Roger Scholes
Encyclopedia
Roger Scholes has been an independent film and television maker since 1983. He’s worked as a producer, director, writer, script editor, cinematographer
and editor in drama and documentary projects for cinema and television.
. During the 70’s he worked in France
, Switzerland
, U.K. and USA. In 1982 he returned to Swinburne
for the post-graduate course and awarded Best Director at his graduation.
.
During the 80’s he worked with his writer/film producer
partner, Katherine Scholes
, on a number of documentaries before writing and directing his first feature film The Tale of Ruby Rose
. The film won four critics prizes at the Venice Film Festival
in 1987 including Best Actress and Best Director.
In 1988 Roger and Katherine formed their production company, Edward Street Films. Together they produced numerous documentaries including THE VALLEY, THE LAST TALL FORESTS and HOME OF THE BRAVE which won First Prize at the International ITVA American Film Awards in 1993.
and Discovery Channel
, which won the 2000 Eureka Prize for Science Media.
Since then he has written and directed a 3 hour tele-series STORIES FROM THE STONE AGE for S4C UK and ABC TV, two documentaries–LAST PORT OF CALL and FUTURE SHACK - and a short feature film, CABLE for Showtime and SBSi.
Roger has been a lecturer in the Open Program of AFTRS and other film and television courses, has worked as a script editor on numerous drama and documentary projects, a story editor on many novels, and as a project assessor for the AFC. He has also acted as a Mentor Director for the ABC and SBS. He’s been a board member of the Swinburne VCA Film and TV School and the Advisory Board of Screen Tasmania.
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
and editor in drama and documentary projects for cinema and television.
Early career
Roger graduated from the Swinburne Film and TV School, now the VCA Film School, in 1971 and worked at Fred Schepisi’s Film House in MelbourneMelbourne
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...
. During the 70’s he worked in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, U.K. and USA. In 1982 he returned to Swinburne
Swinburne
Swinburne may refer to:* A place:**Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia**Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus in Kuching, Malaysia**Swinburne Senior Secondary College in Melbourne, Australia...
for the post-graduate course and awarded Best Director at his graduation.
1980s
In December 1982 he directed and edited a short film The Franklin River blockade concerning the Franklin DamFranklin Dam
The Franklin Dam or Gordon-below-Franklin Dam project was a proposed dam on the Gordon River in Tasmania, Australia, that was never constructed. The movement that eventually led to the project's cancellation became one of most significant environmental campaigns in Australian history.The dam was...
.
During the 80’s he worked with his writer/film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
partner, Katherine Scholes
Katherine Scholes
Katherine Anne Scholes is an Australian writer. She was born in the Dodoma Region of Tanzania where her parents were English missionaries, and spent most of her childhood there before moving to England and then Tasmania....
, on a number of documentaries before writing and directing his first feature film The Tale of Ruby Rose
The Tale of Ruby Rose
The Tale of Ruby Rose is an Australian movie, released in 1988. It is 100 minutes in length. It was written and directed by Roger Scholes and produced by Andrew Wiseman and Bryce Menzies...
. The film won four critics prizes at the Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
in 1987 including Best Actress and Best Director.
In 1988 Roger and Katherine formed their production company, Edward Street Films. Together they produced numerous documentaries including THE VALLEY, THE LAST TALL FORESTS and HOME OF THE BRAVE which won First Prize at the International ITVA American Film Awards in 1993.
1990s
In 1996 Roger co-wrote and directed THE COOLBAROO CLUB, a dramatized documentary for cinema and television release. It won the 1996 Human Rights Award for Media. In 1998 he co-wrote and directed THE HUMAN JOURNEY, a 3 hour documentary series for ABC TVAmerican Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
and Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
, which won the 2000 Eureka Prize for Science Media.
Since then he has written and directed a 3 hour tele-series STORIES FROM THE STONE AGE for S4C UK and ABC TV, two documentaries–LAST PORT OF CALL and FUTURE SHACK - and a short feature film, CABLE for Showtime and SBSi.
Recent work
The television series The Passionate Apprentices aired on SBS Television in 2008.Roger has been a lecturer in the Open Program of AFTRS and other film and television courses, has worked as a script editor on numerous drama and documentary projects, a story editor on many novels, and as a project assessor for the AFC. He has also acted as a Mentor Director for the ABC and SBS. He’s been a board member of the Swinburne VCA Film and TV School and the Advisory Board of Screen Tasmania.