The Knowledge is a series of interviews with leading screen industry figures, conducted by experienced film journalist Andrew Urban and published via the CSB blog.
Tony Ayres - biography
Tony Ayres is an award-winning writer, director and producer. In 2006, Tony directed his second feature film The Home Song Stories, which premiered at the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival. It went on to win 8 AFI Awards (including Best Direction, Best Screenplay and Best Actress), 5 IF Awards, Best Screenplay prize at the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, Best Film Award at the Hawaii International Film Festival, and the 2007 AWGIE Award for Best Feature Film Script. His first feature film Walking on Water won the Teddy Award at the 2002 Berlin Film Festival, 5 Australian Film Institute (AFI) awards, 2 Australian Film Critics Circle Awards and an IF Award. Previously, he wrote and directed the multi-award-winning documentary Sadness (1999). Tony is also one of Australia’s most sought-after script editors.
Together with Michael McMahon, Tony leads Big and Little Films, one of Australia’s most exciting independent production companies. In 2009, the company continues to develop and finance its ambitious slate of feature films, documentaries and television projects for the Australian and International markets, working with some of Australia’s most talented writers and directors.
Audio download
Chapter 1 - Balancing creative and business activities- 10 minutes
- Keeping writing activity separate from business
- Never thought of running a business until last 5 years (Big & Little Films)
- Have worked up a business plan with partner Michael McMahon
- Set up an edit suite
- Now having to think about how to make money – not just as artists
- Also work as a script editor and other jobs
- Developing TV for cashflow
- Diversifying in feature film styles
- Selection by ‘taste’
Video downloads
Chapter 2 - Looking to the future - 10 minutes
- Digital is all new territory for us
- Partnerships with other producers – as well as with writers and directors
- Using debt as working capital – plan is to make more successful projects
- Home Song Stories – well received but not profitable - something to learn from
- Have to be a ‘glass half full’ person
Video downloads
