- Byron Kennedy
Byron Eric Kennedy (18 August 1949 – July 17, 1983) Born
Melbourne was anAustralian film producer best known for theMad Max series of films.At the age of 18 years, Kennedy formed his own company named "Warlok Films" and produced many amateur short films under this logo.
In 1970, at the age of 21 years he won
The Kodak Trophy — Australia's Ten Best On Eight — for the short film "Hobson's Bay", a short documentary film about the Melbourne port suburb of Williamstown.This award enabled him to travel overseas and gain invaluable knowledge of the international film/television industry. Upon his return he embarked upon a television/film course at the
University of NSW where he met George Miller.The first mini-film made by both was "Violence in the Cinema" filmed inYarraville , Melbourne. The film won International acclaim and this led to the formation of the a new film company."Kennedy Miller" was incorporated in 1975 with both George Miller and Byron Kennedy as co-directors.
Their first major movie together was the international smash hit
Mad Max . This film set a record for the highest grossing film relative to budget, a record which was only broken with the advent ofThe Blair Witch Project .In 1983, at the age of 33, Kennedy was killed in a helicopter crash at
Warragamba Dam inNew South Wales , Australia. In his honour, theAustralian Film Institute , with George Miller as a panel member, established theByron Kennedy Award . This award is bestowed upon those whose work is marked by their pursuit of excellence within the film and television industry and sponsored by Kennedy Miller, Warner Bros., Village Roadshow, Greater Union, Cinemedia and Steven Spielberg.Filmography
Motion pictures
*Violence in the Cinema - part 1 (1971)
*The Last of the Knucklemen (1977)
*Mad Max (1979)
*Mad Max 2 (1982)Mini series
*Dirtwater Dynasty
*Cowra Breakout
*Vietnam
*Bodyline
*The Dismissal-mini series produced forNetwork 10 Australia.External links
*imdb name|0447945|Byron Kennedy
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