John Edwards (producer)
Encyclopedia
John Edwards is a television drama producer.
His series credits include Rush (Network Ten
), Love My Way
(Foxtel
), The Secret Life of Us
(Network Ten
, Channel 4
UK), Police Rescue
(ABC
, BBC
), The Surgeon
(Network Ten
), Fireflies (ABC
), Big Sky (Network Ten
) and Stringer
(ABC
).
His mini-series include Marking Time
(ABC
), On The Beach (Seven Network
, Showtime USA), Do or Die (Network Seven, BSkyB) and Cyclone Tracy (Nine Network
).
His telemovies include six Cody telemovies (Network Seven), pilots for Police Rescue
, The Secret Life of Us
, Hard Knox (New Line), Fireflies and the children's telemovie I Own The Racecourse (Network Seven).
In all, John Edwards' productions have won 16 Logie Awards, 25 Australian Film Institute Awards, four People's Choice Awards (Australia)
, five ASTRA
Awards and more than a dozen Australian craft awards. Furthermore, On The Beach is the only Australian production to have received two Golden Globe Award
nominations.
. He attended high school at Balgowlah Boys Campus
, which turned out numerous other film and television identities including Academy Award winning cinematographer John Seale
, actors Rick Carter and Callan Mulvey
, director Ian Barry, writer Tim Pye and comedian Phillip Scott. His spent his final two high school years at The Shore School, before attending Sydney University and Jacksonville State University
, Alabama.
He was a History teacher in Sydney’s West for three years before breaking into the film and television industry as a researcher then writer at Film Australia in 1981. He wrote a number of productions including Out of Time, Out of Place, The Bounty Experiment and co-writing the two-part telemovie, The Weekly’s War.
He followed this with the TV series Stringer in 1988 and then, partnering with Sandra Levy at Southern Star, the successful action crime drama Police Rescue from 1991-1996 which won Most Popular Drama at the Logies in 1994 and 1996, a swag of acting Logies, 5 AFI and a number of international awards. He went on to make Big Sky (1997–1999) with Levy but then the two separated. John went on to produce Russell Mulcahy
’s mini-series On The Beach (2000), starring Armand Assante, Rachel Ward
and Bryan Brown, and which won two AFI Awards
and two Golden Globe nominations.
Then came the breakthrough series The Secret Life of Us
(2001–2005), a 20-somethings drama series produced with Amanda Higgs which won six Logies, and the ABC
mini-series Marking Time
which won a record seven AFI Awards
.
Edwards is perhaps best known for his award-winning drama series Love My Way
(2004–2007), developed and produced specifically for pay television with actor Claudia Karvan
and written with Jacqueline Perske, which won eight AFI Awards
. Love My Way
was a tipping point for Australian TV not only in its bold portrayal of the complexities of contemporary adult life but its pioneering application of the HBO model of creating quality drama specifically for television. It won both the AFI Awards
for Best Television Series three years running and the Silver Logie Award
for Most Outstanding Drama Series three years running.
2008 saw the first season of the Channel 10 series Rush. 2009 saw a second series of Rush, the launch of new pay television series Tangle
(Showcase) and the shooting of Spirited (W), the latter again collaborating with Claudia Karvan
and Jacqueline Perske.
, Logie
and/or AWGIE Awards
winners.
Actors:
Claudia Karvan
Ben Mendelsohn
Joel Edgerton
Deborah Mailman
Samuel Johnson
Gary Sweet
Catherine McClements
Kat Stewart
Directors:
Cherie Nowlan
Jessica Hobbs
Stuart McDonald
Matthew Saville
Writers:
Jacqueline Perske
Judi McCrossin
Christopher Lee
His series credits include Rush (Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
), Love My Way
Love My Way
Love My Way was a Logie Award winning and critically acclaimed Australian television drama series. It won the AFI award for Best Television Drama Series for each of its three seasons ....
(Foxtel
Foxtel
Foxtel is an Australian pay television company, operating cable, direct broadcast satellite television and IPTV services. It was formed in 1995 through a joint venture established between Telstra and News Corporation....
), The Secret Life of Us
The Secret Life of Us
The Secret Life of Us was a television drama series set in the beachside suburb of St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. The series was produced by Southern Star Entertainment and screened in Australia from 2001 to 2005 on Network Ten and on Channel 4 in the UK...
(Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
, Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
UK), Police Rescue
Police Rescue
Police Rescue was an Australian television series which originally aired on ABC TV between 1989 and 1996. It was produced by ABC and Southern Star Xanadu in association with the BBC....
(ABC
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
, BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
), The Surgeon
The Surgeon
The Surgeon was an Australian primetime television Medical drama. It screened at 9:30pm on Thursdays on Network Ten and in Ireland early morning on RTÉ One. The show was based at a fictional hospital named Sydney General Hospital....
(Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
), Fireflies (ABC
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
), Big Sky (Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
) and Stringer
Stringer
Stringer may refer to:* Stringer , a type of freelance journalism* Stringer * Stringer , or longeron, a strip of wood or metal to which the skin of an aircraft is fastened...
(ABC
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
).
His mini-series include Marking Time
Marking Time
Marking Time was an Australian television mini-series, consisting of four one-hour episodes. It first aired on 9 and 10 November 2003 on ABC-TV...
(ABC
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
), On The Beach (Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
, Showtime USA), Do or Die (Network Seven, BSkyB) and Cyclone Tracy (Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
).
His telemovies include six Cody telemovies (Network Seven), pilots for Police Rescue
Police Rescue
Police Rescue was an Australian television series which originally aired on ABC TV between 1989 and 1996. It was produced by ABC and Southern Star Xanadu in association with the BBC....
, The Secret Life of Us
The Secret Life of Us
The Secret Life of Us was a television drama series set in the beachside suburb of St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. The series was produced by Southern Star Entertainment and screened in Australia from 2001 to 2005 on Network Ten and on Channel 4 in the UK...
, Hard Knox (New Line), Fireflies and the children's telemovie I Own The Racecourse (Network Seven).
In all, John Edwards' productions have won 16 Logie Awards, 25 Australian Film Institute Awards, four People's Choice Awards (Australia)
People's Choice Awards (Australia)
-1999:Favourite TV Star-1999:Favourite TV Star-1999:Favourite TV Star:Winner:::Lisa McCune, Blue Heelers, Seven Network:Nominated:::Colin Friels, Water Rats, Nine Network::Rebecca Gibney, Halifax f.p., Nine Network...
, five ASTRA
Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association
The Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association is the peak industry body for pay television in Australia.Formed in 1995, it was initially called the Confederation of Australian Subscription Television...
Awards and more than a dozen Australian craft awards. Furthermore, On The Beach is the only Australian production to have received two Golden Globe Award
Golden Globe Award
The Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign...
nominations.
Early life
John Edwards was born in Sydney Australia and has lived most of his life in the beachside suburb of ManlyManly, New South Wales
Manly is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Manly is located 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Manly Council, in the Northern Beaches region.-History:Manly was named...
. He attended high school at Balgowlah Boys Campus
Balgowlah Boys Campus
Balgowlah Boys Campus is a boys public secondary school for students in years 7 to 12 located in Balgowlah, New South Wales, Australia. It is a part of the Northern Beaches Secondary College, a five-campus college across Sydney's Northern Beaches, formed in 2003. The school was previously known as...
, which turned out numerous other film and television identities including Academy Award winning cinematographer John Seale
John Seale
John Clement Seale, A.S.C., A.C.S. is an Australian cinematographer. He won an Oscar for the 1996 film The English Patient....
, actors Rick Carter and Callan Mulvey
Callan Mulvey
Callan Francis Mulvey is an Australian actor.-Biography:Mulvey was born in New Zealand and is of Maori heritage. His family moved to Sydney, Australia when he was eight years old...
, director Ian Barry, writer Tim Pye and comedian Phillip Scott. His spent his final two high school years at The Shore School, before attending Sydney University and Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville State University is a regional public coeducational university located in Jacksonville, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1883, Jacksonville State offers programs of study in four academic units leading to Bachelor's, Master's, and Education Specialist degrees, in addition to continuing and...
, Alabama.
He was a History teacher in Sydney’s West for three years before breaking into the film and television industry as a researcher then writer at Film Australia in 1981. He wrote a number of productions including Out of Time, Out of Place, The Bounty Experiment and co-writing the two-part telemovie, The Weekly’s War.
Career
After starting his career researching and writing at Film Australia, Edwards began producing, partnered with Tim Read, with the feature film The Empty Beach, starring Bryan Brown, followed by the telemovie I Own the Racecourse (1985) and the mini-series Cyclone Tracy (1986).He followed this with the TV series Stringer in 1988 and then, partnering with Sandra Levy at Southern Star, the successful action crime drama Police Rescue from 1991-1996 which won Most Popular Drama at the Logies in 1994 and 1996, a swag of acting Logies, 5 AFI and a number of international awards. He went on to make Big Sky (1997–1999) with Levy but then the two separated. John went on to produce Russell Mulcahy
Russell Mulcahy
Russell Mulcahy is an Australian film director. His work is easily recognized by his use of fast cuts, tracking shots and use of glowing lights.- Music videos :...
’s mini-series On The Beach (2000), starring Armand Assante, Rachel Ward
Rachel Ward
Rachel Claire Ward, AM is a British actress, columnist, film director, and screenwriter who has primarily pursued her career in Australia.-Early life:...
and Bryan Brown, and which won two AFI Awards
Australian Film Institute Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
and two Golden Globe nominations.
Then came the breakthrough series The Secret Life of Us
The Secret Life of Us
The Secret Life of Us was a television drama series set in the beachside suburb of St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. The series was produced by Southern Star Entertainment and screened in Australia from 2001 to 2005 on Network Ten and on Channel 4 in the UK...
(2001–2005), a 20-somethings drama series produced with Amanda Higgs which won six Logies, and the ABC
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
mini-series Marking Time
Marking Time
Marking Time was an Australian television mini-series, consisting of four one-hour episodes. It first aired on 9 and 10 November 2003 on ABC-TV...
which won a record seven AFI Awards
Australian Film Institute Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
.
Edwards is perhaps best known for his award-winning drama series Love My Way
Love My Way
Love My Way was a Logie Award winning and critically acclaimed Australian television drama series. It won the AFI award for Best Television Drama Series for each of its three seasons ....
(2004–2007), developed and produced specifically for pay television with actor Claudia Karvan
Claudia Karvan
Claudia Karvan is an Australian actress popular for her roles in the television series The Secret Life of Us and Love My Way. She is also a producer and writer on Love My Way. She currently stars in the drama series Spirited...
and written with Jacqueline Perske, which won eight AFI Awards
Australian Film Institute Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
. Love My Way
Love My Way
Love My Way was a Logie Award winning and critically acclaimed Australian television drama series. It won the AFI award for Best Television Drama Series for each of its three seasons ....
was a tipping point for Australian TV not only in its bold portrayal of the complexities of contemporary adult life but its pioneering application of the HBO model of creating quality drama specifically for television. It won both the AFI Awards
Australian Film Institute Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
for Best Television Series three years running and the Silver Logie Award
Logie Award
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
for Most Outstanding Drama Series three years running.
2008 saw the first season of the Channel 10 series Rush. 2009 saw a second series of Rush, the launch of new pay television series Tangle
Tangle (TV series)
Tangle is an Australian drama series for the Showcase subscription television channel. It focuses on the lives of two generations of two families and their tangled lives. Tangle is filmed in Melbourne and first screened on 1 October 2009...
(Showcase) and the shooting of Spirited (W), the latter again collaborating with Claudia Karvan
Claudia Karvan
Claudia Karvan is an Australian actress popular for her roles in the television series The Secret Life of Us and Love My Way. She is also a producer and writer on Love My Way. She currently stars in the drama series Spirited...
and Jacqueline Perske.
"In Good Company"
A number of important and influential actors, directors and writersare linked with John Edwards. The following list is limited to AFI AwardsAustralian Film Institute Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
, Logie
Logie Award
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
and/or AWGIE Awards
AWGIE Awards
The AWGIE Awards is an annual awards ceremony conducted by the Australian Writers' Guild, for excellence in screen, television, stage and radio writing. The awards began in 1967....
winners.
Actors:
Claudia Karvan
Claudia Karvan
Claudia Karvan is an Australian actress popular for her roles in the television series The Secret Life of Us and Love My Way. She is also a producer and writer on Love My Way. She currently stars in the drama series Spirited...
Ben Mendelsohn
Ben Mendelsohn
Paul Benjamin "Ben" Mendelsohn is an Australian actor.-Early life:Mendelsohn was born in Melbourne, Australia, the son of Carole Ann and Frederick Mendelsohn. He attended Heidelberg Primary School and Banyule High School. His father is a prominent medical researcher who heads the Howard Florey...
Joel Edgerton
Joel Edgerton
Joel Edgerton is an Australian film and television actor.-Early life:Edgerton was born in Blacktown, Sydney, to a homemaker mother and a solicitor/property developer father, Michael. His brother, Nash Edgerton, is a stuntman and filmmaker...
Deborah Mailman
Deborah Mailman
Deborah Mailman , is an Australian television and film actress. She was the first Aboriginal actress to win the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role...
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
Gary Sweet
Gary Sweet
Gary Sweet is an Australian film and television actor known for his roles in Alexandra's Project , Police Rescue, Cody, Big Sky, The Battlers, Bodyline and Stingers....
Catherine McClements
Catherine McClements
Catherine McClements is an Australian actress.-Early life:Catherine is the third of four children, and after acting with the St Martin's Youth Arts Centre in Melbourne for a couple of years, she successfully auditioned for the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art when she was 17...
Kat Stewart
Kat Stewart
Kat Stewart is a Logie Award-winning Australian actress who has made numerous appearances in television series, movies and on-stage.-Career:...
Directors:
Cherie Nowlan
Cherie Nowlan
Cherie Nowlan is an Australian film and television director.She is best known for directing the 1997 film Thank God He Met Lizzie starring Cate Blanchett and Frances O'Connor, her feature film directorial debut...
Jessica Hobbs
Stuart McDonald
Matthew Saville
Matthew Saville
Matthew Saville is an Australian television and film director, who began his career working as a titles designer for many Australian television series...
Writers:
Jacqueline Perske
Judi McCrossin
Christopher Lee
Partial filmography (as Producer)
- Offspring (2010–present)
- Spirited (2010–present)
- TangleTangle (TV series)Tangle is an Australian drama series for the Showcase subscription television channel. It focuses on the lives of two generations of two families and their tangled lives. Tangle is filmed in Melbourne and first screened on 1 October 2009...
(2009–present) - RushRush (2008 TV series)-DVD releases:-Achievements:-International distribution:-External links:...
(2008–present) - Out of the Blue (2008)
- Love My WayLove My WayLove My Way was a Logie Award winning and critically acclaimed Australian television drama series. It won the AFI award for Best Television Drama Series for each of its three seasons ....
(2004–2007) - Dangerous (2007)
- The Alice (2005–2006)
- The SurgeonThe SurgeonThe Surgeon was an Australian primetime television Medical drama. It screened at 9:30pm on Thursdays on Network Ten and in Ireland early morning on RTÉ One. The show was based at a fictional hospital named Sydney General Hospital....
(2005) - Fireflies (2004)
- Marking TimeMarking TimeMarking Time was an Australian television mini-series, consisting of four one-hour episodes. It first aired on 9 and 10 November 2003 on ABC-TV...
(2003) - The Secret Life of UsThe Secret Life of UsThe Secret Life of Us was a television drama series set in the beachside suburb of St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. The series was produced by Southern Star Entertainment and screened in Australia from 2001 to 2005 on Network Ten and on Channel 4 in the UK...
(2001–2005) - Do Or Die (2001)
- On the Beach (2000)
- Big Sky (1997–1999)
- Cody (6 telemovies, 1994-6)
- Police RescuePolice RescuePolice Rescue was an Australian television series which originally aired on ABC TV between 1989 and 1996. It was produced by ABC and Southern Star Xanadu in association with the BBC....
(1991–1996) - Children of the Dragon (1991)
- Wendy Cracked a Walnut (1990)
- Stringer (1988)
- Cyclone Tracy (1986)
- I Own the Racecourse (1986)
- The Empty Beach (1985)