David Donaldson(XII)
- Producer
From a family that never went to the cinema, and had resisted acquiring a radio, Donaldson "fell into film" while at university in 1951. The Sydney University Film Group was the spring for lifelong activity in promoting shows and presenting "films that matter". Co-directing with Alan Brissenden in a university film festival led to engagement on honorary basis as inaugural Director of the Sydney Film Festival newly conceived by a coalition of film showing community bodies (especially film societies) in Sydney, Australia (1954-1960)
An honours degree in economics enabled Donaldson to find work with two universities in the then-novel field of adult education. On a hobby basis, Donaldson operated Filmart Associates, a library of classic films, imported or sub-licensed, in the burgeoning field of community film shows in 16mm. In 1965 he joined at its foundation the Administrative College of Papua New Guinea, preparing for the independence which came all too quickly in 1975. Subsequently he was a lecturer in the Further Education system of South Australia, seconded on occasion for curriculum work in business management and notably for an ambitious course of training in management for indigenous leaders who did not use English.
Throughout those employments, film was used as part of education and outside in the community. Donaldson held offices in the Australian Council of Film Societies (1953-60), Australian Film Institute (1958-1974) and National Film Theatre of Australia (1972), and was a foundation member of Media Resource Centre in Adelaide, South Australia. Of all film directors, he admires John Ford, Leni Riefenstahl, John Heyer and Cecil Holmes. While having engaged with digital, he appreciates more the visual qualities of celluloid film.
In retirement since 1991, Donaldson activated his previous hobby distribution firm, adding specialised sourcing and sales of video-tapes and DVDs of Australian films. His special research and screening interests include the pioneer in laboratory work, Cyril Sharpe, the South Australian documentary producer John Campbell-Dobbie, finding a decent copy of the Cecil Holmes 1951 feature Captain Thunderbolt, and especially advocacy for Hollywood's first Australian, J.P. McGowan. About McGowan, he has collected probably the world's largest collection of films and publicity materials, and has presented at the National Film and Sound Archive and twice at the South Australian History Festival.
An honours degree in economics enabled Donaldson to find work with two universities in the then-novel field of adult education. On a hobby basis, Donaldson operated Filmart Associates, a library of classic films, imported or sub-licensed, in the burgeoning field of community film shows in 16mm. In 1965 he joined at its foundation the Administrative College of Papua New Guinea, preparing for the independence which came all too quickly in 1975. Subsequently he was a lecturer in the Further Education system of South Australia, seconded on occasion for curriculum work in business management and notably for an ambitious course of training in management for indigenous leaders who did not use English.
Throughout those employments, film was used as part of education and outside in the community. Donaldson held offices in the Australian Council of Film Societies (1953-60), Australian Film Institute (1958-1974) and National Film Theatre of Australia (1972), and was a foundation member of Media Resource Centre in Adelaide, South Australia. Of all film directors, he admires John Ford, Leni Riefenstahl, John Heyer and Cecil Holmes. While having engaged with digital, he appreciates more the visual qualities of celluloid film.
In retirement since 1991, Donaldson activated his previous hobby distribution firm, adding specialised sourcing and sales of video-tapes and DVDs of Australian films. His special research and screening interests include the pioneer in laboratory work, Cyril Sharpe, the South Australian documentary producer John Campbell-Dobbie, finding a decent copy of the Cecil Holmes 1951 feature Captain Thunderbolt, and especially advocacy for Hollywood's first Australian, J.P. McGowan. About McGowan, he has collected probably the world's largest collection of films and publicity materials, and has presented at the National Film and Sound Archive and twice at the South Australian History Festival.