Megan Spencer
Encyclopedia
Megan Spencer is an Australian documentary film
maker who specializes in the 'guerrilla video' style of documentary portraiture. Based in Bendigo
, she is also a prominent film critic, journalist
and radio presenter.
cultural theory radio show, hosted by Philip Brophy
and Bruce Milne
. She later studied Media Arts at RMIT University
and completed her first documentary film: Heathens in 1994.
Spencer is also an advocate for film culture, and has been invited as a guest speaker to countless film events around Australia. She broadcasts regularly on ABC Radio National, Sydney and Melbourne metro ABC radio, and regional ABC radio. She has worked as a film programmer (RMIT, VCA, Kingston Arts Centre), and taught documentary and film theory and practice (Melbourne University, VCA, RMIT, AFTRS Melbourne). She has written for publications IF Magazine, Real Time, documenter, The Eye and Like.
Spencer has been a judge for film festivals and competitions across Australia, including Sydney Film Festival
, Shoot Out, St. Kilda Film Festival, Brisbane International Film Festival
, Melbourne International, Underground and Fringe Film Festivals, Real Life On Film Documentary Festival, Queensland's Pandanus Film Festival, the SA Zoom Fest, Melbourne International Queer Film Festival, SPAA Fringe, the annual AFI Awards
and IF Awards. She is also the Patron of Bendigo's roller derby
league, the Dragon City Derby Dolls.
In June 2006 Spencer was criticised for a live on-air review for the movie X-Men: The Last Stand
, in which she commented "Jews used to be oppressed and now they are the oppressors" (in reference to the character Magneto
, a Jewish holocaust survivor). Melbourne Ports MP Michael Danby
, in a letter to the station that had aired the review, called the comments "careless and ignorant".
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
maker who specializes in the 'guerrilla video' style of documentary portraiture. Based in Bendigo
Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...
, she is also a prominent film critic, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and radio presenter.
Biography
Born in 1966 in Australia, Spencer studied Speech pathology in Melbourne before becoming actively interested in film and radio. In the 1980s, as a volunteer, she co-produced 'Eeek!' a 3RRR3RRR
3RRR is a popular Australian community radio station, based in Melbourne. It is the largest per capita subscribed radio station in the world....
cultural theory radio show, hosted by Philip Brophy
Philip Brophy
Philip Brophy, born in Reservoir, Melbourne 1959 is an Australian musician, composer, sound designer, filmmaker, writer, graphic designer, educator and academic.-Music:...
and Bruce Milne
Bruce Milne
Bruce Milne is an Australian music entrepreneur closely linked to the Melbourne post-punk scene. He founded the independent record label Au-Go-Go in 1979....
. She later studied Media Arts at RMIT University
RMIT University
RMIT University is an Australian public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. It has two branches, referred to as RMIT University in Australia and RMIT International University in Vietnam....
and completed her first documentary film: Heathens in 1994.
- 1996-98 Co-founded, programmed and ran the VCA Documentary Film Society
- 1999 Joined ABC Radio's Triple JTriple Jtriple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
national youth network as resident film critic and journalist - 2002 Co-founded Triple J's annual Framebreaks National Youth Short Film Festival
- 2002 MIFFMelbourne International Film FestivalThe Melbourne International Film Festival is an acclaimed annual film festival held over three weeks in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1951, making it one of the oldest in the World....
Film Critic’s Jury - 2004-06 Film critic on SBS Television’s The Movie ShowThe Movie ShowThe Movie Show is an Australian film review program that airs on SBS TV. Its history falls into three parts.-Original format:The original format, which ran from 30 October 1986 to 12 May 2004, had two presenters, David Stratton and Margaret Pomeranz. Stratton and Pomeranz left for the ABC in early...
- 2004 Completed her M.A.Master's degreeA master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Media Arts (Documentary) at RMIT University - 2007 Guest Director of Revelation Perth International Film Festival
- 2008 Afternoons presenter on 105.7 ABC Darwin105.7 ABC Darwin105.7 ABC Darwin is an ABC radio station which is located in Darwin, Northern Territory. It is one of the stations in the ABC Local Radio network and broadcasts on 105.7MHz on the FM dial...
Spencer is also an advocate for film culture, and has been invited as a guest speaker to countless film events around Australia. She broadcasts regularly on ABC Radio National, Sydney and Melbourne metro ABC radio, and regional ABC radio. She has worked as a film programmer (RMIT, VCA, Kingston Arts Centre), and taught documentary and film theory and practice (Melbourne University, VCA, RMIT, AFTRS Melbourne). She has written for publications IF Magazine, Real Time, documenter, The Eye and Like.
Spencer has been a judge for film festivals and competitions across Australia, including Sydney Film Festival
Sydney Film Festival
The Sydney Film Festival is an annual film festival held in the Australian city of Sydney and is held over 12 days in June. The competitive film festival draws international and local attention, with films being showcased in several venues across the city centre and includes features,...
, Shoot Out, St. Kilda Film Festival, Brisbane International Film Festival
Brisbane International Film Festival
Brisbane International Film Festival held in Brisbane provides a focus for film culture in Queensland, Australia. The festival has taken place since 1992 and focuses on films from the Asia-Pacific region. The event offers films including features, documentaries, shorts, experimental, silent films...
, Melbourne International, Underground and Fringe Film Festivals, Real Life On Film Documentary Festival, Queensland's Pandanus Film Festival, the SA Zoom Fest, Melbourne International Queer Film Festival, SPAA Fringe, the annual AFI Awards
Australian Film Institute Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
and IF Awards. She is also the Patron of Bendigo's roller derby
Roller derby
Roller derby is a contact sport played by two teams of five members roller skating in the same direction around a track. Game play consists of a series of short matchups in which both teams designate a scoring player who scores points by lapping members of the opposing team...
league, the Dragon City Derby Dolls.
In June 2006 Spencer was criticised for a live on-air review for the movie X-Men: The Last Stand
X-Men: The Last Stand
X-Men: The Last Stand is a 2006 superhero film and the third in the X-Men series. It was directed by Brett Ratner and stars an ensemble cast including Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, Kelsey Grammer, Anna Paquin, Shawn Ashmore, Aaron Stanford, Vinnie Jones,...
, in which she commented "Jews used to be oppressed and now they are the oppressors" (in reference to the character Magneto
Magneto (comics)
Magneto is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the central villain of the X-Men comic, as well as the TV show and the films. The character first appears in X-Men #1 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
, a Jewish holocaust survivor). Melbourne Ports MP Michael Danby
Michael Danby
Michael David Danby is an Australian politician and has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since October 1998, representing the Division of Melbourne Ports, Victoria...
, in a letter to the station that had aired the review, called the comments "careless and ignorant".
Filmography
- Heathens, 1994
- Hooked On Christmas, 1997
- Strange Hungers, 2002
- Lovestruck: Wrestling's No. #1 Fan, 2005
- Brent
- The Band, 2009