David Elfick
Encyclopedia
David Elfick is a noted Australian film and television writer, director, producer and occasional actor. He is known for his association with writer-director Phillip Noyce
with whom he has collaborated on films including Newsfront
(1978) and Rabbit-Proof Fence
(2002).
Elfick began his film career as the producer of the 1971 surf movie Morning Of The Earth
, directed by Alby Falzon
. In 1973 Elfick collaborated with surfer, writer and cinematographer George Greenough
as producer-director of Crystal Voyager. This became one of the most successful Australian surf movies ever made, grossing over A$100,000 on its first release, followed by six-month run in London, where it ran on a double bill with Rene Laloux
's Fantastic Planet
and grossed over UK£100,000.
Elfick was co-writer (with Philippe Mora
) of the original story for the acclaimed docu-drama Newsfront
, in which he also had a small role, and he also had a minor role (as a projectionist) in Albie Thoms' Palm Beach
(1979).
Elfick's credits as a producer include the pop film Starstruck (1982), the comedy Emoh Ruo (1985), the drama Blackrock
(1997) and the multi-award-winning Rabbit Proof Fence
(2002).
Phillip Noyce
Phillip Noyce is an Australian film director.-Life and career:Noyce was born in Griffith, New South Wales, attended Barker College, Sydney, and began making short films at the age of 18, starting with Better to Reign in Hell, using his friends as the cast...
with whom he has collaborated on films including Newsfront
Newsfront
Newsfront is a 1978 Australian drama film starring Bill Hunter, Wendy Hughes, and Bryan Brown, directed by Phillip Noyce. The screenplay is written by David Elfick, Bob Ellis, Philippe Mora, and Phillip Noyce. The original music score is composed by William Motzing...
(1978) and Rabbit-Proof Fence
Rabbit-Proof Fence (film)
Rabbit-Proof Fence is a 2002 Australian drama film directed by Phillip Noyce based on the book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington Garimara...
(2002).
Elfick began his film career as the producer of the 1971 surf movie Morning Of The Earth
Morning of the Earth
Morning of the Earth is a 1971 classic surf film by Alby Falzon and David Elfick.The film's soundtrack was produced by G. Wayne Thomas and included music and songs by noted Australian music acts Tamam Shud, John J. Francis, Brian Cadd and G. Wayne Thomas. The record became the first Australian ...
, directed by Alby Falzon
Alby Falzon
Albert "Alby" Falzon is an Australian surf filmmaker, photographer and publisher.He grew up in the beachside suburb Maroubra in Sydney. He did not begin surfing until age 14, when the family moved to the New South Wales Central Coast....
. In 1973 Elfick collaborated with surfer, writer and cinematographer George Greenough
George Greenough
George Greenough is an innovative surfer and cinematographer from Santa Barbara, California who now resides in Byron Bay in New South Wales, Australia. He was born to a wealthy family but despised its trappings and spent most of his time in the ocean. Greenough is best known for creating the modern...
as producer-director of Crystal Voyager. This became one of the most successful Australian surf movies ever made, grossing over A$100,000 on its first release, followed by six-month run in London, where it ran on a double bill with Rene Laloux
René Laloux
René Laloux was a French animator and film director.-Biography:He was born in Paris in 1929 and went to art school to study painting. After some time working in advertising, he got a job in a psychiatric institution where he began experimenting in animation with the interns...
's Fantastic Planet
Fantastic Planet
Fantastic Planet is a 1973 animated science fiction film directed by René Laloux, production designed by Roland Topor, written by both of them and animated at Jiří Trnka Studio. The film was an international production between France and Czechoslovakia and was distributed in the United States by...
and grossed over UK£100,000.
Elfick was co-writer (with Philippe Mora
Philippe Mora
Philippe Mora is a French-born Australian film director. Born in 1949 to a German Jewish father and a French Jewish mother, he began making films while still a child.- Career :...
) of the original story for the acclaimed docu-drama Newsfront
Newsfront
Newsfront is a 1978 Australian drama film starring Bill Hunter, Wendy Hughes, and Bryan Brown, directed by Phillip Noyce. The screenplay is written by David Elfick, Bob Ellis, Philippe Mora, and Phillip Noyce. The original music score is composed by William Motzing...
, in which he also had a small role, and he also had a minor role (as a projectionist) in Albie Thoms' Palm Beach
Palm Beach (film)
Palm Beach is a 1980 Australian drama film directed by Albie Thoms. The stories involving surfing and drugs are followed in Sydney during 2 days...
(1979).
Elfick's credits as a producer include the pop film Starstruck (1982), the comedy Emoh Ruo (1985), the drama Blackrock
Blackrock (film)
Blackrock is a 1997 Australian film directed by Steven Vidler and written by Nick Enright. Internationally, it is best remembered as the first prominent role of actor Heath Ledger.-Origin:...
(1997) and the multi-award-winning Rabbit Proof Fence
Rabbit-Proof Fence (film)
Rabbit-Proof Fence is a 2002 Australian drama film directed by Phillip Noyce based on the book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington Garimara...
(2002).