANDREA GIBBS Trina…. BONNIE DAVIES Co-starring Neighbour George…. BRODEN KELLY Frankie Yabbie bait…. ZACHARY RUANE The Shadowman…. MARK SAMUAL BONANNO The Second Prophet Gary…. GREG LARSEN Paps O’Sullivan…. BEN SUTTON Sal’s Voice/Various…. ANNE EDMONDS Katie Baby/Sal…. ERIN MICHELLE Angry Man…. SEAN CONWAY Amy the Baker…. FARREN WOOD Professor Bloompants…. MAGNUS DANGER MAGNUS With Linda’s Dad…. GEORGE DAVIES Police Officer…. HENRY INGLIS The Face…. AARON MCCANN Stevie the Thief…. JOHNNY MA Director AARON MCCANN Producers GIORDI CAPUTO, JOHNNY MA, AARON MCCANN Cinematographers A.J. COULTIER, ALASTAIR DUFFIELD Production DESIGNERS MADDISON HAYWOOD, PIA NOVACSEK Executive Producers MAX MILLER, THOMAS ARMSTRONG, MARK SAMUAL BONANNO, BRODEN KELLY, SAM LINGHAM, ZACHARY RUANE Costume Design INGRID BEILHARZ, TEXX MONTANA Editor ELAINE SMITH Sound Designer XOE BAIRD Composer ROBERT WOODS Production Managers GIORDI CAPUTO, CLARE TOONEN 1st Assistant Directors GIORDI CAPUTO, CHARMAINE MURRAY Location Managers GIORDI CAPUTO, DAN THOM Unit Managers GIORDI CAPUTO, REGINA WONG Camera Operators/Data Wranglers BEN BERKHOUT, WYE KEEN WONG Gaffers EDUARDO MARTINEZ, HANNAH PALMER, SCOTT POPE Art Director (VIC) ELENA LYONS-DAWSON Art Department CHARLOTTE HEYCOCK, JORDAN PAOLILLO, MARK REEVES Wardrobe Assistant (VIC) PETRIA HOGARTH Make-Up & Hair AMANDA LISSANT-CLAYTON, TESS ROWE Puppet Fabricator (WA) CHLOE FLOCKART Sound Recordists NICK MCKENZIE, DAVID ROSS Animation WINSTON FOO, MAX JOYCE, JAMIE MAC, DUNG NGUYEN Studios STUPID OLD STUDIOS (VIC), JOHNNY MA STUDIOS (WA) Finance SCREEN AUSTRALIA - LEE NAIMO, SCREENWEST - FRANZISKA WAGENFELD Stock Footage POND5, AUDIO NETWORK, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION This Production was filmed on the lands of both the Whadjuk People of the Noongar Nation and the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. We wish to pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge that sovereignty has never been ceded.

9 mins | 2021