Inside all of us, there’s a nervous little voice begging us to play it safe. To be inconspicuous and inoffensive. To sand away any crags that people might get snagged on. To make algorithm-friendly, focus-group-approved, high-nutrient-density astronaut food. In modern Australia, that nervous little voice has become very loud indeed. Our once-defiant creative spirit is being squashed; shushed; pushed into the corner. Homogeneity abounds. Beige reigns supreme.
But there’s a white building at the end of Macquarie Street that’s got something else to say.
Since it unfurled its sails in 1973, the Sydney Opera House has stood in proud defiance of the urge to play it safe; it’s a sparkling monument to the power of brave creativity. On the House’s 50th anniversary, we wanted to remind Australia of the creative spirit it once embraced, and why it’s more important than ever to keep that spirit alive.
So we got in touch with Tim Minchin and Kim Gehrig…
AWARDS
Cannes
Grand Prix - Film
Silver Lion - Film Craft
Silver Lion - Entertainment
Bronze Lion - Film
D&AD
Graphite Pencil - Sound Design and Use of Music
The One Show
Best of Discipline - Branded Entertainment
Best of Discipline - Moving Image Craft & Production
Gold - Moving Image Craft & Production (Writing)
Gold - Branded Entertainment (Music Video)
Silver - Branded Entertainment (Long Form)
Silver - Music and Sound Craft
Bronze - Moving Image Craft & Production (Direction)
Bronze - Music and Sound Craft (Collaboration)
Ciclope
APAC Grand Prix
Direction (>120 Seconds)
AWARD Award
The Grand Award
Gold - Film (<5mins)
Gold - Film (Music Video)
Gold - Film (Cinema >60)
Gold - Direction
Gold - Sound Design and Use of Music
Silver - Editing
Silver - Production Design
Silver - Cinematography
Silver - PR & Promotion (Content)
Silver - PR & Promotion (Use of Talent)
Bronze - Social Media (Videos)
Bronze - Social Media (Use of Talent)
Ciclope Asia
Grand Prix
Clio Awards
Grand Clio - Film Craft
Silver - Branded Entertainment (Music)
Bronze - Branded Entertainment (Partnerships)
Spikes Asia
Gold - Film
Gold - Film Craft
Silver - Music
Silver - Entertainment
Bronze - Film Craft (Editing)
Bronze - Film Craft (Direction)
LIA
Grand LIA - Music and Sound
Gold - Music and Sound
Bronze - Branded Entertainment
Bronze - Performance and Casting
AICP
Winner - Original Music
The Andys
Best in Show - Craft
Best in Show - Idea
The Webby Awards
Best Music Video
The British Arrows
Shortlist - Non-British Arrow
CREDS
Creative Agency: The Monkeys, part of Accenture Song
The Monkeys Co-founder & Group CEO, Accenture Song ANZ President: Mark Green
Co-founder & Group Chief Creative Officer: Scott Nowell
Chief Creative Officer: Tara Ford
Executive Creative Director: Barbara Humphries
Senior Art Director: Alex Polglase
Senior Copywriter: Jake Ausburn
Head of Production & Senior Producer: Penny Brown
Producer: Izzy Robertson
General Manager: Kezia Quinn
Senior Business Director: Fizzy Keeble
Experience Strategy Director: Tim Wilson-Brown
Strategist: Raghav Iyer
Client: Sydney Opera House
Joanne Been, Brand Lead
Jade McKellar, Chief Customer Officer
Stephen O’Connor, General Manager Marketing
Kate Huish, General Manager Communications
Dan Ingham, Creative Director
Rebecca Munro, Head of Brand and Marketing Campaigns
Paayal Dharmani, Head of Digital Marketing
Julia Kenny, Senior Creative Content
Natalia Scherer, Production Manager – Creative Studio
Amelia Jang, Video Content Specialist
Melanie Wellington, Senior Communications Manager
Nicola Whiteside, Content Marketing Manager
Jack Woodward, Paid Media Manager
Event Account Manager: Daniel O’Connell
Production Coordinator: Emma Paterson
Production House: Revolver x Somesuch
Director: Kim Gehrig
Producer / EP: Pip Smart
Managing Director / Co-Owner: Michael Ritchie
Director of Photography: Stefan Duscio
Choreographer: Lucy Guerin
Production Designer: Steven Jones Evans
Costume Creative Director: Vanessa Coyle
Costume Stylist: Olivia Simpson & Nicchia Wippell
Editorial: TRIM x ARC Edit
Editor: Elise Butt & Tom Lindsay
Post Executive Producer: Daniel Fry & Noreen Khan
Post Producer: Kani Saib & Tatyana Alexandra
Colourist: Trish Cahill
Online: Eugene Richards
Music & Audio Post Production
Music and Lyrics: Tim Minchin
Music Production: Turning Studios
Executive Music Producer/Arranger: Elliott Wheeler
Turning Studios Producer: Carla de Menezes Ribeiro
Music Mix Engineer: Jamieson Shaw
Musicians
Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra & Sydney Philharmonia Choirs
Bass: Jonathon Schwartz
Drums: Hamish Stuart
Guitars: Ben Hauptmann
Recording Engineers
Band and main vocal recording: Rose Mackenzie-Peterson
Assistant Engineer: Brad Hasiuk @Studios 301
ACO and SSO recording: Bob Scott
Sydney Philharmonia Choir recording: Carlos Arango
Individual Performers: Joshua Craig
Recording Assistants
Keens Brewer, Will Lobb, Benjamin Cauduro & Brianna Salisbury
Single Release Mastered: Leon Zerves at 301
Audio Post Production: MassiveMusic
Sound Design: Simon Kane
Foley Artist: John Simpson
Executive Producer: Katrina Aquilia