Tony Ayres
Encyclopedia
Tony Ayres is a Chinese-born Australian screenwriter
and director
. He is most notable for his award-winning films Walking on Water
and The Home Song Stories
.
, China. His mother was a nightclub singer who committed suicide in 1972, when Ayres was 11 years old. Before her death, his mother married an Australian sailor and migrated with her family to Perth
, Western Australia
in 1964. Ayres' stepfather died of a heart attack three years after the death of his wife, and two days before he was due to remarry. Ayres and his older sister briefly lived with their stepfather's former fiancee, before being placed in the care of Ayres' history teacher. They then moved to Canberra
, Australian Capital Territory
with their guardian, whom Ayres' sister later married. Ayres' 2007 film The Home Song Stories
is loosely based on this early period of his life.
Ayres studied photography and printmaking at the Australian National University
in Canberra, before working as an exhibition curator. He later completed postgraduate studies in film and video at Swinburne University in Melbourne
, Victoria.
Director:
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. He is most notable for his award-winning films Walking on Water
Walking on Water (film)
Walking on Water is a 2002 Australian drama film directed by Tony Ayres. The film explores the grief, tenderness, stupidity and humour that arises from death. When Gavin is finally laid to rest after a grueling fight with AIDS, his close friends Charlie and Anna find themselves at odds regarding...
and The Home Song Stories
The Home Song Stories
The Home Song Stories is an Australian film released in 2007. Written and directed by acclaimed Tony Ayres of Walking on Water , The Home Song Stories stars Joan Chen, Joel Lok, Qi Yu Wu, Irene Chen, Steven Vidler and Kerry Walker....
.
Early life
Ayres was born in MacauMacau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
, China. His mother was a nightclub singer who committed suicide in 1972, when Ayres was 11 years old. Before her death, his mother married an Australian sailor and migrated with her family to Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
in 1964. Ayres' stepfather died of a heart attack three years after the death of his wife, and two days before he was due to remarry. Ayres and his older sister briefly lived with their stepfather's former fiancee, before being placed in the care of Ayres' history teacher. They then moved to Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
with their guardian, whom Ayres' sister later married. Ayres' 2007 film The Home Song Stories
The Home Song Stories
The Home Song Stories is an Australian film released in 2007. Written and directed by acclaimed Tony Ayres of Walking on Water , The Home Song Stories stars Joan Chen, Joel Lok, Qi Yu Wu, Irene Chen, Steven Vidler and Kerry Walker....
is loosely based on this early period of his life.
Ayres studied photography and printmaking at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
in Canberra, before working as an exhibition curator. He later completed postgraduate studies in film and video at Swinburne University in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria.
Filmography
Writer:- The Home Song StoriesThe Home Song StoriesThe Home Song Stories is an Australian film released in 2007. Written and directed by acclaimed Tony Ayres of Walking on Water , The Home Song Stories stars Joan Chen, Joel Lok, Qi Yu Wu, Irene Chen, Steven Vidler and Kerry Walker....
(2007) - The Violent Earth (1998)
- Mrs. Craddock's Complaint (1997)
- Naked Story of Men (Episode: "Ghost Story") (1996)
- Double Trouble (1992)
Director:
- The Home Song StoriesThe Home Song StoriesThe Home Song Stories is an Australian film released in 2007. Written and directed by acclaimed Tony Ayres of Walking on Water , The Home Song Stories stars Joan Chen, Joel Lok, Qi Yu Wu, Irene Chen, Steven Vidler and Kerry Walker....
(2007) - Walking on WaterWalking on Water (film)Walking on Water is a 2002 Australian drama film directed by Tony Ayres. The film explores the grief, tenderness, stupidity and humour that arises from death. When Gavin is finally laid to rest after a grueling fight with AIDS, his close friends Charlie and Anna find themselves at odds regarding...
(2002) - Sadness (1999)
- Exposed (1997)
- China Dolls (1997)
- Mrs. Craddock's Complaint (1997)
- Double Trouble (1992)