GUEST SPEAKERS – Tori Garrett, Dean Gibson and Nat Russell
TORI
After a 10-year career that began in London UK directing at MTV, Cartoon Network, TCM Channel, Nickelodeon, Film Four and E4, Tori returned to Australia to direct TV drama and TVCs, setting up Two Little Indians Films, one of the country’s leading production companies based in Sydney and Brisbane. Her credits include award winning short film, The Barrows, International Emmy award winning teen drama Slide for Fox 8, the award winning Wentworth for Soho Channel, ABC and Channel 5 in the UK, 20 something dramedy `Wonderland’, Ten Network Australia, two series of the family dramedy `Time of Our Lives’ , crime drama ` Hiding’ , 20 something comedy pilot Rock Bottom , and most recently , Mustangs FC, a new teen drama all for the ABC, Doctor Doctor for the 9 Network/Essential Media, the award winning wed series, The Drop Off and Playing for Keeps for Network TEN/Screentime and Secret Bridesmaid’s Business for Seven Studios. Award winning feature film Don’t Tell was her first feature length film. Tori was the only female Director to be nominated for an ADG award for best direction in a feature film in 2018. She was also up for best direction in a TV drama for the ABC’s Mustangs FC that same year.
In 2019 Tori directed Kirstie Alley and Lyndsey Fonseca in the Lifetime Movie, You Can’t Take my Daughter, currently streaming on Hulu in the US, and has just completed shooting The Rookie for ABC networks US in Los Angeles, streaming all over the world.
Her next feature `RUTH’ is a Biblical Epic Sony Tristar feature film shooting in Morocco in March 2022.
She is a member of the ADG in Australia and the Directors Guild of America. Tori is the only professional Female Director to hail from Qld to make a career out of directing Feature Film and TV drama in Australia and the US.
DEAN
Dean Gibson is an Aboriginal filmmaker with over 15years’ experience in creating, writing, directing, editing and producing content. His work has screened on ABC3, ABC1, SBS and NITV and includes children’s television, documentary and drama. Dean’s onscreen highlights in the children’s television space include directing a Sesame Street film Five Kangaroos, featuring Jessica Mauboy, which has screened to audiences all over the world. His most recent work Tjitji Lullabyfor ABC Kidsfeatures nightlyputting all Australiantoddlersto bed.Deanalso created and co-directed the childrens’ TV series Handball Heroes, which screened on ABC3.In the documentary space, Dean recently deliveredIncarceration Nation to NITV/SBS in which he is the Writer and Director. Incarceration Nationis a Feature Documentary focusing on the systemic racism of the justice system within Australia. The documentary has been shortlisted as a finalist for 2022 Walkley Awards.
NAT
Nat Russell directs animated children shows at Brisbane studio Pixel Zoo. He is currently directing the Netflix and Youtube series Rainbow High which is in its second season as well as the new cartoon Mermaid High.
He spent ten years as a creative director at animation and design companies working on various marketing and experimental projects. These projects include anything from a projection mapping fashion show to an immersive theater experience following a turtle from birth to life.
Rainbow High has over 70 million views on Youtube and debuted in the top ten movies on Netflix on its launch. Nat has also won the QLD Talent Unleashed award for an interactive video wall built for Queensland schools.
