VALE
MICHAEL
on location directing BINGLE by Malcolm Frawley with 3rd Year NIDA Acting Students - 2003
Early in the morning
of May 14th 2005 Ferknerkle lost a great supporter – director and
producer MICHAEL CARSON – to pancreatic cancer. One of Australia’s most
innovative and respected artists Michael’s resume stretches back to the early
70s when he began work at the ABC Studios. His first forays into directing
included the groundbreaking pop music programme GTK
– a collection of live performances and interviews with cutting edge bands and
performers of the halcyon days of rock music. Michael’s life-long passion for
quality drama, and respect for both writers and actors, quickly carried him into
the forefront of Australian TV drama. After a string of challenging, and
successful, directing assignments Michael created and produced the confronting,
and timely, ABC mini-series Scales Of
Justice – a no-holds-barred exploration of police corruption that spared
no-one in its journey up the food chain from lowly constable to the minister of
police. Screened a month after his death at a special session of the Sydney Film
Festival, Episode One of Scales (The
Job) still possessed the power to confront an audience even 21 years after its
first broadcast. Michael was also instrumental in other milestone ABC series
including Phoenix, Janus,
Police Rescue and Sea Change.
His work for commercial networks included the mini-series Jackaroo, telemovies The Bite and
Devil Game, the American adventures
series Lost World, and the
children’s series Cyber Girl and Horace
And Tina. His association with Ferknerkle began in 1998, early in its Greek
Street Theatre days. From that point on Michael was a fervent supporter and
helped out on several occasions, including opening up his own home as locations
for some of our short films. In 2001 Michael, who had never acted (but had
clearly picked up a few pointers from the many wonderful actors he directed over
the years) was invited to appear in our production of Jean Dixon’s play Bad Blood. Michael occasionally wondered what the hell he had gotten
himself into but, in yet another example of his courage and faith, he committed
completely to his first stage role and gave a polished performance on the
nights. At his farewell service at the Sydney Theatre on May 20th
Colin Friels, Sigrid Thornton, Andy Anderson, Bill Hughes, Bruce Best and his
closest family members spoke lovingly, and with considerable humour, about
Michael’s life and work. What seemed like hundreds of us then raised our
glasses at the wake held in his home at Castlecrag. I know I speak for everyone
at Ferknerkle when I say that Michael will be sorely missed, by his friends,
family and industry and we wish him every comfort in whatever world he has moved
on to. We also extend our sympathies to his partner, Ferknerkle member Jacqui
Delmege, to his son Simon, brother Tony and many friends and family members.
Malcolm