Brought to life by a predominantly Australian production team, this series is as much a celebration of Aussie tenacity, humour and grit, as it is a deep dive into the scene of many a historical battle between the law and the outlawed: the Texan heartland.
Never Get Busted! is an episodic series centred around the extraordinary Barry Cooper, a former Texas narcotics officer turned unlikely advocate for those caught in the war on drugs. The show chronicles Barry’s evolution from busting marijuana users as a cop, to becoming an eccentric activist who teaches people how to outsmart law enforcement. Barry’s enigmatic personality anchors the series; it’s hard to look away from his antics of wild schemes and unorthodox strategies.
The series captures Barry as he grapples with his past, wrestles with his conscience, and pushes past societal boundaries in his quest to expose the hypocrisies of the drug enforcement system. We build up a picture of Barry through direct interviews and archival footage, but also plenty of other interviews with those whose lives have collided with Barrys. Previous colleagues from law enforcement have plenty to say in a tit-for-tat battle for moral superiority, and as the series evolves we get a closer look at the personal loves of Barry’s life. Never Get Busted! is a social commentary, shedding light on the complexities of morality, justice, and redemption, but very much told through the story of the individual. It’s also very funny.
Whether he’s staging elaborate ruses and making a DVD to teach civilians where to hide their stash, or confronting the very institutions he once represented, Barry’s story is one of rebellion, and one man’s attempt at a raised consciousness. He’s also a character that very much enjoys the limelight, which is exactly what a series like this needs. When he was a cop he was a famous one, and once he wasn’t, he was chasing as much publicity as he could get. While Never Get Busted! delves into drugs, law enforcement, and the shadowy underworld of smuggling, its heart lies in its characters yearning humanity. Barry’s complex charm and contradictions drive the narrative.
Premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2025
Showrunners David Anthony Ngo and Erin Williams-Weir
Executive Producers John Battsek, Cody Greenwood, and Chris Smith
Co-Executive Producer Michael Agar
Producers Erin Williams-Weir. Daniel Joyce, David Anthony Ngo, Louise Schultze
Editor Julian Hart
Cinematographers Samuel Broeren, Matthew Jenkins, David Gregan
Composer Simon Walbrook
Archival Producer Cassie Sagness
Animation Director Luke Jurevicius
Sound Design Duncan Campbell
Assistant Editor Brody King
Starring Barry Cooper and those who know him.
Arguably, the audacious and unpredictable Barry is a character so compelling he could only have come from real life. Director and co-creator David Anthony Ngo reflects, “Barry was this incredible person with the wildest story I’d ever heard.”
The six-year production journey took the team across three countries and nine U.S. states, weaving together a narrative that’s as much about self-discovery as it is about Barry’s antics. For co-creator Erin Williams Weir, having an outsider’s perspective—she’s Canadian, while Ngo and much of the team are Australian—was crucial to uncovering universal themes. “It’s a very accessible story,” she says. “Barry is larger-than-life, but there’s something relatable in his journey for everyone.”
When asked why this story works for Australians, Ngo said, “We’re a country founded by criminals. Maybe that’s why there’s this innate fascination with Barry’s world!”
One of the most electric elements of Never Get Busted! is its music. Composer Simon Walbrook, who joined the team nine months before Sundance, had mere weeks to deliver a soundtrack that would capture the Texan landscape and Barry.
“I put together this rock band of Aussie heavy hitters,” Walbrook said, crediting former Wolfmother bassist Ian Peres (on Bass, Keyboards, Vocals) and drummer-engineer George Carpenter (on Drums, Percussion, Vocals) as pivotal collaborators. “We recorded on the Gold Coast, smashing it out in a couple of weeks. The soundtrack’s got this driving, rocky energy with pedal steel and Texan Americana influences. It really pumps.”
Although much of the psychedelic music in the series was licensed from other acts, Walbrook’s compositions stand tall. The fusion of Australian rock and Texan twang creates a dynamic soundscape, propelling the story forward while grounding it in its Southern setting. Walbrook is particularly excited for audiences to experience the soundtrack independently: “Even outside the context of the show, it’s a great listen. The performances are first-rate.”
Walbrook told us the following artists are also on the tracks; Crick Boue (Lap Steel Guitar), Dale Walker (Guitars), Matt Day (Guitars), Hemi Time (Guitars), Jy-Perry Banks “Steelin’ Hearts” (Pedal Steel) and Alisha Todd (Vocals).
Louise Schultze, one of the producers of Never Get Busted!, reflects on the team’s evolution through the project. David Anthony Ngo and Erin Williams Weir first brought this six-year passion project to Schultze’s attention at the tail end of their stint with her company, Australian Production House.
“We were there pretty early when Dave (Anthony Ngo) pitched the idea,” Schultze said. “The tenacity, resilience, and cleverness he showed even back in his children’s television days really carried over into this project.” she said. “There’s a real Australianism in breaking down barriers of ego and embracing the complexity of the human spirit. We do that with humour, and this project nailed it.”
Schultze and her team stepped in during critical moments, providing financial backing and post-production support. “When they hit hurdles halfway through, we jumped on board,” she says. Unlike conventional financiers, her team was involved in “chewing the fat,” offering hands-on problem-solving and industry expertise. “We pride ourselves on being a full-blown production company, so it’s not just about funding. We bring real language and solutions to the table.”
Ngo and Williams Weir celebrated their marriage just months ago, so the announcement of Never Get Busted!’s inclusion in Sundance was the icing on the cake, “It’s been an amazing ride,” Williams Weir said. For a project born from the ambitious pitch of an Aussie producer, nurtured by a global team, and culminating in a Texan tale of defiance, Sundance is the ultimate recognition.
The series also exemplifies the growing influence of Australian creatives in international cinema. “We bring humour and resilience, breaking down the barriers of ego, while embracing complexity. That’s our superpower.” said Schultze.
Never Get Busted! has raw energy, compelling characters, and a vibrant soundtrack, striking a chord that’s both universal and distinct. It’s a gem—rooted in Texan soil yet with Australian authenticity—showing how the fusion of different perspectives can produce great entertainment.
