Michael Edols

Some people's life experience transforms them, making it almost impossible to define links with the past. Michael Edols' life hasn't been like that. It's been a series of stepping stones, beginning in Northern Borneo at age three. He and his father (who was building an open-air cinema on the banks of the Segama River) lived amongst the Murut longhouses for seven years. Each day of those years, Michael was taught by the Dusan jungle hunters, learning to observe and tell stories as they do.

At the age of ten, he was sent to a Melbourne boarding school, and his stories were not believed. On returning to Borneo for his school holidays, he picked up a box Brownie with serious intentions, and began to record images. By 1962, 20-year-old Edols was working in commercial still photography, and three years later, he was lugging a clock-wound film camera for ABCTV news in Sydney. Edols dropped the news camera and began to make documentaries with the Commonwealth Film Unit. Then a colleague Tom Cowan gave him the opportunity to collaborate, and he gained his first credit as Cinematographer on the 35mm black-and-white feature film, The Office Picnic in 1968. Edols had arrived in his chosen media of fictional storytelling for the cinema.

Edols' next stepping stone would have him refine the art of cinematography and storytelling. His contribution on Tidikawa and Friends brought him international acclaim, with the coveted Kodak Golden Medallion for Best Colour Photography, the Chicago Festival Blue Ribbon Presentation - Best Film and Golden Tripod Award ACS Best Photography, and this would qualify him to become a full member of the Australian Cinematographer Society. He was now Michael Edols ACS; however his next stepping stone, making films with Australian Aboriginals, would be his greatest challenge, and prove to be a continuing life-long work.

Sadly, Michael Edols passed away on 3 July 2018.

Filmography

	ASPECTS OF A LIFE: Working with Indigenous Australians AVAILABLE NOW as DVD and Digital File from RONIN FILMS for home viewing and educational use For screenings, please email orders@roninfilms...
	LALAI DREAMTIME AVAILABLE NOW as DVD and Digital File from RONIN FILMS for home viewing and educational use For screenings, please email orders@roninfilms...
	FLOATING ... LIKE WIND BLOW 'EM ABOUT AVAILABLE NOW as DVD and Digital File from RONIN FILMS for home viewing and educational use For screenings, please email orders@roninfilms...
	WHEN THE SNAKE BITES THE SUN AVAILABLE NOW as DVD and Digital File from RONIN FILMS for home viewing and educational use For screenings, please email orders@roninfilms...
	HERE'S MY HAND: A testimony to an Aboriginal Memorial AVAILABLE NOW as DVD and Digital File from RONIN FILMS for home viewing and educational use For screenings, please email orders@roninfilms...
	VOYAGE OF BOUNTY'S CHILD, THE AVAILABLE NOW as DVD and Digital File from RONIN FILMS for home viewing and educational use For screenings, please email orders@roninfilms...
	OUR BOTANICAL BIOSPHERE AVAILABLE NOW as DVD and Digital File from RONIN FILMS for home viewing and educational use For screenings, please email orders@roninfilms...