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Esben Storm

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Esben Storm
Born(1950-05-26)26 May 1950[1]
Støvring, Denmark
Died28 March 2011(2011-03-28) (aged 60)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
EducationUniversity High School, Melbourne
Swinburne Technical College
Occupations
  • Actor
  • screenwriter
  • producer
  • director
  • voice artist
  • songwriter
Years active1969–2008
Spouse(s)Pamela Barnetta
Lisa Meagher
Children2

Esben Storm (26 May 1950[1]– 28 March 2011) was a Danish Australian actor, screenwriter, television producer, television director, voice artist and songwriter.

Early life

[edit]

Storm was raised on a farm in Denmark, by working-class parents Laurits and Ane. The family migrated to Australia in 1958, when Storm was eight, after Laurits lost the family farm to lawyers. After settling in Melbourne, his father worked as a builder's labourer and built a darkroom, where Storm learned photographic processing, composition and lighting.[2][3]

Storm met schoolfriend Haydn Keenan while studying at University High School, Melbourne, and moved to Sydney in 1970, where he worked worked with Keenan as a production assistant at the Commonwealth Film Unit (Film Australia), before going on to make films together, in what would become a long-term partnership.[2][3][1]

In 1969, Storm enrolled in the film course at Swinburne Technical College, studying alongside Gillian Armstrong.[4][5]

Career

[edit]

Film making

[edit]

Together with Haydn Keenan, Storm began making a series of award-winning films, under their production company, Smart Street Films.[2] Their first film was the 1969 short, Doors, directed by Storm,[5] followed by the documentary In His Prime, which he also directed, winning an award at the 1972 Sydney Film Festival.[2] Then came the low-budget 1974 feature 27A. Directed by Storm, it won the AFI Award for Best Film that year,[2] establishing him as a key player in Australian cinema.

Establishing Storm Productions, Storm wrote and directed 1978 feature film In Search of Anna,[6][7] with film stills and publicity shots by his then-girlfriend Carol Jerrems.[8][9] The film won the 1978 AFI Award for Best Screenplay.[2] He went on to direct and produce 1983 documentary With Prejudice, about the 1978 Sydney Hilton Hotel bombing. The film was attributed with helping secure the release of the three Ananda Marga members jailed for the crime.[2]

Other films he wrote and directed included 1984 comedy Stanley, 1991 film Deadly, starring Bill Hunter[10] and 2003 sci-fi horror film Subterano, starring Alex Dimitriades and Tasma Walton.[11] He also made several documentaries including The Tasty Bust Reunion and America.[7]

Storm was well known for his work with the Australian Children's Television Foundation (ACTF), where for 15 years, he wrote, directed, edited and acted in numerous programs and played a pivotal role in most of the 62 national and international awards the foundation has received.[2] He directed an episode of the ACTF’s very first series, Winners,[12] followed by Devil’s Hill – the Tasmanian telemovie in children's anthology series Touch the Sun, which was created to coincide with the bicentenary in 1988.[13][14]

Most notably, Storm put Australian children’s drama on the map with Round the Twist, ACTF's most successful children's series, in which he brought Paul Jennings' short stories to life. Working with Jennings on the scripts, he directed more than half of the episodes of the first two seasons, and also played the part of Mr Snapper. Since its release, the series has been translated into countless languages and screened around the world including on the BBC and on Fox in the US.[12]

Further ACTF titles Storm worked on included More Winners (1990), The Genie from Down Under (1995–1998) and Crash Zone (1998–1999).[12] He also worked on Sky Trackers (as script consultant),[15] Li'l Elvis Jones and the Truckstoppers (as the show's creator, scriptwriter and dialogue director)[citation needed] and Blue Heelers (as a director).[16][17][18][19] In 2007, under his company Storm Productions, Storm wrote, directed and produced SBS series Kick, also acting in the show.[20][3]

For many years, Storm worked to adapt John Marsden's Tomorrow, When the War Began young adult novel, but lost the rights to the subsequent film.[7]

Acting

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In 1976, Storm acted in Hanging About, a short film by Carol Jerrems. He later played the part of a record producer in 1982 drama film Monkey Grip[21] and the following year he appeared in Going Down, playing the role of Michael, a codeine-addicted loner-writer.[2]

He had further film roles in 1985, with romantic comedy The Coca-Cola Kid opposite Eric Roberts and Greta Scacchi,[22] drama film Wrong World[23] and TV movie I Live with Me Dad.[24] The following year he then played the role of Raymond 'Frog' Gardiner in miniseries Alice to Nowhere.[25]

In 1987, Storm featured in comedy film Les Patterson Saves the World, playing a Russian scientist, alongside Barry Humphries[26] and Pandemonium in the role of E.B. De Woolf.[27] The following year, he played Wilbur Wright in comedy film Young Einstein starring Yahoo Serious[28] and appeared in biographical TV movie The Riddle of the Stinson with Jack Thompson and Richard Roxburgh.[29] He also performed opposite Steve Bisley in 1988 post-apocalyptic TV movie Hard Knuckle.[30]

Storm appeared in three episodes of children's anthology series Winners.[citation needed] He also played the regular role of haughty Mr Snapper in Round the Twist.[2] He had guest roles in Rafferty's Rules,[31] crime drama Phoenix,[32][33] period drama Snowy River: The McGregor Saga[34] Good Guys, Bad Guys[35] and police procedural series Blue Heelers.[36] His final acting role was in medical drama series All Saints.[37][20][38]

Personal life

[edit]

In the 1970s, Storm was in a relationship with photographer and filmmaker Carol Jerrems, who lived with him in Willoughby. His contribution to ABC biographical documentary film Girl in a Mirror became the foundation for a story honouring Jerrems,[4] who died of a rare illness in 1980, at the age of 30.[39]

After returning from Cannes screenings for his 1978 film In Search of Anna, he met and then married the film's assistant editor, Pamela Barnetta.[2]

Storm's first marriage broke down and he later married costume designer Lisa Meagher, whom he met on the set of Round the Twist.[2] She was his partner at the time of his death. He has two children – a son and a daughter.[4]

Death

[edit]

Storm died, aged 60, on 28 March 2011 from a heart attack.[40][20] Numerous directors, producers, actors and screen industry leaders attended his funeral at Clovelly Bowling Club in Sydney, which was MC'd by longtime friend, collaborator and producer Allan Hogan. Storm's partner Lisa Meagher, delivered his eulogy, revealing it was the same one Esben had written for his father's funeral.[4]

Filmography

[edit]

Short film

[edit]

As crew

[edit]
Year Title Role Ref.
1969 Doors Director [5]
1972 In His Prime Director [2]
Gentle Strangers Production assistant
1973 A Motion Picture Director
Flashpoint Production assistant
Floating This Time Editor
1975 Grace Crowley Director
A Handful of Dust Unspecified assistant
1984 The Other Facts of Life Director [41]
1994 Diablo is Done For Director [42]

As actor

[edit]
Year Title Role Ref.
1969 Doors
1971 One Man Bike [5]
1972 In His Prime
Stephany
A Motion Picture
1976 Hanging About: A Short Film by Carol Jerrems [2]
1981 Making Weekend of Summer Last Out of Work Actor [43]
1982 Last Breakfast in Paradise [44]
1982 Greetings from Wollongong [45]

Feature film

[edit]

As crew

[edit]
Year Title Director Writer Producer Editor Notes Ref.
1973 Avengers of the Reef No No No No Production manager
1974 27A Yes Yes No Yes [2]
1978 In Search of Anna Yes Yes Yes No [6][7]
1982 With Prejudice Yes No No No [2]
1984 Stanley Yes Yes No No
1990 The Crossing No No No No Story consultant
1991 Deadly Yes Yes No No [10][46]
1992 de Vil's tas Mania (aka Three Cornered Island) No No No No Also script advisor
2003 Subterano Yes Yes No No [11][47]
2004 The Tasty Bust Reunion No Yes Yes No Documentary film [7]

[48]

America Yes Documentary film [7]
2006 The Bridge at Midnight Trembles Yes Yes Yes Yes Documentary film;
Also executive producer 		[49]
2008 Goodbye Revolution Yes Yes Yes Yes Documentary film;
Also director of photography 		[50][51]
2012 Aspects of a Life: Working with Indigenous Australians No No No Yes Video documentary

As actor

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1982 Monkey Grip Record Producer [21]
Going Down Michael [2]
1983 Birthin' Hips
1983 With Prejudice Documentary film
1984 Stanley Menswear Attendant
1985 Wrong World Lawrence [23]
The Coca-Cola Kid Country Hotel Manager [22]
1987 Les Patterson Saves the World Russian Scientist [26]
Pandemonium E.B. De Woolf / Husband [27]
1988 Young Einstein Wilbur Wright [28]
1991 Deadly Reporter
1993 Terrormisu: A Night of Just Desserts
Rusty & the Bathtub Banana
2008 Goodbye Revolution Narrator Documentary film [51]

Television

[edit]

As crew

[edit]
Year Title Director Writer Producer Script consultant Notes Ref.
1985 Winners Yes No No No Episode: "The Other Facts of Life" [52]
1988 Touch the Sun: Devil’s Hill Yes No No No TV movie [13][53]
1990 More Winners Yes No No No Episode: "The Big Wish" [54]
1989-2001 Round the Twist Yes Yes No Yes 32 episodes (director);
30 episodes (writer);
Also script consultant 		[55][56][57][58]
1994 Sky Trackers No No No Yes 26 episodes [15]
The Bob Morrison Show Yes No No No Season 1 [59]
1995 Blue Heelers Yes No No No 4 episodes [16][17][18][19]
1996; 1998 The Genie from Down Under Yes Yes No No 6 episodes (director);
15 episodes (writer) 		[60][61]
1998 Li'l Elvis and the Truckstoppers No Yes No No Episode: "Caught in a Trap";
Also creator, scriptwriter & dialogue director
1999 Crash Zone Yes No No No Season 1, 4 episodes [62]
2000 Pig's Breakfast Yes No No No Seasons 1–2 [63]
2001 The Lost World Yes No No No Episode: "True Spirit"
2007 Kick Yes Yes Yes No Also creator [20][3]

As actor

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1984 Special Squad Cox Episode: "Brothers"
1985 I Live with Me Dad Blindman TV movie [24]
1985; 1986 Winners Leo George / Tom 2 episodes: "The Other Facts of Life" & "Room to Move" [64]
1986 Alice to Nowhere Raymond 'Frog' Gardiner Miniseries, 2 episodes [25]
A Single Life Paul TV movie
1987 The Fast Lane Lester Episode: "All the World's Going Through a Bit of a Stage"
1988 The Riddle of the Stinson Meissner TV movie [29]
Rafferty's Rules Norm Angstrom Episode: "Mum's the Word" [31]
Hard Knuckle Vince TV movie [30]
1989–2000 Round the Twist Mr Snapper 36 episodes [2]
1990 More Winners The Waiter Episode: "The Big Wish" [54]
1992 Phoenix Pat 2 episodes [32][33]
1994 Law of the Land Peter Bozavich Episode: "Death Before Dying"
1995 Blue Heelers Colin Roper Episode: "Breaking the Cycle" [36]
Snowy River: The McGregor Saga Frobisher Episode: "In Duty Bound" [34]
1997 Good Guys Bad Guys: Only the Young Die Good Jerry TV movie [35]
2002 Don't Blame the Koalas (aka Don't Blame Me) First AD Episode: "A Star is Born" [65]
2007 Kick Jeff Abbott (soccer referee) Episode: "You Can't Stop the Music" [66]
All Saints Laszlo Shucs Episode: "Echoes" [38]

Theatre

[edit]
Year Title Role Type Ref.
1994; 1996 Anaheim Magic Playwright Lion Theatre, Adelaide, Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne with Magpie Theatre Company [67]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Title Award Category Result Ref.
1979 In Search of Anna Australian Film Institute Awards Best Screenplay Won [68][69]
Best Film Nominated [69]
Best Director Nominated [69]
1991 Deadly Mystfest Best Film Nominated [70]
Winners: The Big Wish Australian Film Institute Awards Best Achievement in Direction in a TV Drama Nominated [71]
1993 Round the Twist: Little Squirt Best Screenplay in a TV Drama Nominated [72]
1999 Crash Zone: The Dream Team Best Direction in a TV Drama Nominated [73]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Cameron, Ken (1 June 1979). "Ken Cameron talks to Esben Storm". Filmnews. p. 1. Retrieved 17 June 2026 – via Trove.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Obituary | Director and actor championed the underdog | Esben Storm, 1950–2011". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 April 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d Shirley, Graham (30 March 2011). "In Memoriam | Esben Storm | 1950–2011". nfsa.gov.au. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d "In Memory of Esben Storm". IF Magazine. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d Gaunson, Stephen (March 2026). ""To all those who said we couldn't do it – get stuffed!": 27A". sensesofcinema.com. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  6. ^ a b "Persons of Interest: The Independent Film Work of Haydn Keenan and Esben Storm". acmi.net.au. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Gonzalez, Miguel (29 March 2011). "Industry mourns Esben Storm". IF Magazine. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  8. ^ Cinema Papers, Global Village Cinema Publications, July 1977
  9. ^ "Carol Jerrems (Aust., 1949-1980) | Film Stills From Esben Storm's "In Search of Anna"", joseflebovicgallery.com, retrieved 15 June 2026
  10. ^ a b "Deadly – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  11. ^ a b "Subterano – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  12. ^ a b c Pavlovic, Lily (2 May 2018). "Esben Storm: A Legacy that Lives on (1988–1988)". actf.com.au. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  13. ^ a b "Touch the Sun: Devil's Hill". acmi.net.au. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  14. ^ "Touch The Sun (1988–1988)". aso.gov.au. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  15. ^ a b "Sky Trackers". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  16. ^ a b "Blue Heelers: episode guide | Series 6". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  17. ^ a b "Blue Heelers: episode guide | Series 7". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  18. ^ a b "Blue Heelers: episode guide | Series 8". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  19. ^ a b "Blue Heelers: episode guide | Series 9". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  20. ^ a b c d Knox, David (29 March 2011). "Vale: Esben Storm". TV Tonight. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  21. ^ a b "Monkey Grip – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  22. ^ a b "The Coca-Cola Kid – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  23. ^ a b "Wrong World – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  24. ^ a b "I Live With Me Dad". screenrant.com. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  25. ^ a b "Alice to Nowhere – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  26. ^ a b "Les Patterson Saves the World – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  27. ^ a b "Pandemonium – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  28. ^ a b "Young Einstein (1988)". nostalgiacentral.com. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  29. ^ a b "The Riddle of the Stinson – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  30. ^ a b Murray, Scott (1996). "Australia on the small screen, 1970-1995". Oxford University Press. p. 78. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  31. ^ a b "Rafferty's Rules: episode guide | Series 4". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  32. ^ a b "Phoenix: series one | episode twelve". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  33. ^ a b "Phoenix: series one | episode thirteen". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  34. ^ a b "Snowy River – The McGregor Saga: episode guide | Series 3". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  35. ^ a b "Good Guys Bad Guys: episode guide". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  36. ^ a b "Blue Heelers: episode guide | Series 2". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  37. ^ Finney, Sarah: Vale Esben Storm (1950 – 2011) Deprecated link archived 14 April 2013 at archive.today, Australian Film Institute, 29 March 2011.
  38. ^ a b "All Saints: episode guide | Series 11". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  39. ^ "Program: Afterimages: Carol Jerrems through a lens". IF Magazine. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  40. ^ Industry mourns Esben Storm Archived 1 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Encore, 29 March 2011.
  41. ^ "Paul Healy - Editor/Trainer | Short Dramas". obscuredbyclouds.com.au. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  42. ^ "Diablo is Done For". Screen Australia. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  43. ^ "Making Weekend of Summer Last (1981)". celebri.com. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  44. ^ "Last Breakfast in Paradise (1982) | Credits". aso.gov.au. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  45. ^ "Greetings from Wollongong (1982) | Credits". aso.gov.au. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  46. ^ "Deadly". Screen Australia. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  47. ^ "Subterano". Screen Australia. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  48. ^ "The Tasty Bust Reunion". Screen Australia. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  49. ^ "The Bridge at Midnight Trembles". Screen Australia. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  50. ^ "Goodbye Revolution". roninfilms.com.au. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  51. ^ a b "Goodbye Revolution". Screen Australia. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  52. ^ "Series spotlight: Winners (1985". actf.com.au. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  53. ^ "Devil's Hill". Screen Australia. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  54. ^ a b "More Winners". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  55. ^ "Round The Twist: episode guide | Series 1". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  56. ^ "Round The Twist: episode guide | Series 1". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  57. ^ "Round The Twist: episode guide | Series 3". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  58. ^ "Round The Twist: episode guide | Series 4". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  59. ^ "The Bob Morrison Show | series 1". Screen Australia. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  60. ^ "The Genie From Down Under: episode guide | Series 1". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  61. ^ "The Genie From Down Under: episode guide | Series 2". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  62. ^ "Crash Zone: episode guide | Series 1". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  63. ^ "Subterano". Screen Australia. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  64. ^ "Winners". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  65. ^ "Don't Blame The Koalas: episode guide". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  66. ^ "Kick: episode guide | episodes 1–6". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  67. ^ "Esben Storm". AusStage. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  68. ^ AFI Award Winners Feature Categories 1958-2009 Archived 7 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Australian Film Institute.
  69. ^ a b c "AACTA Awards | Winners & Nominees | 1979". AACTA. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  70. ^ "Deadly". AustLit. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  71. ^ "AACTA Awards | Winners & Nominees | 1991". AACTA. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  72. ^ "AACTA Awards | Winners & Nominees | 1993". AACTA. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  73. ^ "AACTA Awards | Winners & Nominees | 1999". AACTA. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
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