Melbourne Documentary Film Festival 2019 – LOOBY
Documentary on acclaimed painter reveals the ruthless politics of the Australian art world.
Interview with Producer Sean Murphy
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
“Tell him I said get fucked.” The response came as a surprise – why was this person so worked up when asked about Looby? To me, Australian painter Keith Looby is a gentle old man; a softly-spoken family friend whiling away his days in a backyard studio. Sure, I knew he’d won the Archibald, exhibited at MOMA in New York and more besides – but that was a far cry from his quiet life in Sydney’s northern suburbs.
Still, this contradiction confirmed it: we had a story. And that story became a film.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
To discover great art that has been suppressed by politics.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The doco explores what being a (true) rebel really means. There is immense creative energy, but even more personal pain to be found in a life that battles authority. It challenges the audience to ask - what compromises do we make for sake of a quiet life?
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The project was my (Sean Murphy's) father’s idea. A long-time producer and director at the ABC, he befriended Keith Looby way back in the 1970s. Dad watched on with puzzlement as his mate went from toast of the town to persona non-grata, unable to exhibit in even the smallest galleries.
Dad decided to get to the bottom of things. He would make a film about Looby and discover why this brilliant man was banished.
Then came cancer. Some six months into production, Dad passed away, pummelled by a malignant prostate.
After months of mourning, the team rallied: we would finish the doco, solve the mystery.
What we uncovered is a story of brutal art world politics; unexpected and unbending conformism in an industry we once thought of as creative and daring.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Generally, feedback has focused on what a revelation Keith's work - hitherto banished from gallery walls - has been. Written examples include:
"What a fascinating character Keith Looby is!"
"I hope that your efforts will ensure that his work is exposed to many more like me."
"It is indeed a universal story that we all have to come to terms with that life consists of years of preparation, a short burst of fame and then, for most of us, to be forgotten as the next generation captures the limelight."
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
We had become so familiar with Keith the person - perhaps even a little jaded - that we're always happily surprised to be reminded by audiences that his art still cuts through all the bullshit.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Gain industry exposure and start conversations about wider release.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Basically all of the above! That is sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Re-awaken public interest in Keith Looby - on a practical level, ready the ground for Keith to exhibit again on a commercial basis.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Who decides what art is?
Interview: July 2019
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
LOOBY
Documentary on acclaimed painter reveals the ruthless politics of the Australian art world.
Length: 1:20:00
Director: Iain Knight and Nick Garner
Producer: Sean Murphy, Merilyn Alt
Writer: Iain Knight
About the writer, director and producer:
Copenhagen-based founder of multi-media arts publisher Das Platforms, NICK GARNER has been telling the stories in art since staging his first exhibition in Sydney in 2006. From 2008 to 2014 he headed Das Superpaper, a print magazine on contemporary art distributed throughout Australia and New Zealand. Since 2010, Nick expanded online, publishing articles and videos on artists and exhibition organisers via Das Platforms as well as through his Copenhagen bar and gallery Peryton.
IAIN KNIGHT has written and directed many television documentaries, short dramas and stage plays. He was Head of Sport at the ABC for five years and worked there as a producer and executive producer across many genres including Arts, Entertainment and News. Iain’s recent work includes producing events, such as for the commemorations of the Centenary of Anzac in Israel, Belgium and Turkey. IAIN is a graduate of AFTRS.
In his day job, SEAN MURPHY is a comedian and presenter. He's toured from Scotland to Singapore and the Sydney Opera House with performances that mix music and storytelling, stand-up and clown. Always on the move, he is currently on tour of all 53 Commonwealth countries.
SEAN is the son of the late Desmond Murphy, executive producer of Looby. SEAN became the lead producer of Looby to bring his father's project to fruition.
MERILYN ALT is a public policy researcher and analyst. Over 20 years of running a boutique consulting practice has prepared her well for film production. Looby is her first production credit. A devotee of film, sitting in a cinema has never been quite the same since moving to the other side of the camera.
Key cast: Interviewees: Keith Looby (subject), Humphrey McQueen (historian), Julie Ewington (curator); Adam Hill a.k.a. Blak Douglas (artist), Max Gillies (comedian), McLean Edwards (artist), Evan Hughes (gallerist), April Pressler (partner), John McDonald (critic), Ian Smith (artist), Damien Minton (gallerist). Mic Looby (son).
Looking for: sales agents, buyers, distributors
Facebook: LOOBY
Hashtags used: #LoobyFilm
Website: www.loobyfilm.com
Made in association with: Loud Hailer and Mama Dojo
Funders: Self-funded
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? World Premiere at the 2019 Melbourne Documentary Film Festival Sat 27th of July at 2:00pm