Gil Brealey
Encyclopedia
Gil Brealey is an Australia
n television and film director, producer and writer.
Brealey studied at Melbourne University, where he made his first amateur films around the age of 20. He was a member of the Melbourne University Film society and was a speaker at the Eisenstein Weekend organised by the WEA Film Study Group
in October, 1963. He began his directing career in television in the 1960s with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (later the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
), where he worked for approximately eight years. His notable credits there include Australia's first science fiction
TV series The Stranger
(1964–65) and the 1965 TV miniseries adaptation of the George Johnston
novel My Brother Jack
. He wrote and directed a satire 'Say Bow Wow'. He directed three films for the Intertel series on Japan, Israel, and Malta.
He had a brief exchange visit with Universal Pictures
in 1968, and in 1969 head of production Richard Mason
approached him to join the Commonwealth Film Unit (later Film Australia
, now Screen Australia
) as a documentary film producer. His credits include the AFI Award
-winning documentary short Bullocky http://video.google.com.au/videoplay?docid=3511944061797019259# and the three-part 'omnibus' film Three To Go (1971), which includes segments by emerging directors Peter Weir
and Brian Hannett.
In 1972 he was appointed founding Director/Chairman of the South Australian Film Corporation, a role he held until 1976. In this time Brealey co-produced the acclaimed Sunday Too Far Away
(1975), the film that launched the career of actor Jack Thompson
.
In 1976 Brealey was appointed Officer, Order of Australia
, for his services to the Australian Film Industry.
In 1977 he completed a report on film production by the Tasmanian government, and was appointed founding Chairman of the Tasmanian Film Corporation. In this role he co-produced the aboriginal feature "Manganini".
In 1984 Brealey directed "Annie's Coming Out" (released in America as 'Test of Love') for Film Australia. The movie won the 1984 Australian Film Institute
awards for best film, best female actor, and best adapted screenplay.
In a career of 42 years in the Australian film industry he wrote, produced or directed one hundred productions and won the top prize at the AFI awards five times.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n television and film director, producer and writer.
Brealey studied at Melbourne University, where he made his first amateur films around the age of 20. He was a member of the Melbourne University Film society and was a speaker at the Eisenstein Weekend organised by the WEA Film Study Group
WEA Film Study Group
The WEA Sydney Film Society is a non-profit film society based in Sydney, Australia.It is a club of WEA Sydney, which is part of the Workers' Educational Association .-History:...
in October, 1963. He began his directing career in television in the 1960s with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (later the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
), where he worked for approximately eight years. His notable credits there include Australia's first science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
TV series The Stranger
The Stranger (Australian TV series)
The Stranger was an Australian science fiction television series made for children and produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
(1964–65) and the 1965 TV miniseries adaptation of the George Johnston
George Johnston
George Norman Johnston was a politician elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the first time in 1921, He served as Speaker of the Alberta Legislature from 1921 to 1936. He was defeated in 1935 when Social Credit swept to power...
novel My Brother Jack
My Brother Jack
My Brother Jack is a classic Australian novel by writer George Johnston. It is part of a trilogy centring on the character of David Meredith...
. He wrote and directed a satire 'Say Bow Wow'. He directed three films for the Intertel series on Japan, Israel, and Malta.
He had a brief exchange visit with Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
in 1968, and in 1969 head of production Richard Mason
Richard Mason
Richard Mason may refer to:* Richard Mason , English author of The World of Suzie Wong* Richard Mason , English writer, the author of The Drowning People* Richard Mason Richard Mason may refer to:* Richard Mason (novelist 1919–1997), English author of The World of Suzie Wong* Richard Mason...
approached him to join the Commonwealth Film Unit (later Film Australia
Film Australia
Film Australia was a company established by the Government of Australia to produce films about Australia. Its mission was to create an audio-visual record of Australian culture, through the commissioning, distribution and management of programs that deal with matters of national interest or...
, now Screen Australia
Screen Australia
Screen Australia is the Federal Government’s key funding body for the Australian screen production industry. Its functions are to support and promote the development of a highly creative, innovative and commercially sustainable industry....
) as a documentary film producer. His credits include the AFI Award
Australian Film Institute
The Australian Film Institute was founded in 1958 as a non-profit organisation devoted to developing an active film culture in Australia and fostering engagement between the general public and the Australian film industry...
-winning documentary short Bullocky http://video.google.com.au/videoplay?docid=3511944061797019259# and the three-part 'omnibus' film Three To Go (1971), which includes segments by emerging directors Peter Weir
Peter Weir
Peter Lindsay Weir, AM is an Australian film director. After playing a leading role in the Australian New Wave cinema with his films such as Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Last Wave and Gallipoli, Weir directed a diverse group of American and international films—many of them major box office...
and Brian Hannett.
In 1972 he was appointed founding Director/Chairman of the South Australian Film Corporation, a role he held until 1976. In this time Brealey co-produced the acclaimed Sunday Too Far Away
Sunday Too Far Away
Sunday Too Far Away is an Australian feature film which was directed by Ken Hannam and released in 1975. It belongs to the Australian Film Renaissance which occurred during that decade....
(1975), the film that launched the career of actor Jack Thompson
Jack Thompson (actor)
Jack Thompson, AM is an Australian actor and one of the major figures of Australian cinema. He was educated at University of Queensland, before embarking on his acting career. In 2002, he was made an honorary member of the Australian Cinematographers Society...
.
In 1976 Brealey was appointed Officer, Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, for his services to the Australian Film Industry.
In 1977 he completed a report on film production by the Tasmanian government, and was appointed founding Chairman of the Tasmanian Film Corporation. In this role he co-produced the aboriginal feature "Manganini".
In 1984 Brealey directed "Annie's Coming Out" (released in America as 'Test of Love') for Film Australia. The movie won the 1984 Australian Film Institute
Australian Film Institute
The Australian Film Institute was founded in 1958 as a non-profit organisation devoted to developing an active film culture in Australia and fostering engagement between the general public and the Australian film industry...
awards for best film, best female actor, and best adapted screenplay.
In a career of 42 years in the Australian film industry he wrote, produced or directed one hundred productions and won the top prize at the AFI awards five times.