I started making Super 8 movies at age 12 (the customary age to start). Shooting little stories in the backyard or nearby creek. There were a number of kids around my age that volunteered (were cajoled) to help out. In those days the Super 8 cartridge was sent off to Kodak via the local chemist! Exciting day when the film came back! My introduction to editing (and love of it) started in my room with a splicer, some glue and a small projector. Invariably the last clip of film would get lost, generally at two in the morning. To be found after a frantic search invariably stuck to the bottom of my shoe. I’d have the screening with all the kids and much popcorn. Always fun and impetus to start on the next film. Eventually I became an editor as I saw that as a great way to get into directing. I still remember the first time I looked at the processed Super 8. There was an image! That was the beginning of my love of filmmaking.
I’d just finished my first film CUT and was busy writing and pitching to get another one going. At one point we were looking at a sequel. A friend rang me and asked if I was ‘interested in doing second unit on the MATRIX trilogy? My first reaction was ‘No thanks… I’m now a feature film director…that’s what I want to do!’. He talked me into doing an interview with the Wachowski siblings….I got the job! This started a fantastic addition to my skills as I entered the world of Hollywood filmmaking. As a director you need another string to your bow for when the work is being developed. Writing and second unit provided a great option to keep working. Always say YES!
In the early 80s a group of us were doing acting lessons at the Nimrod theatre. The Sex Pistols landed and inspired a few of us to form a band. We changed our names to Dag Rattler, Alligator Bagg, Nancy Serapax and Errol Chekov. Our first gig was playing at the Nimrod New Year’s Eve party where we had a PA setup that was big enough for the Hordern Pavilion. Apparently you could hear us playing about three suburbs away. That band became the legendary XL Capris!. A big claim to fame was.. John Peel the famous London DJ, started to play our single ‘My City of Sydney’ and ‘Dead Budgies’ and we became famous in London! When John Peel passed away we were the only Australian band to have a single in his famous wooden box. Following leaving the XL Capris I met Dave, James. and Rod and we formed The Hoodoo Gurus. This is a long story and must be told properly, needless to say the band did okay. We all ended up in the Hall of Fame and are considered to be rock ‘n’ roll royalty. Where’s my crown?
Storytelling
Kimble and I have been friends both in the professional and the personal world for many years. Kimble has always been a great story-teller – regaling us with hilarious tales at many a dinner party. A particular memory for me is the time when we came to the completion of filming in Venice on the film ‘Casanova’. Kimble had been working with an Italian crew on the Second Unit action sequences for the film.
At the wrap of the unit, I asked Kimble’s alter ego El Presidente to address the team. He delighted us all with a personal story set during the Second World War of his grandfather and fellow soldiers escaping over the Dolomite mountains to safety – mountains that we could see (on a clear day!) in the background. They loved it – wrapping him in the Venetian flag! El Presidente rules! Su Armstrong, Film Producer
Virtual Production
“Whilst working on the Matrix franchise I was intrigued by the cross platform storytelling; telling the story across the three films, the game, the animated films in The Animatrix, the website and graphic novels. Additionally, as we made the films we also shot the live action for the game Enter The Matrix. I followed the progress of game technology with the view of simultaneously making a film and a game and sharing the assets. When Epic Games developed Unreal Engine this was now possible.
in the works…
In 2023 I formed Delinquent Studios to make Films and Games. Delinquent Studios is the centre where the original stories and productions are developed. Whilst we develop our first film AGE OF BEASTS we are looking to partner with a games ccompany. More details at www.delinquentstudios.com