Brian Trenchard-Smith
Encyclopedia
Brian Trenchard-Smith is an English film
and television
director, producer, writer, consultant and actor who is notable for his contributions to the horror and action genre during the 1970s and 1980s in Australia. Most of his work has been in television, and the majority of his films have been direct-to-video
releases. His '70s and '80s Aussie films were theactrically released. He generally works in the drama, action and horror genres. He has directed 42 movies and TV series including Turkey Shoot
, StuntRock, Dead End Drive-In
, The Man from Hong Kong
, and Leprechaun 4: In Space
.
In addition, he also has been credited by Quentin Tarantino
as one of his favorite directors.
After two years at Channel 9 he formed his own production company, borrowed $16,000 and made a one-hour television special about stuntmen called The Suntmen featuring Grant Page
. This was a success an enabled him to make a number other TV specials, usually with a theme of action and/or danger. Kung Fu Killers, which also featured Page, was particularly successful.
Trenchard-Smith was going to Hong Kong
to make a documentary on Bruce Lee
called The World of Kung Fu but arrived on the day Lee died. He turned the documentary into a tribute on Lee, and in the course of making it met Raymond Chow
who helped fund Trenchard-Smith' first feature, The Man from Hong Kong
(1975). The film was successful internationally launching his career as a feature director.
Among his most fondly remembered credits are the cult classic Turkey Shoot
(1982) and BMX Bandits
(1983), where he worked with a young Nicole Kidman
.
He says his passion project is to do a revisionist history of Richard III
.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
director, producer, writer, consultant and actor who is notable for his contributions to the horror and action genre during the 1970s and 1980s in Australia. Most of his work has been in television, and the majority of his films have been direct-to-video
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
releases. His '70s and '80s Aussie films were theactrically released. He generally works in the drama, action and horror genres. He has directed 42 movies and TV series including Turkey Shoot
Turkey Shoot (film)
Turkey Shoot is a 1982 Australian dystopian futurist exploitation film directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith notable for its extreme violence and sadistic prison sequences...
, StuntRock, Dead End Drive-In
Dead End Drive-In
Dead End Drive-In is a 1986 Australian New Wave film about a teenage couple trapped in a drive-in theater which is really a concentration camp for societal rejects. The inmates, many of whom sport punk fashion, are fed a steady diet of junk food, New Wave music, drugs, and bad movies.The film was...
, The Man from Hong Kong
The Man from Hong Kong
The Man from Hong Kong, known in the U.S.A. as The Dragon Flies is a 1975 action film that was the first Australian-Hong Kong co-production being filmed in both nations. The film was also the first Australian martial arts film. It was produced by Raymond Chow and John Fraser, directed by Brian...
, and Leprechaun 4: In Space
Leprechaun 4: In Space
Leprechaun 4: In Space is a 1997 direct-to-video horror science fiction comedy film directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith. It is the fourth film in the series, which began with the 1993 film Leprechaun about an evil leprechaun...
.
In addition, he also has been credited by Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Jerome Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s, he began his career as an independent filmmaker with films employing nonlinear storylines and the aestheticization of violence...
as one of his favorite directors.
Biography
He was born in England and made his first film at the age of 15 on 8mm. Called The Chase, it was about a lunatic who escapes from an asylum and chases a boy around the countryside with a bayonet. He was commisioned to make a film about his school, Wellington College, for prospective parents. He showed this around once he left school, and it helped him get work as an editor's assistant and camera assitant. He moved to Australia in 1955 and worked at Channel Ten as an editor, doing news, documentaries and trailers. He moved over to Channel 9 to work as promotions director, then in 1958 went to work in London as a junior writer/producer of feature film trailers at National Screen Service. In 1970 he returned to Channel 9 as netowk promotions director, and made his directorial debut with a French TV special Christmas in Australia.After two years at Channel 9 he formed his own production company, borrowed $16,000 and made a one-hour television special about stuntmen called The Suntmen featuring Grant Page
Grant Page
Grant Page is an of Australian stuntman who worked mostly during the seventies and eighties. Page was the stunt coordinator for the popular Australian action movies The Man from Hong Kong and Mad Max, as well as other Australian and overseas films including the cult horror flick Death Ship...
. This was a success an enabled him to make a number other TV specials, usually with a theme of action and/or danger. Kung Fu Killers, which also featured Page, was particularly successful.
Trenchard-Smith was going to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
to make a documentary on Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
called The World of Kung Fu but arrived on the day Lee died. He turned the documentary into a tribute on Lee, and in the course of making it met Raymond Chow
Raymond Chow
Raymond Chow Man-Wai is a Hong Kong film producer, and presenter and was responsible for successfully launching martial arts and the Hong Kong cinema onto the international stage...
who helped fund Trenchard-Smith' first feature, The Man from Hong Kong
The Man from Hong Kong
The Man from Hong Kong, known in the U.S.A. as The Dragon Flies is a 1975 action film that was the first Australian-Hong Kong co-production being filmed in both nations. The film was also the first Australian martial arts film. It was produced by Raymond Chow and John Fraser, directed by Brian...
(1975). The film was successful internationally launching his career as a feature director.
Among his most fondly remembered credits are the cult classic Turkey Shoot
Turkey Shoot (film)
Turkey Shoot is a 1982 Australian dystopian futurist exploitation film directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith notable for its extreme violence and sadistic prison sequences...
(1982) and BMX Bandits
BMX Bandits
BMX Bandits may refer to:* BMX Bandits , a Glaswegian guitar pop band* BMX Bandits , a 1983 Australian children's movie featuring Nicole Kidman* "BMX Bandits", a 2005 song from Wheatus' album TooSoonMonsoon which alludes to the film...
(1983), where he worked with a young Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Mary Kidman, AC is an American-born Australian actress, singer, film producer, spokesmodel, and humanitarian. After starring in a number of small Australian films and TV shows, Kidman's breakthrough was in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm...
.
He says his passion project is to do a revisionist history of Richard III
Richard III
-People:*Richard III, Duke of Normandy *Richard III of Capua *Richard III of Gaeta *Richard III of England -Biography:*Richard III , a 1955 biography of the English king by Paul Murray Kendall...
.
Selected Filmography
- The Stuntmen (1972) - TV special
- Marty Feldman in Australia (1972) - TV special
- The Big Screen Scene (1972) - TV special
- The World of Kung Fu (1973) - TV special
- Kung Fu Killers (1974) - TV special
- Inside Alvin Purple (1974) - TV special
- The Love Epidemic (1974)
- The Man from Hong KongThe Man from Hong KongThe Man from Hong Kong, known in the U.S.A. as The Dragon Flies is a 1975 action film that was the first Australian-Hong Kong co-production being filmed in both nations. The film was also the first Australian martial arts film. It was produced by Raymond Chow and John Fraser, directed by Brian...
(1975) - Danger Freaks (1976) - 4-part TV special
- Deathcheaters (1976)
- Hospitals Don't Burn Down (1977) - TV short
- Stunt RockStunt RockWilliam Flegel is an electronic musician and breakcore producer, live performer, and graphic artist from Zion, Illinois. Mr. Flegel is also known under the aliases, Stunt Rock, Against Me, Angina Flip Stick, and Tomorrow I Am Going To Do It...
(1978) - Turkey ShootTurkey Shoot (film)Turkey Shoot is a 1982 Australian dystopian futurist exploitation film directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith notable for its extreme violence and sadistic prison sequences...
(1982) - BMX BanditsBMX BanditsBMX Bandits may refer to:* BMX Bandits , a Glaswegian guitar pop band* BMX Bandits , a 1983 Australian children's movie featuring Nicole Kidman* "BMX Bandits", a 2005 song from Wheatus' album TooSoonMonsoon which alludes to the film...
(1983) - Frog DreamingFrog DreamingFrog Dreaming is a 1986 Australian film starring Henry Thomas.In the United States the film was named 'The Quest'. In the United Kingdom it was named 'The Go-Kids'....
(1985) - Dead End Drive-InDead End Drive-InDead End Drive-In is a 1986 Australian New Wave film about a teenage couple trapped in a drive-in theater which is really a concentration camp for societal rejects. The inmates, many of whom sport punk fashion, are fed a steady diet of junk food, New Wave music, drugs, and bad movies.The film was...
(1986) - Jenny Kissed Me (1986)
- Out of the Body (1988)
- Day of the Panther (1988)
- Strike of the Panther (1988)
- Leprechaun 4: In SpaceLeprechaun 4: In SpaceLeprechaun 4: In Space is a 1997 direct-to-video horror science fiction comedy film directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith. It is the fourth film in the series, which began with the 1993 film Leprechaun about an evil leprechaun...
(1998) - Arctic Blast (2010)
- The Cabin (2011) - TV movie
External links
- www.FilmIndustryBloggers.com/thegenredirector
- 2007 Audio Interview with the Your Video Store Shelf Podcast
- Brian Trenchard-Smith at National Film and Sound ArchiveNational Film and Sound ArchiveThe National Film and Sound Archive is Australia’s audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting and providing access to a national collection of audiovisual materials and related items...