Mack Lindon is an Australian actor turned director who first captured audiences with his powerful debut film Rise (2014), inspired by his own wrongful imprisonment. Sentenced to six years in jail in 2008, Mack was released on appeal in 2010.

Now, Mack returns with Rise of the Underdog (2025) — hitting cinemas on November 6th — an inspiring new story that celebrates the resilience of independent filmmaking and the unbreakable underdog spirit.

You can stream Rise now on Moviesense.com.au

In this episode, we ask Mack about the charges, his conviction, time behind bars, eventual exoneration, and ongoing pursuit of justice.

He opens up about the real-life people behind the film’s characters, his continued efforts to hold the system accountable, and his fight for compensation. Mack also shares what it really takes to make a movie from scratch, offers advice for aspiring filmmakers, and reveals what it was like bringing Rise to life.

We hit a small technical snag mid-chat — but the Aussie steers us back on track — and then drops a question Mack says he’s never been asked before.

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