Matt Norman
Encyclopedia
Matthew Travis "Matt" Norman (born 20 October 1971) is an actor turned filmmaker, best known for his acting work on Australian TV Shows Blue Heelers
, Neighbours
and Stingers
, U.S telemovies Moby-Dick
, Silver Strand and Ghost Rider
.
Norman attended Nandaly then Lindenow public school in his primary school years, and then he attended Nagle College
, Bairnsdale
, completing year 12 in 1989.
He moved to Melbourne from Bairnsdale in 1989 and worked many jobs including nightclub security, bodyguard to both Australian and international celebrities and became a member of Australia's elite 1 Commando Regiment in the Australian army before embarking on a successful stint as an administration officer with National Mutual in Melbourne. In 1994, Norman started pursuing his dream of becoming an actor. While still working in the security industry, he started at the National Theatre Drama School
in St Kilda
, Melbourne where he met his wife Rebecca Norman (née Downie). After one year of drama school he left to pursue an acting career. Norman was also known for his singing and guitar abilities, playing in a Melbourne based rock band called Dirty Rotten Scoundrels which lasted a bit over a year with various gigs around Melbourne and rural Victoria.
Norman's career started as a filmmaker when his first film All the Kings Horses won several international awards in Australia and overseas. Since then he has gone on to write, direct and produce several other award-winning films such as The Writer starring one of Australia's best known actors Kym Gyngell, Shank starring Rob Carlton, and finally The Umbrella Men starring Blue Heelers star Damian Walshe-Howling and Neighbours star Benji McNair.
By this time, Matt Norman and his wife Rebecca had four children. Hunter, Riley, Azure and more recently Charlie. Matt also has another daughter Imogen from a previous relationship.
. Peter was the Silver Medalist in the 200m at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. With Americans Tommie Smith
and John Carlos
, he became part of one of the 20th Century's most photographed moments: The Black Power Salute.
Matt Norman realised that the full story of his uncle had never been told. There had been attempts by American filmmakers but they all lacked one major ingredient, Peter Norman
. Matt started filming Salute at the end of 2002. With no budget, no funding and no help he went about making a film that he hoped would get picked up by a local film festival. Instead, Salute is now considered one of the most ambitious and most expensive documentary films ever made in Australia. With the help of the FFC (Film Finance Corporation- now Screen Australia) and his local funding body Film Victoria, Norman raised close to two million dollars to help with the post production of the film. In October 2006, Peter Norman died of a heart attack. Matt Norman's life was turned upside down when his film that was to honor his uncle would now be regarded as a memory of his uncle and the stance he took at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games.
In 2008, Andrew Mackie and Richard Payton of Transmission Films were signed on as Australian Distributors and later brought on board Paramount Pictures
Australia to release the film nationally in cinemas throughout his native country.
Starting from scratch with nothing, and losing his uncle in 2006 as well as his own home to make the film, Matt Norman has held onto his promise to Peter Norman to finally tell the World the true story of events of the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.
Salute had its World Premiere at the exclusive Sydney Film Festival on the 8 June 2008, and was released Australia-wide in cinemas on the 24 July 2008, with the rest of the world to follow shortly after. The DVD release of the film came out in Australia on the 15 January 2009 and is set to screen in the United States in the coming months.
One of Salute's major achievements for 2008 was being #1 at the Australian box office for a documentary and in the top ten box office of all Australian films such as "Australia", "Black Balloon".
Salute will be playing in Vancouver during the Winter Olympics as its official North American launch.
The company is involved in film production, film sales and film distribution.
Whilst making films is the most important thing for Norman, he believes in also helping those filmmakers who never see support from the Australian funding bodies boy's club. The Wingman Pictures slate of projects can be viewed online for more information.
Upcoming projects for the new partnership will be Scab Girl Asylum – The Sue Treweek Story (Drama) to be shot in Queensland during 2012, and the feature 1968 the feature drama based on Norman's International award winning documentary Salute, to be shot in Mexico late 2012/2013
Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers is an Australian police drama series which depicted the lives of police officers stationed at the fictional Mount Thomas police station in a small town in Victoria.- Overview :...
, Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
and Stingers
Stingers
Stingers was an Australian police drama television series. It ran for eight seasons on the Nine Network before it was canceled in late 2004 due to declining ratings and the late timeslot Channel Nine gave the program...
, U.S telemovies Moby-Dick
Moby-Dick
Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, was written by American author Herman Melville and first published in 1851. It is considered by some to be a Great American Novel and a treasure of world literature. The story tells the adventures of wandering sailor Ishmael, and his voyage on the whaleship Pequod,...
, Silver Strand and Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider (film)
Ghost Rider is a 2007 superhero film written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson. Based on the character of the same name which appeared in Marvel Comics, the film stars Nicolas Cage as Johnny Blaze, a stunt motorcyclist who sells his soul to the Devil and transforms into thevigilante Ghost...
.
Early life and family
Norman was born in Tallangatta, Victoria, to Laurence (Laurie) Norman and Jillian (Jill) Norman. He is the middle of three, having an older brother Jamie (Jim) Norman and sister Selina Norman.Norman attended Nandaly then Lindenow public school in his primary school years, and then he attended Nagle College
Nagle College
Nagle College is a Catholic Secondary School in Bairnsdale in the East Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia.- Background and Location :Nagle College is a Catholic Regional College, established in 1958 to provide a Catholic Secondary Education for the families in the parishes of East...
, Bairnsdale
Bairnsdale, Victoria
Bairnsdale is a small city in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. With a population at the 2006 census of 11,282, it is a major regional centre of eastern Victoria along with Traralgon and Sale....
, completing year 12 in 1989.
He moved to Melbourne from Bairnsdale in 1989 and worked many jobs including nightclub security, bodyguard to both Australian and international celebrities and became a member of Australia's elite 1 Commando Regiment in the Australian army before embarking on a successful stint as an administration officer with National Mutual in Melbourne. In 1994, Norman started pursuing his dream of becoming an actor. While still working in the security industry, he started at the National Theatre Drama School
National Theatre, Melbourne
The National Theatre is a 783 seat Australian theatre and theatrical arts school located in the Melbourne bayside suburb of St Kilda, on the corner of Barkly and Carlisle Streets...
in St Kilda
St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
, Melbourne where he met his wife Rebecca Norman (née Downie). After one year of drama school he left to pursue an acting career. Norman was also known for his singing and guitar abilities, playing in a Melbourne based rock band called Dirty Rotten Scoundrels which lasted a bit over a year with various gigs around Melbourne and rural Victoria.
Career
After many years as an actor on television and film, Matt's ambition to start writing screenplays started when well-known Australian Director Malcolm Robertson read one of Matt's first screenplays Imperial Myer. Robertson and Norman worked closely on the screenplay for over a year which honed Norman's skills to look into directing both theater and film as well as branch out to write more stories for the screen.Norman's career started as a filmmaker when his first film All the Kings Horses won several international awards in Australia and overseas. Since then he has gone on to write, direct and produce several other award-winning films such as The Writer starring one of Australia's best known actors Kym Gyngell, Shank starring Rob Carlton, and finally The Umbrella Men starring Blue Heelers star Damian Walshe-Howling and Neighbours star Benji McNair.
By this time, Matt Norman and his wife Rebecca had four children. Hunter, Riley, Azure and more recently Charlie. Matt also has another daughter Imogen from a previous relationship.
2008 Breakthrough
One story that was influential to Matt Norman's career is a film about his famous uncle, Australian sprinter Peter NormanPeter Norman
Peter George Norman was an Australian track athlete best known for winning the silver medal in the 200 metres at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. His time of 20.06 seconds still stands as the Australian 200m record. He was a five-time Australian 200m champion...
. Peter was the Silver Medalist in the 200m at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. With Americans Tommie Smith
Tommie Smith
Tommie Smith is an African American former track & field athlete and wide receiver in the American Football League. At the 1968 Summer Olympics, Smith won the 200-meter dash finals in 19.83 seconds – the first time the 20 second barrier was broken...
and John Carlos
John Carlos
John Wesley Carlos is a Cuban American former track and field athlete and professional football player. He was the bronze-medal winner in the 200 meters at the 1968 Summer Olympics and his black power salute on the podium with Tommie Smith caused much political controversy...
, he became part of one of the 20th Century's most photographed moments: The Black Power Salute.
Matt Norman realised that the full story of his uncle had never been told. There had been attempts by American filmmakers but they all lacked one major ingredient, Peter Norman
Peter Norman
Peter George Norman was an Australian track athlete best known for winning the silver medal in the 200 metres at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. His time of 20.06 seconds still stands as the Australian 200m record. He was a five-time Australian 200m champion...
. Matt started filming Salute at the end of 2002. With no budget, no funding and no help he went about making a film that he hoped would get picked up by a local film festival. Instead, Salute is now considered one of the most ambitious and most expensive documentary films ever made in Australia. With the help of the FFC (Film Finance Corporation- now Screen Australia) and his local funding body Film Victoria, Norman raised close to two million dollars to help with the post production of the film. In October 2006, Peter Norman died of a heart attack. Matt Norman's life was turned upside down when his film that was to honor his uncle would now be regarded as a memory of his uncle and the stance he took at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games.
In 2008, Andrew Mackie and Richard Payton of Transmission Films were signed on as Australian Distributors and later brought on board Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
Australia to release the film nationally in cinemas throughout his native country.
Starting from scratch with nothing, and losing his uncle in 2006 as well as his own home to make the film, Matt Norman has held onto his promise to Peter Norman to finally tell the World the true story of events of the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.
Salute had its World Premiere at the exclusive Sydney Film Festival on the 8 June 2008, and was released Australia-wide in cinemas on the 24 July 2008, with the rest of the world to follow shortly after. The DVD release of the film came out in Australia on the 15 January 2009 and is set to screen in the United States in the coming months.
One of Salute's major achievements for 2008 was being #1 at the Australian box office for a documentary and in the top ten box office of all Australian films such as "Australia", "Black Balloon".
Salute will be playing in Vancouver during the Winter Olympics as its official North American launch.
Wingman Pictures
The future looks good for Norman and his film production company Wingman Pictures. The Australian CEO of Wingman Pictures Pty Ltd opened up a second office in New York City at the start of 2010 with associates in Los Angeles with plans for a UK Office shortly.The company is involved in film production, film sales and film distribution.
Whilst making films is the most important thing for Norman, he believes in also helping those filmmakers who never see support from the Australian funding bodies boy's club. The Wingman Pictures slate of projects can be viewed online for more information.
Upcoming projects for the new partnership will be Scab Girl Asylum – The Sue Treweek Story (Drama) to be shot in Queensland during 2012, and the feature 1968 the feature drama based on Norman's International award winning documentary Salute, to be shot in Mexico late 2012/2013
Actor – Television
- NeighboursNeighboursNeighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
(2000–2001) - Short CutsShort Cuts (TV series)Short Cuts was an Australian children's television series that first screened on the Seven Network in 2001. The 26-episode series was aimed at teenagers. It was financed by the Australian Film Finance Corporation and Burberry Productions...
(2002) - Eugénie Sandler P.I.Eugénie Sandler P.I.Eugénie Sandler P.I. is an 13 part Australian children's series that first aired on ABC1 in 2000. The series stars Xaris Miller as the title character. The show now airs on ABC3 in an afternoon timeslot.- Overview :...
(2000) - SeaChangeSeaChangeSeaChange was a popular Australian television show that ran for 39 episodes from 1998 to 2001 on the ABC. It was created by Andrew Knight and Deborah Cox and starred Sigrid Thornton, David Wenham, William McInnes, John Howard, Tom Long and Kerry Armstrong...
(1998) - StingersStingersStingers was an Australian police drama television series. It ran for eight seasons on the Nine Network before it was canceled in late 2004 due to declining ratings and the late timeslot Channel Nine gave the program...
(1999–2003) - The Mercury (TV series) (1996)
- Blue HeelersBlue HeelersBlue Heelers is an Australian police drama series which depicted the lives of police officers stationed at the fictional Mount Thomas police station in a small town in Victoria.- Overview :...
(1995–1997) - The Glenn Nicholas Show (1996)
Actor – Film
- Ghost Rider (2007)
- Shank (2004)
- The Bank (2001)
- My Brother Jack (2001)
- Dog Woman (2000)
- Moby Dick (1998)
- Hotel de LoveHotel de LoveHotel de Love is a 1996 Australian film written and directed by Craig Rosenberg.-Plot:Fraternal twin brothers meet a childhood crush at a rundown hotel and rediscover their love as they renew their competition for her affection.-Principal cast:...
(1996) - Silver Strand (1995)
Writer / Director / Producer — Film
- 1968 (drama) (2012) (writer, producer, director)
- Scab Girl Asylum (drama) (2011) (writer, producer, director)
- Salute (2008) (writer, director, producer, editor)
- The Umbrella Men (2005) (writer, director, producer, editor)
- The Writer (2005 short film) (2005) (writer, director, producer, editor)
- All The Kings Horses (2004 short film) (2004) (writer, director, producer, editor)
- Shank (2004) (actor, writer, director, producer, editor)
Film Awards
- SALUTE – "BEST SOCIAL DOCUMENTARY" DOCUFEST ATLANTA USA. 2009.
- SALUTE – GRAND PRIZE JURY AWARD "BEST DOCUMENTARY" SANTA CRUZ FILM FESTIVAL. 2009.
- Salute nominated Best Documentary FCCA Awards (2009)
- SALUTE – BEST DOCUMENTARY (AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD) (2008) RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
- SALUTE – BEST AUSTRALIAN DOCUMENTARY (AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD (2008) SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL
- SALUTE – RUNNER UP BEST DOCUMENTARY (AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD (2008) SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL
- The Writer – BEST FILM (2005) DARWIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
- The Writer – NOMINATED BEST SCORE (RICKY EDWARDS) (2005) APRA AWARDS
- The Writer – CINEMATOGRAPHY GOLD AWARD (MARTIN SMITH) (2005) ACS AWARDS
- All The Kings Horses – BEST FILM (2004) DARWIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
- Shank – BEST FILM (2005) BALLARAT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Articles
- New York Times – For Australian Athletes, a Voice From the Grave 23 May 2008
- In-flight film will urge Olympians to protest – Sydney Daily Telegraph 24 May 2008
- Sydney Morning Herald "white man becomes hero on film"
- Sydney Morning Herald 13/5/2008
- Sporting Life
- Fox Sports
- USA Today
- The Courier Mail
- The Herald Sun
- Sydney Morning Herald
- Wise Words
- ABC TV – 7.30 Report
- Sydney Morning Herald 13/5/2008
- "'68 protest more than a memory", Kevin BlackistoneKevin BlackistoneKevin B. Blackistone is a columnist for Fanhouse.com, also a frequent panelist for ESPN's Around the Horn and on Sundays for Comcast's Redskins Postgame Live. On radio, he appears as a frequent guest cohost on the Sports Reporters on DC's ESPN980.-Career:He was born in Washington, D.C...
, Dallas Morning News, 29 September 2000 - "Peter Norman dies after heart attack"
- "He Didn't Raise His Fist – But He Did Lend A Hand"
- "Bitter price of Olympics' iconic image"
- "Clenched Fists, Helping Hand" by Mike Wise, Washington Post
- "Norman Remembered as an Unflinching Champion"
- MSNBC article on Carlos and Smith's pallbearer role
- World Socialist Web Site Article on Peter Norman