ABOUT ME
ABOUT ME
What you should know
Name:
Richard formerly ‘Dicky’
Occupation:
Filmmaker
Favourite FilmS
Magnolia, The Big Lebowski
Favourite Music
Michael Franti, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Al Green, etc.
Favourite book
Shallows by Tim Winton
Favorite Vacation Spot:
Vietnam, Broome, Byron Bay
Personal Motto:
“Of course we can”
MY FAVOURITE ARTIST
Louise Hearman
Richard began his career as an office boy at Melbourne advertising agency Thomson White & Partners. Easily bored he noticed they seemed to be enjoying themselves in TV production, so he conned his way into assisting the agency producer. When that producer decided she preferred writing, he was unexpectedly thrust into the role of agency producer at the tender age of 21.
A few years later Richard changed path a little and joined production company Luxford Sykes Dale to pursue his dream of directing. Quickly installed as the in-house 1st AD, he achieved this ambition when he directed his first TVC for Clemenger in 1987, Cajun Hot Sticks that went on to score Bronze at the MADC awards.
He took on the role of General Manager at Lori Dale Productions alongside his directing duties and in 1995 established his own production company Trademark Films (renamed to Asylum Films in 1997). In addition to running his production company, in 2001 Richard joined leading Melbourne TVC production company Renegade Films where he spent 6 years producing for award winning directors Hayley Cloake, Chris Begley, Keri Light, James Teh, Julius Avery and Sean Byrne.
With director Peter Sykes, he developed a number of 3D projects including the large format films Orangutans 3D – People of the Forest and Living with Man Eaters 3D. Assisted by a combination of private investment and Victorian Government funding, tests were shot and post produced in Melbourne and LA in November/December 2003 and screened alongside material from Hollywood director James Cameron at the 2004 Large Format Cinema Association Conference in Los Angeles.
In November 2007 Richard took on the role of representing Sydney production company Republic’s roster of TVC directors from Australia, New Zealand and Los Angeles in Melbourne. Richard has also produced a number of TVC campaigns in Asia over the years.
In September 2010 Richard moved to Brisbane to chase the sunshine and freelances as a director, producer, line producer and 1st AD. His latest project is the lead producer role on feature documentary Rise of the Eco-Warriors. Working with producer/director Cathy Henkel (The Burning Season) and supported through a combination of private investment, philanthropic grants and Screen Queensland funding, post production is now complete and an international release is slated for March 2014.
Richard has developed his own unique directing style whilst also producing for a number of extremely talented TVC directors. His work has won awards in most of the major local and international competitions. Alongside his TVC work, he continues to develop a number of feature, large format, TV and short film projects.
Other
In 1995 Richard produced an eight-minute short film titled Mail & Female, directed by Simon Collins and in 1998 he directed and produced a fourteen-minute series of comedy sketches for actor Paul Parker. Together with Producer Steve Jeffares, Richard directed the short film The Pitch, shot in February 2001.
With director Keri Light, Richard produced the short Wasted on the Young in 2002, which won the Production Design award at the POV short film festival in Sydney. Teaming with Keri again, they produced another 2 minute short for TAC The Mocking Birds, which was released in cinemas in October 2003 to much acclaim.
Between 1997 and 2002, Richard curated the MADC Short Film Festival, in 2010 he directed and produced the TV series pilot Unstable and he is currently developing the TV series World’s Worst Fisherman.