STAFF & SCHOOL

Staff Bios

Head of School/Screenwriting, International Film School Sydney: Duncan ThompsonDUNCAN THOMPSON

Duncan Thompson has script-edited more than $35 million dollars worth of produced feature films. Formerly a Project Manager at the Australian Film Commission, Duncan has worked with industry greats such as Jane Campion, John Sayles and Gus van Sant.

He has guided projects such as Rowan Wood's LITTLE FISH starring Cate Blanchett and Cate Shortland's Cannes hit SOMERSAULT through the New South Wales Film and Television Office's Aurora intensive screenplay workshop. In 2003, Duncan created the SPAAmart feature finance market, linking Australian and New Zealand feature film projects with the world's best film financiers. Duncan has taught screenwriting in Paris, Berlin, Stockholm, London and Melbourne.

Head of Teaching & Post Technology: Stephen Murphy

STEPHEN MURPHYStephen Murphy’s fascination with creative technologies began at an early age, around the time he won a small reel-to-reel tape recorder in a competition. After learning to use it to make recordings, he pulled it apart to learn how it performed its magic. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to put it back together – but the lifelong learning journey had begun. In 1978 Stephen entered the Australian Film and Television School and had the best education in film and television production anyone could have hoped for. After graduating, he worked on commercials, corporates and short films, then moved on to telemovies, mini-series and feature films. He has worked both on location and in post-production, enjoying the catering in the case of the former and the air-conditioning in the case of the latter. Along the way he began teaching others about the art and craft of production. From 1988 to 1995 Stephen was Head of Sound at the Australian Film Television and Radio School, where he had the great privilege to guide many talented students – he is proud of the success those students have achieved in the years since. After his time at AFTRS, Stephen returned to freelance life, continuing to record, edit and mix for film and television productions of all formats and genres. Throughout this period Stephen also worked for Dolby Laboratories as a sound consultant, assisting filmmakers in Australia and New Zealand on over 250 feature films. Teaching remains a passion for Stephen, and in 2001 he began teaching for TAFE NSW, at North Sydney College. Over the years he has been keen to ensure his teaching practice is at the same professional standard as his industry practice. Having completed post-graduate qualifications in education, Stephen is currently undertaking doctoral studies at the University of Technology, Sydney, researching professional identity among film and television educators.

Technical Supervisor: Christophe Healy

CHRISTOPHE HEALYChristophe dabbled in the Hong Kong film industry for many years. He worked on features such as POLICE STORY starring Jackie Chan and GOD OF GAMBLERS starring Chow Yun Fat, before embarking upon a more serious role in the industry back home. He has worked as a lighting technician with Motion Picture Lighting at Fox Studios, making various commercials and TV series. He has also worked in music video, advertising and TV series production across production design, camera and lighting for companies such as Southern Star, SBS, Fox 8, Fox Sport, Crackerjack and Fremantle productions. He completed a Bachelor’s degree in media and screen production at Macquarie University, where he excelled in cinematography. He went on to shoot numerous productions for the university and for the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS). Christophe has worked on various documentary projects as a DoP in Australia and overseas, as well as for environmental organisations such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth. Several of these productions won festival acclaim including Best Documentary at the Canberra film festival.

Student and Production Coordinator: Katrina Yeo

KATRINA YEOKatrina brings a broad range of experience and expertise, both creative and commercial. With a background in management and marketing Katrina also has consummate experience in film, TV, advertising and creative industry project coordination. Her expertise has assisted companies as diverse as Fox8, Monster Creative and Ferrari. Within the school, Katrina is responsible for coordinating student productions and overseeing the management of major projects and teaching staff.

Enrolments and Administration Officer : Samantha McLean

SAM MCLEANSam McLean is one of the nicest people you’re ever likely to meet.  In charge of Enrolments and our Administration Officer, Sam has a wealth of experience in customer service and administration.  Trained in Film and TV make-up, Sam forms a crucial part of the student services team with our Manager of Production and Student Services, Katrina Yeo.

Directing: Donald Crombie

I have never driven a cab, worked in a call centre, café, bar, or restaurant.
I made my living in the film industry for 46 years, 35 of those as a freelancer. In that time I’ve directed feature films, telemovies, mini-series, drama series, documentaries, corporates and commercials. I have written scripts, assessed other people’s scripts and occasionally mentored and taught. I’ve been a Board member of the AWG, ASDACS and ASDA and I was President of the Australian Directors’ Guild for over 5 years. I’ve not made animation or content for mobile phones, but neither has the fat lady sung.

I have a wife, house and dog. I have four children whom I wisely counseled to seek employment where there is a weekly salary, an annual bonus and stock options. Three of the four work in radio, theatre or film. I reckon they must have thought the old man enjoyed going to work…even without stock options. And I do. Some of my feature films:  Caddie, The Irishman, The Killing of Angel Street. Playing Beatie Bow. Some miniseries: The Heroes, Robbery Under Arms, The River Kings, Cyclone Tracy, The Alien Years. Drama series: McLeod’s Daughters, The Feds....and Flipper!

DirectANNA BROINOWSKIing: Anna Broinowski

Anna Broinowski is a multiple AFI award winning director who has been making films since 1995.Her documentaries include FORBIDDEN LIE$, HELEN’S WAR, SEXING THE LABEL and HELL BENTO!! Amongst her impressive list of awards are the 2007 Rome Film Fest ‘Cult’ Prize, the Al Jazeera International Film Festival ’Golden Award’, the San Francisco Film Festival Special Jury prize, the “Golden Minbar’ at the International Festival of Muslim Cinema in Russia, 3 Australian Film Institute Awards, 2 Australian Film Critics’ Awards, the 2008 NSW Premier’s Literary award, a Dendy, and Best Director at Films Des Femmes in France. Following the successful international theatrical release of FORBIDDEN LIE$, for which she won the Writer’s Guild of America best non-fiction Screenplay Award in 2008, Anna is now developing a slate of feature dramas. Anna is an award-winning director and NIDA acting graduate who has been making films since 1995.

Screenwriting: Stephen Davis

STEPHEN DAVIBorn in Glasgow, Stephen was inspired to write by his grandfather, Alfred. Alfred wrote poems about his false teeth. But Alfred died. So Stephen moved to Australia.  In Australia Stephen penned his first play, A VERY BLACK COMEDY INDEED. The play wasn’t about false teeth. It was about the end of the world. And it got published. Since then BLURRED, JUICE and BURNT have also been published. Stephen’s commissioned work includes DROWN for QTC, SCAR for La Boite TURTLE ISLAND and WET DOGS for Barking Gecko Theatre Company, TRANZITIONS, JUICE and BLURRED for QUT.  Three of Stephen's Feature Film scripts have been produced CITY LOOP (1999) BLURRED (nominated for an AFI for best adapted screenplay 2002) and MONKEY PUZZLE (2007) Stephen’s TV credits in television includes: SPY SHOP, PIRATE ISLANDS, HIGH FLIERS, CRASH PALACE, FAIRY TALE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BLINKY BILL, HOOTA AND SNOOZ, TIME CRACKS, DOG AND CAR NEWS, SPIRITED, PRETTY FLOWERS, PIXEL PINKIE, and QUARANTINE.  In 2006, Stephen’s TV show, SPY SHOP was developed into a ten part series and produced by the ABC.

Directing: Jonathan Wald

Jonathan is a filmmaker, theatre director, script editor, and teacher.  He has made five short films, four of which he wrote and three of which he edited and sound designed.  Together they have won multiple awards, played at more than 200 international film festivals, featured on DVDs in France and Germany, and screened on the Sundance Channel and the Moviola Channel. As a co-founder of , shoottheplayer.com, he has directed, shot, and edited 100 single-take music videos of musicians including Sarah Blasko, Amanda Palmer, Andrew Bird, and Reggie Watts. His theatre credits include the Australian premieres of Vincent River by Philip Ridley at the Old Fitz (Sydney Morning Herald pick), Titanic by Christopher Durang at the Newtown, and Hilda by Marie Ndiaye (Time Out pick, remounted as part of the Best Independent Theatre at the Seymour Centre); as well as a dozen plays in the US. When not directing, Jonathan works as an external assessor for the FTO and Metro Screen; a feature script he edited for the AFC was a finalist in the IF Awards for Best Unproduced Screenplay.  He has taught directing, writing, and script assessment at AFTRS, Metro Screen, and UCLA. Jonathan received his MFA in Filmmaking from UCLA, and received a Fulbright Grant to spend a year in the MA Directing program at AFTRS, as well as studying with Judith Weston, Joan Scheckel, and Meg LeFauve (Jodie Foster’s Egg Pictures).  In 2005 he co-founded FLICS, a group which successfully lobbied to save the Sydney’s Chauvel Cinema and its cinematheque program.

DirectiDEAN FRANCISng: Dean Francis

Dean Francis graduated with a Master of Arts in Directing from the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) where he won the Best Directed Drama prize for his action short AFTERLIFE. Dean has directed fifteen short films which have had over a hundred film festival screenings and won numerous awards. His AFTRS graduating film VERMIN, which premiered at the prestigious Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, was DeanMugShot.jpgnominated for an Australian Directors Guild Award and won two prizes at the Sydney Underground Film Festival. Dean was one of two Australian directors chosen to take part in the Berlin Film Festival’s Talent Campus where he was mentored by filmmakers such as Michel Gondry and Chris Doyle. Prior to attending AFTRS, Dean worked as a field producer for ABC Television. Currently, he is in post-production on his first feature film, the supernatural thriller ROAD TRAIN.

Cinematography: Josef Demian

 JOSEF DEMIAN 
Josef Demian is one of those rare and unique individuals. His understanding of the filmmaking process, both philosophically and practically, is extensive and complete. He is one of the world’s most skilled cinematographers. His nurturing of creative talents has become almost legendary within the Australian film industry. At the 1995 Australian Film Institute Awards, all of the nominated cinematographers in the non-feature category were ex-students of Josef. It’s hard to find a better testimonial for a film educator than that. His highly successful Kodak Cinematography Master Class series of training DVDs is widely distributed around the world, featuring such giants as John Seale, Don McAlpine, Dean Semler, Allen Daviau, Peter James, Sacha Vierny, Robby Muller.  Formerly Head of Cinematography at AFTRS, Josef has won numerous awards around the world for cinematography and direction.

Screenwriting: Miro BilbroughMIRO BILBROUGH

Miro Bilbrough was born and educated in New Zealand. She trained as a curator of contemporary art and was art critic for ‘The Evening Post’. In 1990 she migrated to Australia where she began writing poetry and film scripts. Her film debut as writer-director was with the award-winning URN (6’, 1995). URN enjoyed a theatrical release and a strong festival life internationally. Later, she made BARTLEBY (26”, 2001) winning Silver Medal for Fiction at Bilbao International Short Film & Documentary Festival. Her short feature FLOODHOUSE (52”, 2003) received three Australian Film Institute nominations (Best Short Film, Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography) and an Australian Writer’s Guild nomination. FLOODHOUSE premiered in competition at the Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival in 2004 and was broadcast by Arte/ZDF in France and Germany, and in Australia, by SBS. Miro has written for animation and docu-drama. Animation BAD BABY AMY was nominated for a BAFTA in 2002 and docu-dramas CARCRASH (1995) and THE FIFTH CONTINENT (1998) were short-listed for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards. Her script editing credits include Kathy Drayton’s critically acclaimed documentary about Australian photographer Carol Jerems, GIRL IN A MIRROR. Miro is currently casting her feature film GOODBYE PATIENCE.

Producing: Tamara Popper

TAMARA POPPERTamara has been an independent producer for 10 years. In 1998, she teamed up with Porchlight Films to produce Louise Fox's AFC funded-short film HELP ME. Since then she has produced a number of short films, documentaries, video installations and segments for ABC-TV's Recovery and Triple J Radio.  Her short film and documentary credits include UNIT #52 (written and directed by Tony Krawitz), selected at the Directors Fortnighimage.jpgt, Cannes in 2003. Also the 52-minute documentary SYDNEY AT WAR – THE UNTOLD STORY written and directed by Claude Gonzalez. In 2006, A NATURAL TALENT (written and directed by Louise Fox) was nominated for two AFIs and won the prestigious Jameson Award for Best Australian Short Film at Flickerfest. Tamara’s first feature film MONKEY PUZZLE was  released late 2008 screening at national and international film festivals including Shanghai, where it won Best Environmental Film. Other projects in development include: DESIGNATED DRIVER with writer/director Stephen Davis, DESK RAGE, THE PROJECTIONIST IS A WEREWOLF and THIN ICE with director Mark Forstmann.

Directing and Acting for Screen : George Whaley

George Whaley is a director, actor, writer and teacher for screen and stage. Formerly the Head of Acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and Head of Teaching at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS), he counts some of Australia's best-known actors and screen directors among his former students. George has worked at Australia's leading theatre companies alongside some of the industry's most awarded actors including Leo Mackern and Geoffrey Rush. His screen productions, as writer and director, include features, telemovies, corporate films and mini-series.  George teaches at IFSS, as well as at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and the Northern Rivers Conservatorium Arts Centre.

Sound Design: Annie Breslin

ANNIE BRESLINAnnie has 25 years experience working as a sound designer and editor. Her credits include MAD MAX 2, AUSTRALIA, HAPPY FEET 2, EVIL ANGELS, HIGH TIDE, YOUNG EINSTEIN, THE WELL, SOFT FRUIT, PASSION, UNFOLDING FLORENCE, and UNFINISHED SKY. She has recently enjoyed the challenges of theatre sound design. She has contributed to two plays for The Sydney Theatre Company -- Influence and Democracy -- and an independent production for the Stables Theatre, 4.48 Psychosis. Annie was Head of Sound at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) from 1995 to 2001. She co-wrote and introduced AFTRS Graduate Certificate in Screen Composition. In 2002 Annie was the recipient of a Centenary Medal for services to the Australian Community and the Australian Film Industry.

Cinematography: Judd OvertonJUDD OVERTON

Judd Overton has shot three features since he graduated from the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) in 2004. He recently shot the Chaplin-styled black and white silent comedy DR PLONK for acclaimed Australian director Rolf de Heer. It premiered at the Adelaide Film Festival, and screened in competition at Toronto and Rome International Film Festivals. Overton shoots award winning drama, short films, music clips and commercial spots. He has won several Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) awards including a Silver ACS Award for the hand-cranked DR PLONK. He has a diverse knowledge of professional equipment. He specialises in 35mm and 16mm film, as well as High Definition and Digital Cinema formats. He is also skilled in time and resource management and creative, efficient lighting.