Heads Above Water

Presented by Gender Matters

Friday 9 February

4pm AEST

Shooting underwater is notoriously difficult and expensive - but it can be done. Presented by Screen Australia’s Gender Matters Taskforce, this panel will explore the specific technical challenges of underwater photography and how to get all the different departments - directing, producing, cinematography, stunts, safety, scheduling, locations, production design, costume and sound - working together to achieve a result that is beautiful, within budget and, above all, safe.

Featuring

Joanne Donahoe-Beckwith

Joanne Donahoe-Beckwith is a creative, innovative and resourceful Cinematographer with an adventurous nature. Across film, television and documentaries her credits include the award-winning series A River Somewhere, Frontline, Utopia and more recently Fisk, Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story, and feature documentary Splice Here: A Projected Odyssey.

Fran Derham

Fran spent a decade writing, producing and directing commercials and documentaries, before pivoting to scripted drama in 2019. She developed the Netflix surf series Surviving Summer, along with Joanna Werner and Josh Mapleston, acting as Associate Producer on Season 1, and Surf Unit Producer/Co-Director on Season 2. Her credits include First Love (2011), Conspiracy 365 (2012) The Reef (2013), Finding The Line (2017) and she is about to go into production on a new comedy web series, Buried.

Kate Milwright, ACS

Katie Milwright is an award-winning director of photography and was the tenth female cinematographer to be accredited by the ACS. Katie works across film, television, art and documentary and has won nine ACS awards for her work.

Clare Plueckhahn

With a background in both Directing and Cinematography, Clare’s experience in the water lead her to specialise in underwater operating. With a list of credits including The Clearing, Run Rabbit Run, Summer Love & Wentworth. Most recently she combined her skillsets and Directed 2nd Unit, as well as water operated on Ricky Stanicky for Academy award winning director Peter Farrelly.