Years in the making
Film production blog
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Reflecting on our path
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Film production blog — Reflecting on our path —
How Working in the Australian Film Industry Led me to Start my Own Production Company
I started in this industry like most others: as a bright-eyed production runner. I went on to work as a production assistant, then production coordinator, then production manager... you get the idea. Slowly but surely climbing my way up the ranks on both long form productions and short form content, I gained hands-on experience and an understanding of the industry that shaped my approach an executive producer today.
Commercial film production
Working for some of Australia's leading commercial production companies on TVCs for big clients taught me a lot about commercial production. It was truly like being thrown in the deep end! One of my earliest memories as a PA was receiving a text asking if I could pick up a vintage copy of the Kama Sutra before our 5 am call time. And no, it wasn't an inappropriate message (although I've had plenty of those) but rather a last minute prop request. Not only did this ad have our crew in stitches on the day, but it also won Gold for Direction at the BADC awards. The Publicis Mojo campaign was produced by Justin Lyons of Play TV and and by Frazer Bailey, one of Brisbane's best comedy directors. I often think back to that set and remember thinking "that's where I want to be some day."
Another series of commercials that remain indelibly inked on my mind is the Jaguar "Be Fearless" campaign. Not only was I the Production Coordinator, but I was also the only person on the ground in Brisbane for an otherwise entirely Sydney-based production team. I was singlehandedly responsible for scouting and securing locations in Brisbane and the Gold Coast for two commercials, featuring two of Australia's most fiercely driven sport icons Ash Barty and Curtis McGrath. This was no small feat and involving liaising with venues such as Queensland Tennis Centre, Brisbane City Council and Gold Coast City Council, as well Queensland Police in relation to road closures so we could show the glorious F-Pace SUV on road. The most memorable moment from this experience is when we were fast approaching our 10 hour mark and our talent had a training commitment, I stepped up from the role of Production Coordinator into--you'll never guess it--driver. So, if you've ever seen this ad on TV and you spy a brunette girl behind the wheel in one of the wide shots, you might want to do a double take, because surprise, that's me! And that's the thing about commercial production: you come together with an almost completely new group of people for a very short period of time, and despite only knowing each others names from the call sheet, there's a shared sense of commitment, a dedication to getting the film in the bag, no matter what it takes. And despite me being a little nervous, my "stunt driver" debut helped us narrowly avoid going into overtime.
Working with A-List Talent
Throughout my career, I've worked with some renowned talent in some of Australia's most beautiful locations. While I was engaged as the Production Assistant on a commercial and a number of content shoots for the fitness app, Centr, I had the opportunity to work alongside the down-to-earth Aussie star Chris Hemsworth and his absolutely divine wife Elsa Pataky, while also seeing the very best of Byron Bay and its surrounds.
I also worked with legendary Australian actor Barry Otto on Gracie Otto's documentary Otto on Otto, assisted on a commercial for Karmi beer starring Penelope Cruz (funnily enough, another brunette I've stood in for!) and filmed with Craig Lowndes on MTAA campaigns in the Gold Coast Hinterland. Aside from my production team experience, I also have several credits as an assistance director, and it was a delight to return to Byron Bay to work as the EP 1st AD for Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers, starring Nicole Kidman and Asher Keddie.
Navigating Film and Television
As I've touched on above, my career spans beyond the production of commercials and content and into the space of feature films and television. This seems to be quite common for us Queensland filmmakers. Because the industry is historically smaller than our southern counterparts, we often find ourselves splitting our time between shooting features on the Gold Coast and picking up commercial work in the city. But if I had not had the opportunity to work on both sides, I don't think I'd be as equipped as I am today. These experiences allowed me to bridge the worlds of commercial and narrative production, and as a producer I think it's integral to be able to adapt to different ways of storytelling, especially in our increasingly digital age.
Founding Motley Content
Motley Content is a Brisbane production company that I founded using my last name (the cat's out of the bag!). Early on in my producing career I picked up a few clients who I would produce for directly, like Secrets Shhh! and Dollars and Sense, and at the time I felt I needed little more than just an ABN and an email address. But as I've expanded into collaborating with Sydney creative agencies like Dig Agency, and expanded into directing my own work, I felt it was time to solidify foundations as a business owner.
Motley Content has a growing portfolio of work for clients on Australia's East Coast and beyond. We've even made a commercials for 3M's markets in Japan, South Korea, Thailand and India in collaboration with Sydney's premiere agency, Dig. Whether it’s a heartfelt short film, a bold commercial campaign, or a dynamic new web series, I draw on my extensive background of 15 years in production to deliver projects that are not only on time and on budget, but are also a fun experience for our clients, cast and crew, especially the runners!
Running Motley Content is not just about producing great video content; it’s about leading with empathy, creativity, and a deep respect for for my fellow practitioners. The lessons I’ve learned—from coordinating multi-million-dollar campaigns to directing intimate passion projects—inform every decision I make as an executive producer. As I continue to grow Motley Content, I remain committed to pushing boundaries and championing innovative storytelling. My journey from PA to EP has been a tough slog, but every step has prepared me to lead a company that values collaboration, creativity, and craft.
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