Australian Filmmaker
David O'Donnell is an Australian director, writer, and film producer known for his debut feature film Under My Skin Liv Hewson , Alex Russell , and Bobbi Salvör Menuez .
Early life and education
David O'Donnell grew up in a working class family, the son of a cleaner (father) and nurse (mother). He grew up in Maroubra Beach , an eastern suburb of Sydney , Australia, then known for crime and violence. It also had a surfing community, which he joined, and describes his teenage years as "wild".[ 1]
He graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in Perth [ 2] [ 3] [ 4]
Career
O'Donnell worked for several years in Australian theatre, film, and television.
He wrote, produced, and directed the short film Picture Wheel which screened at numerous festivals including Palm Springs , Rhode Island , Cinequest , and Santa Monica Film Festivals . It won Best Short Film at Santa Monica.[ 5] Gunpowder & Sky .[ 6]
O'Donnell's dark comedy short Love & Dating: in LA! (writer, producer) screened at festivals around the world, including Cleveland International , Hollyshorts , and Santa Monica Film Festival, where it won the Audience Choice award, and sold to El Rey Network .[ 7] [ 8]
His debut feature Under My Skin [ 9] Best Indie Film in the 11th edition of the AACTA Awards in 2021,[ 10] [ 11] Australian Director's Guild nomination. Under My Skin screened at various festivals including NewFest , Santa Barbara Film Festival , and Raindance [ 12] Stan [8] and 1091 Pictures in the US. Under My Skin premiered in the US and Canada on June 6, 2023.[ [ 13] [ 14] [ 15] [ 16] [ 17]
Five Lip Films
In 2014 O'Donnell co-founded production company Rockpool Films,[ 18] Alex Russell , James Saivanidis, and Sarah-Jane McAllan. The company operates out of both Sydney and Los Angeles .[ 19] [ 4] [ 20]
In academia
O'Donnell has lectured on writing and performance at various institutions, including M.I.T. and Edith Cowan University .[ 2] [ 3]
Filmography
Year
Title
Role
Type
Awards
Distribution
2010
Team Australia
Writer, Director, Producer
Short
2013
Love & Dating: In LA!
Writer, Producer
Short
Audience Choice Award, Santa Monica Film Festival
El Rey Network
2017
Picture Wheel
Writer, Director, Producer
Short
Best Short Film, Santa Monica Film Festival
Gunpowder & Sky
2021
Under My Skin [ 21] Writer, Director, Producer
Feature
Best Direction Australian Director's Guild Award nomination[ 22] Best Indie Film , Australian Academy Award (AACTA) nomination[ 23]
Stan , 1091 Pictures , High Flier Films[ 24]
--
Sons of Salt
Feature
In development [13]
--
Tick
Feature
In development
References
^ O'Donnell, David (8 January 2024). "Life & Work with David O'Donnell" . Voyage LA Magazine (Interview). Retrieved 24 February 2024 . ^ a b "David O'Donnell" . FilmFreeway . Retrieved 16 June 2023 .^ a b "Press — David O'Donnell Film" . davidodonnellfilm.com . Retrieved 16 June 2023 .^ a b Windsor, Harry (6 March 2017). "Alex Russell, 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' star James Hoare lead 'Picture Wheel' . IF Magazine . Retrieved 26 September 2023 . ^ Kornits, Dov (18 April 2017). "David O'Donnell: Moved by Memory in Picture Wheel" . FilmInk . Retrieved 16 June 2023 . ^ " . THE SILVERSCREEN ANALYSIS . 14 October 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2023 .^ FF, SM (12 January 2015). "Santa Monica Film Festival Audience Choice Award #Winner "Love And Dating In LA" . X (formerly Twitter) . Retrieved 26 September 2023 . ^ Russell, Alex (17 November 2013), Love and Dating in LA! , retrieved 9 November 2023 ^ "David O'Donnell on Near-Death Experiences Directing 'Under My Skin' . Collider . 6 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023 .^ Langford, Jackson (9 December 2021). " . NME . Retrieved 22 February 2024 . ^ "Winners & Nominees" . AACTA . Retrieved 22 February 2024 .^ Wiseman, Andreas (29 October 2020). " . Deadline . Retrieved 16 June 2023 . ^ Kroll, Justin (22 March 2023). "1091 Pictures Acquires Romantic Drama 'Under My Skin', Sets Release Date" . Deadline . Retrieved 16 June 2023 . ^ Baker, Neil (30 October 2020). "Under My Skin - a fresh exploration of non-binary gender identity" . Cinerama Film . Retrieved 16 June 2023 . ^ "With 'Under My Skin,' Writer/Director David O'Donnell Examines the Gender Binary with a Casting Twist | EDGE United States" . EDGE Media Network . Retrieved 22 September 2023 .^ DAVID O'DONNELL Interview for "UNDER MY SKIN" A Non-Binary Love Story (Australia) , retrieved 22 September 2023 ^ "The Senses of Cinema Podcast: Feminists on Film on Apple Podcasts" . Apple Podcasts . Retrieved 22 September 2023 .^ "Vibrant new production company on the block" . IF Magazine . 10 December 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2023 .^ "Exclusive: Aussie Star Alex Russell Talks Directional Debut, Chronicle 2 & More!" . Spotlight Report . 26 October 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2023 .^ "About" . Five Lip Films . Retrieved 24 February 2024 .^ "Under My Skin Review - A Difficult Watch, but Ultimately a Valuable and Hopeful One - The Curb" . www.thecurb.com.au . 14 August 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2023 .^ Slatter, Sean (5 November 2021). "Double nominations for Wayne Blair, Shannon Murphy at ADG Awards" . IF Magazine . Retrieved 16 June 2023 . ^ Frater, Patrick (1 November 2021). " . Variety . Retrieved 26 September 2023 . ^ "Home - High Fliers Films" . highfliersfilms.co.uk . Retrieved 26 November 2023 .
External links
