Richard Frankland
Encyclopedia
For the nonconformist minister, see Richard Frankland (tutor)
Richard Joseph Frankland (born 16 December 1963) is an Australia
n playwright, scriptwriter and musician. He is an Aboriginal Australian of Gunditjmara
origin from Victoria
. He has worked significantly for the Aboriginal Australian cause.
. This experience inspired him to write several plays, including No Way to Forget, Who Killed Malcolm Smith and Conversations with the Dead.
Frankland won an AFI Award
for Best Screenplay in a Short for his short film No Way to Forget
. It was the first film by an indigenous director to win an AFI Award. It was broadcast nationally on SBS
TV. It screened at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival
in the category of Un Certain Regard
.
He wrote and directed Harry's War, a feature film based on his uncle's role in World War II
on the Kokoda Trail. The film was screened at the British War Memorial in London
and won Best Short Film at Spike Lee's
alternative Oscars for black film-makers in Hollywood.
In 2004, his play, Conversations with the Dead, was performed at the United Nations
.
Frankland is also an acclaimed musician whose music features on the soundtracks to many of his films. In 1991 his first band Djaambi
supported Prince on his Australian Tour.
In the early nineties he founded Mirimbiak Nations Aboriginal Corporation (MNAC) which was the first Indigenous statewide land organisation in some twenty five years. MNAC was responsible for representing traditional owners and lodging all Native Title claims throughout the state of Victoria (excepting the already lodged Yorta Yorta claim but including the recently successful Gunditjmara claim). Richard was also instrumental in forming Defenders of Native Title (DONT) which later became Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTAR).
Frankland's current musical project is The Charcoal Club, which recently performed at The Spiegeltent
with Chamber Made
Orchestra. Their latest album is Cry Freedom.
In 2004, he helped form the Your Voice political party, after the abolition of ATSIC, saying,
Richard Frankland (tutor)
Richard Frankland was an English nonconformist, notable for founding the Rathmell Academy, a dissenting academy in the north of England.-Biography:...
Richard Joseph Frankland (born 16 December 1963) is an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n playwright, scriptwriter and musician. He is an Aboriginal Australian of Gunditjmara
Gunditjmara
Gunditjmara, or Gundidj for short, are an Indigenous Australian group from western Victoria . Their neighbours to the west were the Buandig people, to the north the Jardwadjali and Djab wurrung peoples, and in the east the Girai wurrung people.The name may also be spelt Gournditch-Mara...
origin from Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. He has worked significantly for the Aboriginal Australian cause.
Biography
Richard J. Frankland was born on the coast in south-west Victoria. Frankland has worked as a soldier, a fisherman. He worked as a field officer to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in CustodyRoyal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody studied and reported on the high level of deaths of Aboriginal people whilst in custody after being arrested or convicted of committing crimes. This included suicide, natural causes, medical conditions and injuries caused by police...
. This experience inspired him to write several plays, including No Way to Forget, Who Killed Malcolm Smith and Conversations with the Dead.
Frankland won an AFI Award
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,...
for Best Screenplay in a Short for his short film No Way to Forget
No Way to Forget
No Way to Forget is an Australian short film. It is written and directed by Richard Frankland and stars David Ngoombujarra, Christina Saunders and Shane Franzis. It is the first film by an indigenous director to win an AFI Award. It was broadcast nationally on SBS TV...
. It was the first film by an indigenous director to win an AFI Award. It was broadcast nationally on SBS
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
TV. It screened at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival
1996 Cannes Film Festival
-Jury:*Francis Ford Coppola *Nathalie Baye *Greta Scacchi, actrice *Michael Ballhaus *Henry Chapier *Atom Egoyan *Eiko Ishioka *Krzysztof Piesiewicz *Antonio Tabucchi...
in the category of Un Certain Regard
Un Certain Regard
Un Certain Regard is a section of the Cannes Film Festival's Official Selection. It is run at the Salle Debussy, parallel to the competition for the Palme d'Or.This section was introduced in 1978 by Gilles Jacob...
.
He wrote and directed Harry's War, a feature film based on his uncle's role in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on the Kokoda Trail. The film was screened at the British War Memorial in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and won Best Short Film at Spike Lee's
Spike Lee
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....
alternative Oscars for black film-makers in Hollywood.
In 2004, his play, Conversations with the Dead, was performed at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
Frankland is also an acclaimed musician whose music features on the soundtracks to many of his films. In 1991 his first band Djaambi
Djaambi
Djaambi were a band from Melbourne, Victoria containing both Aboriginal and white members formed by Richard Frankland. Three other members later formed the band Tiddas Djaambi released a selftitled album in 1990 and supported Prince on his Australian Tour in 1991.Djaambi were the subjects of the...
supported Prince on his Australian Tour.
In the early nineties he founded Mirimbiak Nations Aboriginal Corporation (MNAC) which was the first Indigenous statewide land organisation in some twenty five years. MNAC was responsible for representing traditional owners and lodging all Native Title claims throughout the state of Victoria (excepting the already lodged Yorta Yorta claim but including the recently successful Gunditjmara claim). Richard was also instrumental in forming Defenders of Native Title (DONT) which later became Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTAR).
Frankland's current musical project is The Charcoal Club, which recently performed at The Spiegeltent
Spiegeltent
A Spiegeltent is a large travelling tent, constructed in wood and canvas and decorated with mirrors and stained glass, intended as an entertainment venue...
with Chamber Made
Chamber Made
Chamber Made Opera is an Australian production house for contemporary opera and music-theatre. Formed in 1988 by theatre director and librettist Douglas Horton...
Orchestra. Their latest album is Cry Freedom.
In 2004, he helped form the Your Voice political party, after the abolition of ATSIC, saying,
Films
- Who Killed Malcolm Smith
- No Way to ForgetNo Way to ForgetNo Way to Forget is an Australian short film. It is written and directed by Richard Frankland and stars David Ngoombujarra, Christina Saunders and Shane Franzis. It is the first film by an indigenous director to win an AFI Award. It was broadcast nationally on SBS TV...
(1996) - After Mabo - The Amendments
- Harry's War (1999)
- Stone Bros.Stone Bros.Stone Bros. is an Australian indigenous stoner comedy film. It was theatrically released in Australia on 24 September 2009.-Plot:When Charlie trades Eddie's favourite jacket, he unwittingly loses a sacred stone, entrusted to Eddie by his uncle, which he promised to one day return to its home in...
(2009)
Discography
- Down Three Waterholes Road - LarrikinLarrikin RecordsLarrikin Records is a record company founded in 1974 by Warren Fahey. Larrikin started as an independent label and was sold in 1995 to Festival Records....
(1997) - Dingo's Brekky Richard Frankland and the New Senate - Blackhorn Productions (2000)
- The Charcoal Club: Meeting One The Charcoal Club - Taram Records(2002)
- Cry Freedom: Meeting Two The Charcoal Club - Taram Records (2005)
Awards and nominations
- 2008 – Roz Bower Awards (Australia Council) - Awarded to Richard for his innovative leadership and significant artistic contributions, which have focused on reconciliation and social justice.
- 2007 – 'Winner Outstanding Achievement' - Deadly AwardsThe DeadlysThe Deadlys are an annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and community. Vibe Australia hosts the awards, which for have been held at the Sydney Opera House since 2001. The first Deadly awards were held in 1995...
- The Circuit - 2006 – 'Band of The Year' (nominee) - Deadly AwardsThe DeadlysThe Deadlys are an annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and community. Vibe Australia hosts the awards, which for have been held at the Sydney Opera House since 2001. The first Deadly awards were held in 1995...
- Charcoal Club Band - 2004 – Uuncle Jackie Charles Award - Awarded to Richard Frankland for services to Indigenous Theatre - Ilbijerri Theatre Company
- 2003 - 'Best Actor' (Aaron PedersenAaron PedersenAaron Pedersen is an Australian television and film actor of Arrente/Arabana Australian Aboriginal descent.-Career:Prior to Aaron's acting career, Aaron plied his trade as a journalist with ABC2 at Elsternwick studios in Melbourne....
) - Green Room Awards (theatre), Conversations with the Dead - 2000 - 'Best Short Film' - St Tropez Film Festival - Harry's War
- 2000 - 'Best Short Film'/'3rd Most Popular Film Overall' - Black Filmakers Hall of Fame (US) - Harry's War
- 2000 - 'Best Short Film' - ATOM Awards - Harry's War
- 2000 - 'Best Screenplay' (Richard Frankland), 'Open Craft Award' (David Ngoombujarra) - St Kilda Film Festival - Harry's War
- 2000 - 'Best International Short Film' (Jury Award) - Hollywood Black Film FestivalHollywood Black Film FestivalThe Hollywood Black Film Festival, dubbed the "Black Sundance," is an annual six-day film festival held in Los Angeles, California dedicated to enhancing the careers of new and established black filmmaking professionals by bringing their work to the attention of the film industry, press and public....
- Harry's War - 2000 - 'Best Australian Short Film' - FlickerfestFlickerfestFlickerfest is an Australian, Academy Award-accredited short film festival. Founded in 1992 at Balmain High School which is now called Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus, it is held every January in Sydney. The films then go on tour throughout Australia. The Festival Director is currently...
- Harry's War - 1999 - 'Best Short Australian Film promoting Human Values' - Melbourne International Film Festival - Harry's War
- 1998 - 'Best Visual Design (editing)' - Australian Film Institute Awards - After Mambo
- 1997 - 'Best Film' - Bathurst Film Festival - No Way to Forget
- 1997 - Invitation to participate in Australian Retrospective - Denver International Film Festival - No Way to ForgetDenver, USA
- 1996 - 'Best Short Film', 'Best Sound in a Short Film' - Australian Film Institute Awards - No Way to Forget
- 1996 - 'Best New Director' - Richard Frankland - St Kilda Film Festival - No Way to Forget
- 1993 - 'Best DocumentaryAustralian Film Institute Award for Best Television DocumentaryThe Australian Film Institute Award for Best Television Documentary is an award that was handed out to producers annually between 1990 and 1997 by the Australian Film Institute...
' - Australian Film Institute AwardsAustralian Film Institute AwardsThe 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,...
- Who Killed Malcom Smith
External links
- Golden Seahorse Productions
- Richard Franklin @ IMDb
- 7.30 Report Aboriginal Film Lauded in Hollywood
- Your Voice political party
- Deadly Vibe Issues #90 August 2004, #66 August 2002 and #49 March 2001