Joe Velikovsky
Encyclopedia
Joe Velikovsky is an Australia
n Film Writer-Director-Producer, and also Game, Film and TV Writer, Game Designer, and Producer. He is also a Musician, Songwriter, Cartoonist, and Illustrator. He wrote & designed the videogame LOONEY TUNES: ACME ARSENAL, which sold over 1 million copies. His first feature film as a writer, 'CAUGHT INSIDE', has won several awards, including the Audience Award at the 2010 Sydney Film Festival, and was released in cinemas in 2011.
Velikovsky’s first published work, at age 13, was the illustrations in the children’s book, “Metamorphic”. After completing high school at Chatham High in Taree, he learnt to play the guitar and began songwriting. He returned to Mudgee to work in farming, construction and demolition, and obtained a Class 1 Explosives license.
In 1990 Velikovsky then relocated to Newcastle
, and with guitarist Phillip McIntyre and drummer Dave Carruthers, formed a 3-piece rock/reggae band, Texas Radio, with Velikovsky playing bass guitar. The band released a self-titled album in 1994, and a second album by the band is due for release in 2010. Velikovsky is listed in “The Who’s Who of Australian Rock & Roll”.
Velikovsky attended the University of Newcastle NSW from 1991–1993, and received a B.A. in Communication Studies, majoring in Screenwriting. In 1993 Velikovsky won the award for the Student contributing most to the B.A.C.S course. While at University he gained his first TV credit, working as a sketch writer on Channel 7’s The Comedy Sale!. During his university student years he also gained a cult following for his articles, short stories and cartoons published in the Newcastle University magazine, OPUS.
During 1993-2006 Velikovsky worked as a freelance Script Editor and Screenwriter for feature films, TV and multipath movies. Clients included Fresh Air Films, Brilliant Interactive Ideas, and Taffner-Ramsay Productions.
In 1993-4 he also worked as a Writer-Director, and also actor and stage manager for comedy theatre company, Footlice Theatre Company on various productions, including “Making Movies” and “Stagecoach To the Centre of the Earth”. He also taught Film and Video Animation, and was a Writing Tutor at Newcastle University. In 1994 he also received literary recognition with the publication of a short satirical horror comedy story, “I, SPARTACUS” in the anthology of young Newcastle writers, “Shadows of Life”, edited by Mark Crowley.
In 1995 Velikovsky was a founder and board member of 'Open City’, Australia’s first low-budget feature film festival, which featured international guest, producer Roger Corman. The film festival continues to this day (as The Newcastle Film Festival).
From 1995 to 1997 he attended the Australian Film, Television and Radio School in Sydney
, and studied Screenwriting, for a graduate Certificate. At AFTRS he wrote and directed the short horror-comedy film “SKULLMUNCHER” and also wrote sci-fi comedy film “RETRO SHEILAS” and sci-fi docudrama “ROCKET MAN”. He also wrote 5 feature film scripts while at AFTRS. During his time as AFTRS Velikovsky worked with Script Editor John Lonie, scriptwriting guru Linda Seger, Star Wars & Raiders producer Robert Watts, and The Writer's Journey author Chris Vogler.
Velikovsky's AFTRS graduation short film, “ROCKET MAN” received widespread critical acclaim, screening at the Montreal World Film Festival and the International Film Schools Congress in 1997, and as a result in 1998 Fox Studios Australia contracted him and co-writer/director Adrian Van de Velde to develop a science-fiction TV series.
Velikovsky’s film work has screened on Foxtel, ABC, SBS, and in many film festivals, including the Adelaide International Film Festival and Montreal World Film Festival. He also worked on a documentary: John Doyle – Roy of 'Roy & HG’.
From 1995-2000, he also worked as a Professional Script Assessor for Fox Studios Australia, PolyGram/Universal Films, and the New South Wales Film and TV Office.
At AFTRS he also studied Game Design and Writing, and began professional work as a Game Writer and Designer. Velikovsky lived in Kings Cross from 1997-2000 while working as a Writer and Script Editor and Script Reader. During this period, he wrote a screenwriting textbook “The Screenwriters Workbook”, a Beginners Guide to Feature Film Screenwriting. In 1998, after writing science fiction under the pen name Joe Velikovsky for over a year, he legally changed his name from Joseph Williams to Joseph Tesla Velikovsky.
In 1999-2000, Velikovsky was the National Games Market Analyst for Australia at Inform in Sydney. His clients included Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo and all the members of AVSDA.
In 2000, he relocated from Sydney to Adelaide
to work as a writer/game designer for Ratbag Games, game titles included Saturday Night Speedway and IKON, also working as a film and TV screenwriter under his company name JOETEEVEE.COM.
In 2002 Velikovsky was a judge for the 2002 Festival Awards for Writing (Multimedia). Has been quoted on videogame issues in many media, including Australian Radio National, JJJ Radio, Official PlayStation2 magazine, Sydney Morning Herald, The Melbourne Age and The Financial Times.
Velikovsky was a guest speaker on The Future of Sci-Fi in VideoGames Panel at Addercon 2002 (The Adelaide Science Fiction Festival) and the Spatial Cinematics Forum for the 2003 Adelaide International Film Festival.
In 2004 he started an Augmented Reality game development company, A-Rage Pty Ltd (Augmented Reality Active Game Engine), in partnership with the University of South Australia. The company developed award-winning hardware and games for a mass-market Augmented Reality game peripheral, generally regarded as ten years ahead of its time. As Creative Director of A-Rage Pty Ltd, Velikovsky’s Augmented Reality game ”Sky Invaders 3-D” won a Prize for 'Best Unsigned Professional Game' at the 2004 Australian Game Developers Conference. Velikovsky was the Producer, Director, Game Designer and Writer.
In 2004 he also wrote Australia’s first exclusive mobile phone comic strip, a gothic-noir horror-comic strip called “Dr N. Sayne”, illustrated by Deane Taylor, Art Director of Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas”.
In 2005 Velikovsky relocated to Melbourne
to work for videogame developer Red Tribe, and Wrote and Game Designed the PS2, Wii and Xbox 360 game LOONEY TUNES: ACME ARSENAL, a game which has sold over 1 million copies.
In 2008 Velikovsky wrote the 35mm short film 'HERO' which screened in the St Kilda and Edinburgh Film Festivals.
Velikovsky’s first feature film as a writer, a thriller called CAUGHT INSIDE was shot in 2009, and released in 2011. He has 5 other feature films in financing. Velikovsky also works as a Writing Mentor for the Australia Council For the Arts.
Velikovsky has also guest-lectured in Film & Game Writing, Videogames History and Game Design at RMIT, Monash, Flinders, Uni SA and Charles Sturt Universities, and many other institutions, including the 2001 Australian Game Developers Conference, the 2002 National Screenwriter's Conference in Melbourne, 2009 National Screenwriter's Conference in the Barossa Valley and the National Young Writers' Festival in Newcastle.
Velikovsky currently works as a Film Writer-Director, Feature Film Screenwriter and Editor, and as a Game Design/Writing Consultant & Writer with his company JOETEEVEE.COM.
Velikovsky is also a Story Analyst/Script Assessor for Film, TV and Games for the Australian Writer's Guild.
Velikovsky was also a Judge for the 2010 Australian Writer's Guild awards, and the 2010 Australian Director's Guild awards.
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 Film Writer-Director-Producer, and also Game, Film and TV Writer, Game Designer, and Producer. He is also a Musician, Songwriter, Cartoonist, and Illustrator. He wrote & designed the videogame LOONEY TUNES: ACME ARSENAL, which sold over 1 million copies. His first feature film as a writer, 'CAUGHT INSIDE', has won several awards, including the Audience Award at the 2010 Sydney Film Festival, and was released in cinemas in 2011.
Biography
Velikovsky was born to a librarian mother and grazier father in Mudgee (a place-name which means "Nest in the Hills") and was raised on a wheat, sheep and cattle farm in Cassilis (which means nothing). His parents divorced when Velikovsky was 6, his mother married a poet, and the family moved to Murrurundi - which means "Nestled in the Valley" - and later Wang Wauk (which means "Fruit Bat").Velikovsky’s first published work, at age 13, was the illustrations in the children’s book, “Metamorphic”. After completing high school at Chatham High in Taree, he learnt to play the guitar and began songwriting. He returned to Mudgee to work in farming, construction and demolition, and obtained a Class 1 Explosives license.
In 1990 Velikovsky then relocated to Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, and with guitarist Phillip McIntyre and drummer Dave Carruthers, formed a 3-piece rock/reggae band, Texas Radio, with Velikovsky playing bass guitar. The band released a self-titled album in 1994, and a second album by the band is due for release in 2010. Velikovsky is listed in “The Who’s Who of Australian Rock & Roll”.
Velikovsky attended the University of Newcastle NSW from 1991–1993, and received a B.A. in Communication Studies, majoring in Screenwriting. In 1993 Velikovsky won the award for the Student contributing most to the B.A.C.S course. While at University he gained his first TV credit, working as a sketch writer on Channel 7’s The Comedy Sale!. During his university student years he also gained a cult following for his articles, short stories and cartoons published in the Newcastle University magazine, OPUS.
During 1993-2006 Velikovsky worked as a freelance Script Editor and Screenwriter for feature films, TV and multipath movies. Clients included Fresh Air Films, Brilliant Interactive Ideas, and Taffner-Ramsay Productions.
In 1993-4 he also worked as a Writer-Director, and also actor and stage manager for comedy theatre company, Footlice Theatre Company on various productions, including “Making Movies” and “Stagecoach To the Centre of the Earth”. He also taught Film and Video Animation, and was a Writing Tutor at Newcastle University. In 1994 he also received literary recognition with the publication of a short satirical horror comedy story, “I, SPARTACUS” in the anthology of young Newcastle writers, “Shadows of Life”, edited by Mark Crowley.
In 1995 Velikovsky was a founder and board member of 'Open City’, Australia’s first low-budget feature film festival, which featured international guest, producer Roger Corman. The film festival continues to this day (as The Newcastle Film Festival).
From 1995 to 1997 he attended the Australian Film, Television and Radio School in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, and studied Screenwriting, for a graduate Certificate. At AFTRS he wrote and directed the short horror-comedy film “SKULLMUNCHER” and also wrote sci-fi comedy film “RETRO SHEILAS” and sci-fi docudrama “ROCKET MAN”. He also wrote 5 feature film scripts while at AFTRS. During his time as AFTRS Velikovsky worked with Script Editor John Lonie, scriptwriting guru Linda Seger, Star Wars & Raiders producer Robert Watts, and The Writer's Journey author Chris Vogler.
Velikovsky's AFTRS graduation short film, “ROCKET MAN” received widespread critical acclaim, screening at the Montreal World Film Festival and the International Film Schools Congress in 1997, and as a result in 1998 Fox Studios Australia contracted him and co-writer/director Adrian Van de Velde to develop a science-fiction TV series.
Velikovsky’s film work has screened on Foxtel, ABC, SBS, and in many film festivals, including the Adelaide International Film Festival and Montreal World Film Festival. He also worked on a documentary: John Doyle – Roy of 'Roy & HG’.
From 1995-2000, he also worked as a Professional Script Assessor for Fox Studios Australia, PolyGram/Universal Films, and the New South Wales Film and TV Office.
At AFTRS he also studied Game Design and Writing, and began professional work as a Game Writer and Designer. Velikovsky lived in Kings Cross from 1997-2000 while working as a Writer and Script Editor and Script Reader. During this period, he wrote a screenwriting textbook “The Screenwriters Workbook”, a Beginners Guide to Feature Film Screenwriting. In 1998, after writing science fiction under the pen name Joe Velikovsky for over a year, he legally changed his name from Joseph Williams to Joseph Tesla Velikovsky.
In 1999-2000, Velikovsky was the National Games Market Analyst for Australia at Inform in Sydney. His clients included Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo and all the members of AVSDA.
In 2000, he relocated from Sydney to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
to work as a writer/game designer for Ratbag Games, game titles included Saturday Night Speedway and IKON, also working as a film and TV screenwriter under his company name JOETEEVEE.COM.
In 2002 Velikovsky was a judge for the 2002 Festival Awards for Writing (Multimedia). Has been quoted on videogame issues in many media, including Australian Radio National, JJJ Radio, Official PlayStation2 magazine, Sydney Morning Herald, The Melbourne Age and The Financial Times.
Velikovsky was a guest speaker on The Future of Sci-Fi in VideoGames Panel at Addercon 2002 (The Adelaide Science Fiction Festival) and the Spatial Cinematics Forum for the 2003 Adelaide International Film Festival.
In 2004 he started an Augmented Reality game development company, A-Rage Pty Ltd (Augmented Reality Active Game Engine), in partnership with the University of South Australia. The company developed award-winning hardware and games for a mass-market Augmented Reality game peripheral, generally regarded as ten years ahead of its time. As Creative Director of A-Rage Pty Ltd, Velikovsky’s Augmented Reality game ”Sky Invaders 3-D” won a Prize for 'Best Unsigned Professional Game' at the 2004 Australian Game Developers Conference. Velikovsky was the Producer, Director, Game Designer and Writer.
In 2004 he also wrote Australia’s first exclusive mobile phone comic strip, a gothic-noir horror-comic strip called “Dr N. Sayne”, illustrated by Deane Taylor, Art Director of Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas”.
In 2005 Velikovsky relocated to 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...
to work for videogame developer Red Tribe, and Wrote and Game Designed the PS2, Wii and Xbox 360 game LOONEY TUNES: ACME ARSENAL, a game which has sold over 1 million copies.
In 2008 Velikovsky wrote the 35mm short film 'HERO' which screened in the St Kilda and Edinburgh Film Festivals.
Velikovsky’s first feature film as a writer, a thriller called CAUGHT INSIDE was shot in 2009, and released in 2011. He has 5 other feature films in financing. Velikovsky also works as a Writing Mentor for the Australia Council For the Arts.
Velikovsky has also guest-lectured in Film & Game Writing, Videogames History and Game Design at RMIT, Monash, Flinders, Uni SA and Charles Sturt Universities, and many other institutions, including the 2001 Australian Game Developers Conference, the 2002 National Screenwriter's Conference in Melbourne, 2009 National Screenwriter's Conference in the Barossa Valley and the National Young Writers' Festival in Newcastle.
Velikovsky currently works as a Film Writer-Director, Feature Film Screenwriter and Editor, and as a Game Design/Writing Consultant & Writer with his company JOETEEVEE.COM.
Velikovsky is also a Story Analyst/Script Assessor for Film, TV and Games for the Australian Writer's Guild.
Velikovsky was also a Judge for the 2010 Australian Writer's Guild awards, and the 2010 Australian Director's Guild awards.