Gil Brealey
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Gilbert John Brealey (9 April 1932 – 1 April 2018) was an Australian television and film director, producer and writer. Brealey was born in
Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
, and studied at the
University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne (colloquially known as Melbourne University) is a public university, public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in the state ...
, 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 The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is Australia’s principal public service broadcaster. It is funded primarily by grants from the federal government and is administered by a government-appointed board of directors. The ABC is ...
), 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 ''My Brother Jack'' is a classic 1964 Australian novel by writer George Johnston. It is part of a trilogy centering on the character of David Meredith. The other books in the trilogy are '' Clean Straw for Nothing'' and '' A Cartload of Clay''. ...
''. 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 City Studios LLC, doing business as Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios or simply Universal), is an American filmmaking, film production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered at the 10 Universal Ci ...
in 1968, and in 1969 head of production Richard Mason approached him to join the Commonwealth Film Unit (later
Film Australia Film Australia was a company established by the Government of Australia to produce films about Australia in 1973. Its predecessors were the Cinema and Photographic Branch (1913–38), the Australian National Film Board (1939–1955, under differ ...
, now
Screen Australia Screen Australia is the Australian Federal Government's key funding body for the Australian screen production industry, created under the ''Screen Australia Act 2008''. From 1 July 2008 Screen Australia took over the functions of its predecess ...
) as a documentary film producer. His credits include the AFI Award-winning documentary short ''
Bullocky A bullocky is an Australian English term for the driver of a bullock team. The American term is bullwhacker. Bullock drivers were also known as teamsters or carriers. History Bullock teams were in use in Sydney in 1795 when they were used ...
'' and the three-part 'omnibus' film ''
Three To Go ''3 to Go'' is an Australian portmanteau film consisting of three stories—''Judy, Michael'', and ''Toula''—each presenting a young Australian at a moment of decision about their future. The film was first shown on commercial television in Ma ...
'' (1971), which includes segments by emerging directors
Peter Weir Peter Lindsay Weir ( ; born 21 August 1944) is a retired Australian film director. He is known for directing films crossing various genres over forty years with films such as '' Picnic at Hanging Rock'' (1975), '' Gallipoli'' (1981), '' The Y ...
and Brian Hannett. In 1972 he was appointed founding director/chairman of the
South Australian Film Corporation South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) is a South Australian Government statutory corporation established in 1972 to engage in film production and promote the film industry, located in Adelaide, South Australia. The Adelaide Studios are managed ...
, 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 of the
Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...
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 chair of the Tasmanian Film Corporation. In this role he co-produced the film '' Manganinnie''. In 1984, Brealey directed ''
Annie's Coming Out ''Annie's Coming Out'' (also known as ''A Test of Love'') is a 1984 Australian drama film directed by Gil Brealey. It is based on the 1980 book ''Annie's Coming Out'' which was written by Rosemary Crossley, with the assistance of Anne McDonal ...
'' (released in America as ''Test of Love'') for
Film Australia Film Australia was a company established by the Government of Australia to produce films about Australia in 1973. Its predecessors were the Cinema and Photographic Branch (1913–38), the Australian National Film Board (1939–1955, under differ ...
. The movie won the 1984
Australian Film Institute The Australian Film Institute (AFI) 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 Cinema of Australia, Australian film indu ...
awards for best film, best female actor, and best adapted screenplay.AFI award winners
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. Brealey died on 1 April 2018, aged 85.


Select credits

*'' Flashpoint'' (1972)


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Brealey, Gil 1932 births 2018 deaths Australian film directors Australian film producers Officers of the Order of Australia University of Melbourne alumni Film directors from Melbourne