Fred Schepisi Fred Schepisi i(A54011 works by) (a.k.a. Frederick Alan Schepisi)
Born: Established: 1939 Melbourne, Victoria, ;
Gender: Male
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BiographyHistory

Screenwriter, producer, director.

Fred Schepisi began his career in advertising. He later served as head of the Film House for almost 20 years where he directed both commercials and documentaries. His first feature-length film, the semi-autobiographical The Devil's Playground (1976) won six Australian Film Institute (AFI) awards, including Best Film and established Schepisi's reputation as an exciting new director and writer. His following feature film, The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978) was similarly successful, and provided him the opportunity to direct in Hollywood. Schepisi's first US film was Barbarosa (1981), followed by Iceman (1983), Plenty (1985), and Roxanne (1987).

In 1988 Schepisi came back to Australia to co-write and direct Evil Angels (titled A Cry in the Dark in the USA), a film about the death of baby Azaria Chamberlain at Uluru in the Northern Territory. The film received numerous awards and nominations including the AFI Best Achievement in Direction and Best Screenplay Adaptation. It was also accorded two Golden Globe nominations (Best Screenplay and Best Director). After returning to the USA Schepisi directed the screen adaptation of John Guare's play Six Degrees of Separation (1993) starring Stockard Channing, Donald Sutherland and Will Smith. His later film credits include The Russia House (1990), Mr. Baseball (1992), IQ (1994), Fierce Creatures (1996), Last Orders (2001) and It Runs in the Family (2002).

Since 2002 Schepisi has worked on the film adaptation of Richard Russo's best-selling novel Empire Falls (2004). Starring Paul Newman, Ed Harris, Joanne Woodward, Robin Wright Penn and Helen Hunt, the film debuted in the U.S. on HBO, and was nominated for a number of awards, including winning a Golden Globe for Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for Television.

Among Schepisi's numerous awards is an Order of Australia for his service to the Australian film industry.

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • Filmography (as writer and/or director) includes:

    • 1973: Libido - "The Priest" (director)
    • 1976: The Devil's Playground (writer/director)
    • 1978: The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith (writer/director)
    • 1982: Barabarosa (director)
    • 1984: Iceman (director)
    • 1985: Plenty (director)
    • 1987: Roxanne (director)
    • 1988: Evil Angels (writer/director)
    • 1990: The Russia House (director)
    • 1992: Mr Baseball (director)
    • 1993: Six Degrees of Separation (director)
    • 1994: I.Q. (director)
    • 1997: Fierce Creatures (director)
    • 2001: Last Orders (writer/director)
    • 2003: It Runs in the Family (TV, director)
    • 2005: Empire Falls (TV, director)

Awards for Works

form y separately published work icon Evil Angels A Cry in the Dark ( dir. Fred Schepisi ) Australia United States of America (USA) : Cannon Entertainment Warner Brothers , 1988 Z1439960 1988 single work film/TV

Based on the real events surrounding the trial of Lindy and Michael Chamberlain, who were accused of murdering their daughter Azaria at Uluru in Central Australia.

1989 won Australian Film Institute Awards Best Film
1989 won Australian Film Institute Awards Best Screenplay, Adapted
form y separately published work icon The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith ( dir. Fred Schepisi ) Melbourne : The Film House , 1978 Z864554 1978 single work film/TV (taught in 3 units)

Based on real events that occurred in Australia at the turn of the century and adapted from Thomas Keneally's novel, The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith concerns a young man of Aboriginal and European heritage who has been raised by missionaries. A hard and reliable worker, Jimmie is employed on a property in central-western New South Wales. Hoping to achieve assimiliation into white society, Jimmy marries a white girl, but instead this only increases the loathing and ridicule directed at him. In the winter of 1900, an argument ensues between Jimmy and the owner of the property, which leads to Jimmie and his uncle horrifically killing most of the man's family. Jimmie subsequently takes to the bush with his wife, baby, and younger brother, Mort. Pursued by the police and vigilante farmers, Jimmie sends his wife back with a message: 'tell them I've declared war.' He and Mort kill again, but the younger brother becomes increasingly troubled by their actions. Jimmie eventually goes on alone until his inevitable capture and hanging.

1978 nomination Australian Film Institute Awards Best Screenplay, Adapted
form y separately published work icon The Devil's Playground ( dir. Fred Schepisi ) Australia : The Film House , 1976 Z1668977 1976 single work film/TV

Set in a Catholic seminary outside Melbourne in 1953, an era in which aspiring priests would begin training in their early teens for their eventual vocation, The Devil's Playground is a study not only of life in a religious school but also of its effects on the students' lives, morals, and mental states. The protagonist, thirteen-year-old Tom Allen, is constantly getting in trouble for his behaviour, which includes wetting his bed, showering in the nude, and always being late. Although he spends many hours in the chapel praying for guidance, his impure thoughts terrify him. The priests and brothers who teach him also struggle with their own desires, while at the same time arguing for greater discipline. Indeed, most of the order - postulates and priests alike - have doubts about their vocation. Through the loneliness, fear, and shame, Tom begins to ponder his future.


[Source: Australian Screen]

1976 winner Australian Film Institute Awards Best Film
1976 winner Australian Film Institute Awards Best Screenplay - Original or Adapted
Last amended 7 Oct 2010 07:54:11
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