Rick Kalowski
Encyclopedia
Rick Kalowski is an Australian television and film writer/producer, best known for his work on the high-rating but controversial ABC1
sitcom At Home with Julia
. Before becoming a writer, Kalowski spent several years working as a lawyer, including clerking for Justice Mary Gaudron
at the High Court of Australia
.
Kalowski's first screenplay (written with Andrew Jones) was the political satire The Honourable Wally Norman
(2003), directed by Ted Emery (Kath and Kim), produced by Emile Sherman (The King's Speech), and starring Shaun Micallef
, Kevin Harrington and H.G. Nelson
. The film was opening night selection at the 50th Sydney Film Festival
in 2003 and earned Kevin Harrington an Australian Film Institute Awards
nomination for Best Actor.
Kalowski's other television credits include head writer and co-creator of the sketch comedy
television series Big Bite
, a 2003 nominee for Best Comedy Series at the Australian Film Institute Awards
starring Chris Lilley
and Andrew O'Keefe
; and head writer of the Nine Network late night sketch comedy series Comedy Inc - The Late Shift between 2004 and 2006, nominated for 7 Australian Film Institute Awards
including two for Best Comedy Series, the 2006 Logie Award
for Most Outstanding Comedy Program, and the 2006 Rose D'Or
(Golden Rose of Montreaux) Award for Best International Comedy Series. Kalowski was also co-creator (with David McDonald), head writer, producer of the sketch comedy
television series Double Take
(2009), noted for its Julia Gillard
"Nine to Nine" song parody video that predicted Gillard replacing Prime Minister
Kevin Rudd
, and which became a highly popular viral internet item when that political event later occurred in August 2010
Kalowski has also developed projects in the United States and United Kingdom. He won the 2006 AWGIE (Australian Writers' Guild
Award) for Best Documentary Script,.
In late 2010, Kalowski was appointed Creative Director - Scripted & Light Entertainment at Quail Television, a Sydney-based production company. His first commission in that role was co-creator/co-writer/executive producer of the sitcom At Home with Julia
, starring fellow co-creators/co-writers Amanda Bishop
and Phil Lloyd
, which began airing on ABC1 on 7 September 2011.
ABC1
ABC1 was a United Kingdom based television channel from Disney using the branding of the Disney owned American network, ABC.The channel initially launched exclusively on the British digital terrestrial television platform Freeview on 27 September 2004. On 10 December 2004 it was launched on...
sitcom At Home with Julia
At Home With Julia
At Home With Julia is a four-part Australian sitcom television series which debuted on 7 September 2011. It depicts a fictional representation of the relationship between the current Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard and her partner, Tim Mathieson in The Lodge.The series is a 2012...
. Before becoming a writer, Kalowski spent several years working as a lawyer, including clerking for Justice Mary Gaudron
Mary Gaudron
Mary Genevieve Gaudron, AC, QC , Australian lawyer and judge, was the first female Justice of the High Court of Australia.-Youth:...
at the High Court of Australia
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
.
Kalowski's first screenplay (written with Andrew Jones) was the political satire The Honourable Wally Norman
The Honourable Wally Norman
The Honourable Wally Norman is a 2003 Australian comedy film directed by Ted Emery. It stars Kevin Harrington, Shaun Micallef, and Greig Pickhaver.It was filmed primarily in South Australia and was nominated for two AFI awards.-Plot:...
(2003), directed by Ted Emery (Kath and Kim), produced by Emile Sherman (The King's Speech), and starring Shaun Micallef
Shaun Micallef
Shaun Patrick Micallef is an Australian actor, comedian and writer. After ten years of working in insurance law as a solicitor in Adelaide, Micallef moved to Melbourne to pursue a full-time comedy career in 1993...
, Kevin Harrington and H.G. Nelson
Greig Pickhaver
alt=Greig Pickhaver|thumb|In May 2010Greig Pickhaver AM is an actor, comedian and writer, who forms one half of the Australian sports comedy duo Roy and HG...
. The film was opening night selection at the 50th Sydney Film Festival
Sydney Film Festival
The Sydney Film Festival is an annual film festival held in the Australian city of Sydney and is held over 12 days in June. The competitive film festival draws international and local attention, with films being showcased in several venues across the city centre and includes features,...
in 2003 and earned Kevin Harrington an Australian Film Institute 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,...
nomination for Best Actor.
Kalowski's other television credits include head writer and co-creator of the sketch comedy
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
television series Big Bite
Big Bite
Big Bite was an Australian sketch comedy television series, which ran on the Seven Network from 8 May, 2003 to 4 March, 2004 in a prime time timeslot on Thursdays...
, a 2003 nominee for Best Comedy Series at the Australian Film Institute 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,...
starring Chris Lilley
Chris Lilley (comedian)
-External links:****...
and Andrew O'Keefe
Andrew O'Keefe
Andrew Patrick O'Keefe is an Australian entertainer, best known for being the host of the hit game-show Deal or No Deal. He is also the co-host of Weekend Sunrise....
; and head writer of the Nine Network late night sketch comedy series Comedy Inc - The Late Shift between 2004 and 2006, nominated for 7 Australian Film Institute 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,...
including two for Best Comedy Series, the 2006 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 Comedy Program, and the 2006 Rose D'Or
Rose d'Or
The Rose d’Or is one of the most important international festivals in entertainment television. It was founded in Montreux in 1961 and has taken place in Lucerne since 2004. Producers, executives from independent and public service broadcasters and heads of production companies from over 40...
(Golden Rose of Montreaux) Award for Best International Comedy Series. Kalowski was also co-creator (with David McDonald), head writer, producer of the sketch comedy
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
television series Double Take
Double Take (TV series)
Double Take is an Australian sketch comedy series which premiered on the Seven Network on 23 July 2009. The first series of the show ended in 24 September 2009.-Cast:* Paul McCarthy* Helen Dallimore* Amanda Bishop* Darren Weller* Robin Goldsworthy...
(2009), noted for its Julia Gillard
Julia Gillard
Julia Eileen Gillard is the 27th and current Prime Minister of Australia, in office since June 2010.Gillard was born in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales and migrated with her family to Adelaide, Australia in 1966, attending Mitcham Demonstration School and Unley High School. In 1982 Gillard moved...
"Nine to Nine" song parody video that predicted Gillard replacing Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
, and which became a highly popular viral internet item when that political event later occurred in August 2010
Kalowski has also developed projects in the United States and United Kingdom. He won the 2006 AWGIE (Australian Writers' Guild
Australian Writers' Guild
The Australian Writers' Guild is the professional association for all performance writers, that is, writers for film, television, radio, theatre, video and new media. The AWG was established in 1962 and is recognised throughout the industry in Australia as being the voice of performance writers...
Award) for Best Documentary Script,.
In late 2010, Kalowski was appointed Creative Director - Scripted & Light Entertainment at Quail Television, a Sydney-based production company. His first commission in that role was co-creator/co-writer/executive producer of the sitcom At Home with Julia
At Home With Julia
At Home With Julia is a four-part Australian sitcom television series which debuted on 7 September 2011. It depicts a fictional representation of the relationship between the current Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard and her partner, Tim Mathieson in The Lodge.The series is a 2012...
, starring fellow co-creators/co-writers Amanda Bishop
Amanda Bishop
Amanda Diana Bishop is an Australian actress, singer and comedian, known for her role as Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in the television comedies At Home with Julia and Double Take....
and Phil Lloyd
Phil Lloyd
Phil Lloyd is an Australian actor and scriptwriter. He is best known for his acting role as Myles Barlow in the Australian TV series, Review with Myles Barlow and the comedy series At Home with Julia, where he played Tim Mathieson, the partner of prime minister Julia Gillard.Phil has been a...
, which began airing on ABC1 on 7 September 2011.