ABOUT JOHN:

John is a driven image-maker with a passion for storytelling and narrative. Known for a fast, naturalistic approach that favours performance and momentum on set, he strives at all times for open and collaborative relationships with cast and crew.

 

Prior to becoming a freelance cinematographer in 2000, John spent five years with the largest Australian-owned camera equipment rental company, Lemac – during this time John shot with many of the world’s leading TV broadcasters, including the BBC, Discovery, HBO and Dutch TV8, and also worked on many national network promos for Australian free to air and cable networks including Nine, Seven, Ten and Foxtel.

 

Since completing his M.A. in Cinematography at the Australian Film, Television & Radio School (AFTRS) in 2007, John has racked up an impressive and diverse range of credits working extensively in the United States, Europe and Asia.

 

 

 

His first 35mm short film Bird In The Wire was nominated for a Palme d’Or at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival and garnered an AFI nomination for Best Cinematography. In the same year, he won the Best Cinematography Award at Tropfest for Like It Is.

 

John has a strong background in VFX and post, and in 2005 was VFX Supervisor on the Palme d’Or nominated short film Clara, which earned a rarely awarded special mention for technical achievement at the Cannes Film Festival.

 

John’s first feature was the supernatural cult thriller Lake Mungo, directed by Joel Anderson. Lauded for its sophisticated and layered visual style, the film went on to a 2010 U.S. theatrical and DVD release through Lionsgate. John utilised over 40 different cameras in this shoot, from 35mm to antiquated movie cameras and mobile phones, creating the illusion of a documentary with years of home movie footage to draw upon. Unusually for a cinematographer, John was also Lake Mungo’s post-production supervisor, developing, in close collaboration with director Joel Anderson, a series of hands-on and home brew VFX techniques that lent an authenticity unmatched by standard CG and digital post production approaches.

Another 2010 highlight was the world premiere of the gothic suspense thriller The Perfect Host at the Sundance Film Festival. Shot in Los Angeles, directed by Nick Tomnay and starring David Hyde Pierce, the film is scheduled for a forthcoming U.S. theatrical release.

Recent short credits include Celestial Avenue, winner of the Grand Prize for best film at the Academy Award-accredited Rhode Island Film Festival, as well as Best Australian Short at the 2010 Flickerfest Awards and the IF award for Best Short Film; and A Parachute Falling In Siberia which was selected for official competition at the 2010 Sydney Film Festival Dendy Awards. John’s MA graduation film fOUR, directed by Erin White, was nominated for both the AFI and IF Award for Best Short Film, and went on to win the IF Award.

Kate Miller Heidke’s recent music clip, directed by Mark Alston, for the song Last Day On Earth was nominated for an ARIA for Best Music Clip.

John broke new ground in Australian television, shooting the first episodic free to air series to be originated using RED (Lowdown) as well as the first ever 3D free to air Australian TV segment (Talkin ‘Bout Your Generation).

John’s recent TV credits include:

  • The delightful ABC TV comedy series Lowdown, starring Adam Zwar and narrated by Geoffrey Rush. Sold to BBC UK, Lowdown’s achievements include:
    • Winner Gold Medal: Situation Comedy at the New York Film & Television Festival
    • Nomination AFI Award: Best TV Comedy
    • Winner AWGIE Award: Best Comedy (Situation or Narrative)
    • Nomination ADG Award: Best Direction in TV Comedy
  • Three seasons of Offspring, a primetime free to air drama series starring Asher Keddie and produced by John Edwards and Imogen Banks for Southern Star / Network TEN – Offspring has garnered many accolades including a Silver Logie for Asher Keddie and the NSW Premier’s Literary Award for writer Debra Oswald
  • The recent ABC TV comedy series Twentysomething, created by and starring Jess Harris (Hamish & Andy’s Real Stories, Rove) and Josh Schmidt (5 Lost at Sea); Twentysomething also stars Hamish Blake (Hamish & Andy), Simon Russell (Thank God You’re Here) and Leah de Niese (Offspring).

 

John has recently wrapped production on the third series of the multi-award winning Showtime drama Tangle, and has just rejoined the Offspring team for a third series.

In between these longer running projects, John continues to shoot TVCs, music clips and shorts – most recently wrapping on Jessica Mauboy’s Inescapable.