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Ronin Films

People

Roger Scholes

Roger graduated from the Swinburne Film and TV School, now the VCA Film School, in 1971 and worked at Fred Schepisi's Film House in Melbourne. During the 70's he worked in France, Switzerland, UK and USA. In 1982 he returned to Swinburne for the post-graduate course and awarded Best Director at his graduation.

1980s:
In December 1982 he directed and edited a short film The Franklin River blockade concerning the Franklin Dam.

During the 80's he worked with his writer/film producer partner, Katherine Scholes, on a number of documentaries before writing and directing his first feature film The Tale of Ruby Rose. The film won four critics prizes at the Venice Film Festival in 1987 including Best Actress and Best Director.[3] In 1988 Roger and Katherine formed their production company, Edward Street Films. Together they produced numerous documentaries including THE VALLEY, THE LAST TALL FORESTS and HOME OF THE BRAVE which won First Prize at the International ITVA American Film Awards in 1993.

1990s:
In 1996 Roger co-wrote and directed THE COOLBAROO CLUB, a dramatized documentary for cinema and television release. It won the 1996 Human Rights Award for Media. In 1998 he co-wrote and directed THE HUMAN JOURNEY, a 3 hour documentary series for ABC TV and Discovery Channel, which won the 2000 Eureka Prize for Science Media.

Since then he has written and directed a 3 hour tele-series STORIES FROM THE STONE AGE for S4C UK and ABC TV, two documentaries–LAST PORT OF CALL and FUTURE SHACK - and a short feature film, CABLE for Showtime and SBSi.

Recent work:
The television series The Passionate Apprentices aired on SBS Television in 2008.

Roger has been a lecturer in the Open Program of AFTRS and other film and television courses, has worked as a script editor on numerous drama and documentary projects, a story editor on many novels, and as a project assessor for the AFC. He has also acted as a Mentor Director for the ABC and SBS. He's been a board member of the Swinburne VCA Film and TV School and the Advisory Board of Screen Tasmania.

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Summary - 2022:

Roger Scholes, born 1950, died 2022.

Roger Scholes (1950 – 2022) was an Australian filmmaker who worked in a variety of genres, including drama, documentary, and community education. He was a versatile and skilled filmmaker who won numerous awards for his work, including four critics' prizes at the Venice Film Festival for his film The Tale of Ruby Rose (1987).

Scholes began his career in the 1970s, working as a cinematographer and editor on a number of short films and documentaries. In the 1980s, he began directing his own films, starting with the short film The Franklin River Blockade (1982). His first feature film, The Tale of Ruby Rose (1987), was a critical and commercial success, winning four critics' prizes at the Venice Film Festival.

In the 1990s, Scholes continued to direct award-winning films, including The Coolbaroo Club (1996), which won the Human Rights Award for Media, and The Human Journey (1998), which won the Eureka Prize for Science Media. He also directed a number of popular television documentaries, including Stories from the Stone Age (2000) and Last Port of Call and Future Shack (2006).

Scholes's work was characterized by its diversity and social impact. He was interested in exploring a wide range of themes, from environmentalism to Aboriginal history to the human condition. His films were often critical of social injustice and inequality, and they often had a strong educational component.

Scholes was a highly accomplished filmmaker who made significant contributions to the Australian film industry. His work will be remembered for its quality, diversity, and social impact.

Scholes's death in 2022 was a major loss to the Australian film industry. He was a talented filmmaker and a dedicated educator who inspired and mentored many young people. His work will continue to be enjoyed by audiences for many years to come.

Filmography

COOLBAROO CLUB, THE »

A portrait of the Coolbaroo Club, an Aboriginal-run dance club which operated in Perth from 1946 - 1960. The story is told through the memories of those involved, stills, archival images and records and by extensive dramatisation...

PASSIONATE APPRENTICES, THE »

Three intimate portraits of a close-knit group of inspiring people who share a passion for perfection. These three artisans and their apprentices live and work in a quiet valley in Tasmania, in the shadow of Sleeping Beauty Mountain, keeping age-old arts kept alive...