An Interview with Mack Lindon ("Rise of the Underdog")

Mack Lindon is no stranger to adversity, and no stranger to turning it into art. The Australian actor-turned-director first stunned audiences with RISE, his powerful debut based on his own wrongful imprisonment.

Now, with Rise of the Underdog, Mack continues to carve out an inspiring path in independent cinema, sharing not only his story but also his unwavering belief in the underdog spirit.

As his latest feature heads toward international distribution, Mack opens up about resilience, creativity, and why filmmaking is, for him, an unstoppable calling.

Mack, before we begin discussing the film, could you tell us a bit about yourself? Growing up in Australia, what first drew you to filmmaking? Was there a moment or influence that sparked it?

Thanks guys, I was born in a little town called Newscastle, home to a few famous creatives, including Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns. It’s dubbed ‘steel city’ because of steel export so if you’re a creative you gotta make it or end up in the steel factory lol! I played around with acting on a few TV shows here before landing falsely in prison (which was the premise of my debut movie RISE) this event catapulted me into film making.

Did your time in prison change your relationship with creativity or storytelling?

Yes a load more life experience and a plethora of characters to assist with storytelling now and in the future.

Rise of the Underdog is such a personal story. What made you decide to turn this chapter of your life into a film, and what gave you the confidence to tell your own story on such a public platform?

Many people could not believe that I hadn’t gone to film school and have been very surprised by RISE’s success with over 30 million views and climbing, so I decided to show the audience how I did it! Courage with a touch of madness hahaha. I was told by the governing film body here in Australia it wouldn’t work… I’ll say no more 😊

Do you find that your experience as an actor helped shape your directorial style?

Yes definitely helps connect and build trust between actor and director.

How do you approach working with actors, especially when directing a story that’s so personal to you?

Go to lunch, tell stories and laugh, sometimes even cry – once you know you’re both humans the rest flows…

How did you build your team for this project - cast, crew, collaborators? Were there any specific collaborators you would have liked to work with?

Mainly friends I have worked with and people who wanted to work with me.

What were the biggest obstacles you faced during the production of Rise of the Underdog?

Directing and acting simultaneously and budget hahaha

What’s your favorite part of the filmmaking process - writing, directing, editing, something else?

Directing is my ‘flow state’ – I love bringing the story to life through the lens.

What does the term “underdog” mean to you today? And what advice would you give to other filmmakers trying to break through without traditional industry support?

Pretty much what it has always meant… expected to lose because of limited social stature or lack of coin. According to Wikipedia the first underdog recorded in history was David vs Goliath, this story inspires me… every day!

How do you hope audiences will feel after watching Rise of the Underdog?

Encouraged on a simple personal level no matter what dream they choose to follow! Follow it!

What was it like revisiting and dramatizing such personal moments for the screen?

Harder than I thought to be honest, jumping back in time tackling some personal struggles that I no longer face was weird.

On a more personal note, how has your definition of success changed over the years?

Fully changed! To me content no matter what the circumstances is success, most days I have this contentment – success!

What’s next for you as a director, and what stories are you most interested in telling?

A comedy about a group of peeps in a mental health unit who believe Big Pharma is out to get them! Wink wink.

What can you tell us about your upcoming project DUNAMIS?

It’s going to be EPIC, definitely bit more off than I can chew on this one especially working with a few of A list actors will be a greater challenge.

Is there anything you'd like to add or someone you wish to thank?

Of course, the whole team but seriously festivals with passionate individuals like you guys who help get our stories to a global audience is truly appreciated! Thank you Nami, Roy & team 😊

We’ve also created our own streaming platform worldwide MovieSense.Com to help those films that end up on the shelf after they have only a short window at the theatres. Open to films who have had a theatrical release and are inspiring in nature.

Rise of the Underdog - Trailer

In April 2025, Rise of the Underdog won 5 awards at LAFA, including: Best Inspirational Film, Best Drama, Best Director (Feature), Best Actor and Best Original Story.