THE MAN BEHIND THE CAMERA

"I guess you could say that when Dave is shooting feral animals, I'm shooting him!!"

I would like to say that I'm a full-time Adventure Series producer, but that hasn't become a reality yet. I am a Product Development Technician for a cool company called Virtual Simulation Systems (VSS) which means I design, prototype and produce virtual reality components for all sorts of training and simulation. I use my hands, tools and machines to make cool stuff.

Have a look at the kind of stuff I'm doing on the following links:

www.virtualsimulationsystems.com

Marksman Mk1

VBS2 Fires

Call For Fire Trainer

Here's a run-down on my varied career to date:

Swell Cast - Patternmaker, CNC/CAD programmer
Warringah Plastics - 5-Axis CNC Programmer, patternmaker
McConaghy Boats - Patternmaker (Wild Oats XI, Alfa Romeo, Americas Cup, Fararri F1)
Filmscapes (UK) - Art Dept, Greens (Harry Potter, Alfie)
Sainsburys (UK) - Organisational Space Manager (AutoCAD, StoreCAD)
PhilmSound - Sound Editor/Mixer/Recordist
Earth First - Landscaper, Handyman

As well as all that, I've studied Music at Uni (BA - Contemporary Music), Cert IV in CNC Engineering, studied AutoCAD, Cert II Small Business Operations, completed Officer Training in the Army Reserve (Sword of Honour, Pagasus Medal), played in a couple of bands (Bigger than Kevin & Kenaniah), done a bit of earthmoving, been a music tutor, waiter & shop assistant.

After completeing my BA in Contemporary Music, majoring in Bass Guitar, Music Video and Audio Engineering, I worked in the film industry as a sound editor with Phil Judd of PhilmSound. Here is a list of the productions I have been involved in:

Harry Potter III (UK) Alfie (UK) The Magic Pudding The Wiggles Movie The Wog Boy The Boys Farscape Twisted Tales Idiot Box Paws Passion Siam Sunset Feeling Sexy Me Myself I A Wreck A Tangle Leaf On A Pillow (Indonesia) Water Rats, Rover Cross Violet's Visit S.N.A.K. Terra Nova Mission to Malawi S.W.O.P. Watching.

I like to travel. I've visited over 40 countries and lived in the UK for a time. I've been to some of the most amazing places on the planet, but still, Australia is the best country in the world.

I love hiking, camping, surfing, snowboarding, motorbikes, hunting, target shooting, scuba diving (PADI Advanced), rock climbing, abseiling, water skiing, a little bit of sailing, fishing and lots of other fun stuff.

Heaps of people ask what camera I use, which microphone/s, what software etc etc. I keep it pretty close to my chest because it's kind of part of the "art". I haven't got the best of everything, but I do my best with everything I have.

I have my own little production company called CREATOOL which encompasses all the things I like to do. It is the merging of technology, tools and techniques with creativity and imagination. Hence my slogan - "Mastering the Tools of Creativity".

It could be that I'm using a camera, computer, power tool, pencil or industrial macine, I just have to be creative with it. I've started meddling about with websites (like this one) and have a lot to learn, so as long as there's a challenge or an empty canvas in front of me, I'm on it.