Welcome to Internet Obsessions, where the ABC Entertainment team — here, Hannah Reich and Jared Richards — unpack viral sensations and trends with a chat.
Australian TikToker Georgia Godworth (@god_worthy) is going viral this hot minute after uploading a video where she interviews iconic director Baz Luhrmann in Sydney's Newtown, completely unaware of who he is.
Somehow, after he steps in as the TikToker's cinematographer, she lands an exclusive most journalists would ditch their nephew's bris/christening for, with Luhrmann offering some insight into his "journey of a marriage" with costume designer Catherine Martin, his long-time collaborator and wife of 27 years.
Given, as Luhrmann himself says, the director doesn't "usually do interviews", it's quite a scoop, made all the better by god_worthy being completely oblivious to her luck.
It is a trainwreck/utter delight depending on your taste in interviews. And we simply cannot look away. And we are not alone: In less than a day, the video has garnered more than 100,000 views on TikTok and more than 3.7 million views on X.
What is this video? What is 'the dealio'?
On a night out in Newtown, god_worthy approached many a punter to ask them probing questions about their dating and sex lives and Baz just happened to be one of those people (as god_worthy captioned it: "Guys I had no idea this was Baz Luhrmann"). What follows must be seen to be believed:
Loading TikTok content
God_worthy's opening question of "single? Dating?" allows Luhrmann to wax lyrical about marriage and communication: "That person that I'm married to and I found our own, really genuine, authentic concept of what our contract to each other should be."
He then describes what sounds like an open relationship, describing it as "what the dealio is".
"My own general philosophy is, if you care about someone …but they fall in love with someone else or they like someone else, there has to be some degree of acceptance. It's a contract of communication."
God_worthy offers her own reading: "It's a loose contract where you can f*** other people occasionally. Monogamy is hard long-term and you know people come into your life?"
Luhrmann strokes his chin and says, "Let me think about that. I'm not sure what that means."
She elaborates: "Occasionally you can have the open dialogue, whether that be a threesome, a foursome, an orgy."
This prompts Luhrmann to start steering the interview, ultimately asking "So I mean, what is the point of the conversation we're having?"
They continue to chat about dating, and despite the confusion, it ends amiably, with Luhrmann saying that while he rarely does interviews, he was "happy to be a part" of this one.
Wait, so why do we care?
JR: Care is a strong word, but I will say this video has really tickled me. Watching Baz — arguably Australia's most eccentric, idiosyncratic director on and off the screen — in this format is like spotting Slavoj Žižek eating not one but two hotdogs on a street: Both entirely surreal and instantly familiar.
A glance through god_worthy's TikTok shows her interviews usually target King Street's rowdier patrons, ripe to make fun of. (Baz actually popped up in a supercut of interviews back in April, but this full version of their chat has gained far more traction.)
And in this particular video, things start off strong when Baz repositions the camera for better lighting — god_worthy makes a face at the camera like 'this guy!!', completely unaware she's talking to a Palme d'Or nominee. Meanwhile, he's making a pretty similar face too, both unaware they're making fun of each other.
(As an aside, @god_worthy is in good company here having her TikTok directed by an auteur, with Martin Scorsese regularly weighing in on daughter Francesca's shots.)
But that's just the first five seconds. Hannah, what's your favourite part?
HR: Firstly I want to go on the record to say this is THE text of our time. It will be studied for centuries. It is rich and layered.
I was honestly gripped by the interplay between interviewer and interviewee. God_worthy is asking these incredibly probing questions but Baz is firing right back, both hold their own in an unexpected tête-à-tête without even realising what they're both getting themselves into.
And beyond the unexpected revelations about Baz's romantic life, we also get an insight into Baz's everyday/street style and it's wow. Something else. The green leather jacket, puka shells, those shoes? Iconique.
JR: No no no! Answer the question like I've just bombarded you on the street with a tiny mic and no context! What's your favourite bit?!?!
HR: Jeez okay. It's gotta be when Baz says "what I do is not a job, it's a life" and then later asks: "What is the point of the conversation we're having?"
And Baz, what is the point of any of the conversations on TikTok, or in fact, the internet? I don't know. But what was the point of getting Tom Hanks into a fatsuit, riddle me that. And what was the point of The Get Down? See this is why I was unable to book the interview.
JR: Okay we've talked about the highs, but what about the lows… I don't want to be too mean, but I will say, god_worthy is committing a cardinal sin as an interviewer: She keeps interrupting and never lets Luhrmann finish his sentences.
She's not a journalist though — she's a comedian, and she's definitely done her job here. This interview is very, very funny.
HR: Yeah I mean I think this is key, as she is not an esteemed hard-hitting journalist like myself (not you), she is able to ask some pretty lewd questions. Questions that if I asked would definitely be a breach of the ABC's editorial standards.
JR: Or their PR handlers would cut the interview short: To god_worthy's credit, this sort of interview is really refreshing, and evidently has far more cut-through than a regular profile would (it's been covered on the Guardian, Daily Mail and more).
Maybe that's why these street interviews are super popular on TikTok, to the point The Cut published a taxonomy of their sub-genres. The questions are either super invasive ('How much rent do you pay? Can we see your apartment?', 'What's your favourite sex position?') or super inane ('What are you listening to?').
Loading TikTok content
HR: The style of them — running up to people abruptly, asking semi-absurd questions — reminds me of Billy Eichner's 2010s show Billy on The Street. Unwittingly or not, he's created a whole comedy sub-genre, all by accosting New Yorkers and screaming "FOR A DOLLAR, NAME A WOMAN!"
Loading YouTube content
JR: While Billy's videos are funny, there is something about these longer interviews that rubs me the wrong way, which I tried to unpack recently with Beverley Wang on Stop Everything! But… do I just hate fun?
HR: You might! But I tend to agree, these videos kind of give me the ick. It feels like the streets are not safe, not for women and not for people who just want to go about their day without being accosted by a TikToker.
JR: I think Baz nails it: There's a sense of "wait, what is the point?". Sometimes these chats are entertaining or insightful, but often they're not engaging with the people at all. (Again, I'm not targeting God_worthy — she struck gold here, plus she told the Guardian this was her first time doing street interviews. Far better than my first attempts!)
Instead, it's about the interviewer — it's a way to build a following without doing much that requires talent. There are exceptions — Davis, the host of TikTok series What's Poppin?, balances the focus between him and his subjects.
HR: It's worth remembering that these on the spot interviews, they're not exactly new in the media industry. Vox pops are a classic way to take the temperature of the people! But when they're done by journalists, there is at least a modicum of care to them or a legitimate reason these questions are being fielded.
JR: A rare moral high ground for journalists?
HR: Hard fought, hard won!
Finally Jared, we've written almost 1,500 words about this two minute, 18 second video. But what are your thoughts on Baz?
Personally, while Moulin Rouge does have its charm and he is undeniably an Australian icon, he hasn't made a good film since Romeo and Juliet and desperately needs to be reigned in.
JR: I love him. I love Elvis. I love Australia (the movie and the nation). I love his green jacket, it's soooo Bella Hadid office siren Bayonetta core. See, my brain's rotted by TikTok too. Hannah, what do you pay for rent? Single? Dating? What song are you listening to? Boxers or briefs? Miley or Selena?
HR: Kill me.
Posted, updated
