by Dov Kornits
“For the third season of Dick Slider, we’ve maintained the production value and creative flair that our audience has come to love from previous seasons,” says producer Victoria Carwin of Scenario Productions, which she runs with her partner, Richard Carwin, who plays the titular Dick Slider in the online series.
“What makes this season stand out is perhaps the timing; amidst the backdrop of global challenges like wars, politics, the pandemic, and corporate nonsense, our show offers a much-needed comedic escape. We’ve continued to blend high-quality production, shooting on Red and Arri Alexa cameras, with simpler, more spontaneous iPhone skits. This mix of polished and raw content, coupled with collaborations with talented actors like Matt Okine (The Other Guy), Luke Jacobz (Home and Away), Nick Burton (Barons), Florence Mezzara (Furiosa) and many more, brings a unique dynamism to our series.
“Interestingly, this is our first nomination in anything and it’s a prestigious SPA award, and to be finalist on our first attempt is an incredible honour. It’s a testament to the show’s consistent quality across all seasons and the current appetite for light-hearted, culturally resonant comedy.
“In terms of differences, it’s more about the timing and reception rather than a shift in our creative approach. We’ve stayed true to our roots – mixing professional shoots with candid, iPhone-filmed moments, allowing us to break the fourth wall and connect with our audience in a relatable, unfiltered way.”
Is the show strictly on Instagram, and if so, why?
“Our journey with Dick Slider began on Instagram began back in 2017, at a time when the platform’s video capabilities were quite limited — with a 60-second cap on video length. This initially presented us with a unique challenge: to pack humour, character, and story into these brief snippets. What started as an experiment to test drive the real estate humour and establish the character of Dick Slider, eventually evolved into something much larger.
As the show gained traction, organically amassing followers without any advertising or paid promotions, we felt a sense of loyalty to the platform and our growing audience. Instagram has been our testing ground and launching pad, where Dick Slider’s persona was born and nurtured.
“Over the years, as Instagram expanded its features to include longer videos, reels, and stories, we found more creative ways to engage our audience without the need to shift to another platform. The format has become a part of the show’s identity, allowing us to maintain a direct and intimate connection with our viewers. The show, much like Instagram, has evolved, but our commitment to the platform remains unchanged. It’s where Dick Slider found his first audience, and it continues to be the perfect home for our unique brand of comedy.”
What’s the show’s production schedule?
“The beauty of producing Dick Slider lies in our ability to manage our own schedule. We have a unique situation where the producer, writer, director, editor, and performer are all under one roof, available whenever inspiration strikes. This setup allows us immense flexibility. For the majority of our content, if an idea pops up, we can simply pick up an iPhone, shoot, edit, and post — all in a very short span of time.
“Our approach is to keep things simple and enjoyable. We’ve been fortunate enough to work with fantastic collaborators who are just as spontaneous and enthusiastic. Usually, when we think of an idea, we immediately reach out to our network of actors, and we’re often shooting the very same day or the next.
“Of course, there are exceptions, especially for ideas that require specific locations or involve talent like Eric Bana or Ricky Gervais, whom we’re eager to work with someday. For now, our focus is on maintaining the show’s agility and fun spirit, making ‘Dick Slider’ a project of passion and spontaneity.”

You often do collaborations with other agents, it seems, so is the industry that Dick Slider lampooning behind the show? Are there people in the real estate industry who are not into it?
“At first, the creation of Dick Slider was a double-edged sword for Richard’s career in real estate. With over 13 years of experience, he’s seen the highs and lows of the property world. But when Dick Slider started gaining attention on Instagram, it posed a unique challenge for Richard. Initially, it led to him losing a couple of jobs in real estate agencies, as Dick Slider’s larger-than-life persona overshadowed Richard’s professional identity.
“However, what seemed like a career obstacle at first quickly transformed into a unique opportunity. The very companies that were hesitant about Dick Slider began to see the character’s potential. They recognised the need for a fresh, satirical take on the real estate business and the importance of embracing humour within the industry. This shift in perspective led to Richard and Dick Slider collaborating with notable figures such as D’Leanne Lewis from Luxe Listings Sydney, real estate legends Bill Malouf, Michael Finger, and many other prominent names in the industry.
“Richard’s extensive experience in real estate, enhanced by his professional acting skills, allows Dick Slider to offer a unique, authentic perspective. This combination of real-world insights and comedic flair has resulted in a satirical, behind-the-scenes look at the real estate world, perfectly captured by our mantra, ‘Truth is stranger than fiction’.
“We understand that our brand of humour might not be for everyone, and that’s perfectly fine. Our main aim is to stay true to our creative vision and the character of Dick Slider. This commitment has proven to be the right decision for us. Richard now runs his own property buyers agency, Lumin, in partnership with Oli Burton, ironically a NIDA graduate.”
Is there any value in being Insta Famous?
“It’s an intriguing question. Our focus with Dick Slider has primarily been entertainment, not monetization through traditional brand endorsements or advertisements. We’ve had our share of offers from various brands, but we’ve deliberately chosen not to pursue them. Our primary aim is to entertain our audience, not to serve as a platform for advertising. This might sound a bit high-minded, but as a professional actor, Richard earns his livelihood through his craft, be it in commercials or in film and TV as well as buyer’s agent in real estate too. Dick Slider, as a fictional character, advertises his own persona.
“However, Dick Slider’s Instagram fame has led to some unique opportunities. These include paid celebrity appearances at corporate and charity events, and during the pandemic, Richard conducted paid Zoom masterclasses as Dick Slider for real estate offices across Australia. He was also invited as a guest speaker, in character, to the AREC 2019 real estate conference in Queensland. Not to mention, his passion for surfing led to a special collaboration with a well-known surfing brand, resulting in a personalised surfboard with ‘Dick Slider’ boldly printed on it.
“So, while we haven’t pursued traditional advertising routes, we haven’t ruled out the possibility of working with a brand that aligns perfectly with Dick Slider’s audacious and unique style. Who knows, the right opportunity with the perfect brand might just be around the corner, ready to leverage the distinctive appeal of Dick Slider’s Insta fame.”
Have you pitched the show to broadcasters/streamers? What are the plans for the future of the show?
“While the SPA Award nomination is a wonderful recognition for our Instagram comedy skit show, it’s just the beginning for Dick Slider. We’re ambitiously evolving Dick Slider into a premium TV series, and we’re currently in an advanced stage of development. This exciting journey has been marked by incredible collaborations with talented multi award winning actor and writer Felix Williamson, Logie and AACTA awards nominated writer Claire Phillips, Ally O’Brien – our multi-talented actress, emerging writer and a dear friend, they who have significantly broadened the narrative and depth of the series at where it is now.
“The Instagram version of Dick Slider and the TV series, though centred around the same character, are distinct projects. Our TV series promises a rich, multi-layered narrative set against the backdrop of modern Australia. It features strong female leads, complex characters, and engaging storylines, offering a comedy-drama that’s both thought-provoking and entertaining. This series is designed to captivate a wide audience, appealing to viewers both in Australia and around the world.
“We’ve been extremely fortunate to work with amazing talents like Michael Kalesniko, known for Burnt and How to Kill Your Neighbour’s Dog, and Kacey Baker, with whom we’ve collaborated on over 10 viral short film projects and numerous Dick Slider episodes. Their contributions, along with the dedication and creativity of our team, have been instrumental in shaping Dick Slider’s unique and appealing narrative.
“The Instagram series will continue to thrive, delivering its unique brand of humour to its dedicated followers. In parallel, we’re setting our sights high for the TV series, actively seeking partnerships with co-producers and distributors. We’re looking for collaborations that can help elevate Dick Slider to a global platform, bringing this uniquely Australian story to an international audience. It’s an exciting time for Dick Slider, and we’re eager to see where this journey takes us next.”
Follow Dick Slider on Instagram @sliderguy https://www.instagram.com/sliderguy
The SPA Awards are on 21 March 2024, for more information, head here