Evan Clarry and Pearl Tan.
The Australian Directors Guild has named Evan Clarry as the guild’s new chapter head in Queensland and Pearl Tan as head of the NSW chapter.
Clarry takes over from Sally McKenzie, who stepped down after many years of service to the ADG, and Tan succeeds Tony Davison.
McKenzie said: “After five years as the chapter head in Queensland, I’m standing down and passing the baton to Evan Clarry. I’m so glad that someone as capable as Evan has stepped up to the pitch. I have been awarded a Churchill Fellowship and am headed towards a big adventure.”
Clarry’s career began with the short film Mate, which won best film at Flickerfest and best screenplay at the 1998 AFI Awards.
His directing credits include the feature films Blurred and Under the Radar and the Emmy-nominated TV series Mortified. He served as a story developer, writer and director on three seasons of Jonathan M Shiff Productions’ international hit Mako Mermaids and is a writer/director for Shiff’s new Network Ten series The Bureau of Magical Things.
“As a long-time member of the ADG, I am honoured to take on the role of the Queensland chapter head. I look forward to engaging with our local members and working together to bring about greater opportunity in fostering locally based storytelling,” Clarry said.
Tan is the founder and director of Pearly Productions, a filmmaking boutique with a focus on diverse stories. Through Pearly Productions, she created the YouTube series Minority Box, directed the feature The Casting Game and has directed and produced several shorts and online content.
Currently she is the senior lecturer in directing at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) and she moonlights as a radio presenter for the ABC.
She was co-founder and co-chair of the Equity Diversity Committee within the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance and serves on the MEAA board, Equity’s National Performers Committee and the AFTRS Council.
Tan and Clarry join the other state chapter heads Cathy Henkel (WA), Dave de Vries (SA), Mark Poole (VIC) and Lucien Simon (TAS).
“The strength of the ADG will always be its membership and the position of chapter head is an important one to keep in touch with our membership,” said ADG CEO Kingston Anderson.