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Stephen Amis
b. November 21, 1966, Melbourne, Australia.

BIOGRAPHY:   Cutting his teeth on childhood Super 8 epics, Stephen’s obsession with filmmaking saw him graduate from Swinburne Film & Television School in 1989. In 1990, inspired by filmmakers such as John Cassavetes, Stephen formed the ‘Australian Filmmaking Society’ where he wrote, financed, produced, and directed his first feature, the social-realist drama, See Jack Run.

Sold to the Nine Network Australia, the film opened the 1993 Melbourne International Children's Film Festival and kick-started a new generation of guerilla independent feature filmmaking.

To finance his features, Stephen often moonlighted as a cinematographer – shooting more than forty short films, high budget television commercials, network documentaries and several innovative TV series, including 'Funky Squad', 'Frontline' and episodes of 'A River Somewhere.'

Stephen's concern for the environment spurred him to write, produce and direct his second feature, the enviro-comedy, The Alive Tribe – released by the ShowTime Network (1996)

 

In 2000, Stephen co-wrote, produced, and directed the $1.5 million romantic comedy, The Real Thing, starring Katie Fischer, Ross Buchanan, Michael Veitch and Dylan Lewis. Playing to local theatrical screens, The Real Thing sold into the U.S. and North American markets.

In 2005, Stephen completed the 16mm short, Virus – a steam-punk science fiction fantasy, set at the Melbourne Astronomical Observatory in 1888. The film features state of the art CGI special effects, and stars Kerry Armstrong and John Stanton.

Stephen's currently producing Scientia, a sci-fi feature thriller, along with developing a slate of high-concept feature films, including an adaptation of a fantasy adventure by Edgar Allan Poe.



 
 
The Real Thing

CRITICAL OVERVIEW:   There's humanism in Stephen Amis' work which is rare in Australian cinema.

From his early no-budget features to more recent, funded ventures, Amis imbues his story-lines with issues-based subtext and a sensibility which by-passes the intellect and heads straight for the heart.

Such themes as: overcoming problems of illiteracy; awareness of environmental destruction; the need to shun cultural imperialism; and the right for a woman's voice to be heard – are themes which resonate with contemporary universal relevance.

Drama, comedy and action sit comfortably alongside each other to present poignant and entertaining viewing.

Angelo Salamanca, March 2005

FILMOGRAPHY:

 
go to The Real Thing website

Burning Daylight (1986, 40 mins, Super 8)
Writer / Producer / Director

Full Circle (1987, 16 mins, video)
Writer / Producer / Director

Façade (1988, 20 mins, 16mm)
Writer / Producer / Director

Burning Daylight (1989, 22 mins, 16mm)
Writer / Producer / Director

See Jack Run (1991, 93 mins, col, 16mm)
Co-Writer / Producer / Director

The Alive Tribe (1996, 97 mins, col, Super 16mm)
Co-Writer / Producer / Director

The Real Thing (2000, 105 mins, col, 35mm)
Co-Writer / Producer / Director
website

Virus (2005, 15 mins, Super 16mm)
Co-Writer / Co-Producer / Director


 
 
directing Katie Fischer, The Real Thing

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY:

"On Location" by Matt Preston, Encore; March 27-April 9, 1995; pp 17-19

"Alive Tribe" by Michael Kitson, Cinema Papers; July 23, 1997; pp 22-23

"Something Amis" by Stephen McKenzie, Melbourne Weekly; Feb 4-10, 2001; pp 10-11

"What Kate did next" by Adam Zwar, Herald Sun; Jan 28, 2001; pp 4-6 & 27

"Franklin protests destined for film" by Sue Bailey, The Mercury; Dec 13, 2002 p 3

© Stephen Amis and Angelo Salamanca, March 2006

Contact Stephen Amis

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Melbourne independent filmmakers - a web resource is compiled by Bill Mousoulis.