Dear Colleagues,
Directors, producers, actors and screen industry leaders came together on Friday to attend the funeral of Esben Storm. As you would expect it was a very emotional service, MC'd by longtime friend, collaborator and producer Allan Hogan, and with tributes from many who had worked with Esben during his eminent career as a director, actor, producer, filmmaker. Most touching were the dedications from Esben's partner Lisa Meagher, who read a remarkably insightful eulogy only to reveal it was the one Esben had delivered himself for his father's funeral; and then Esben's children Buster and Greta Storm, who reminded us all that Esben's distinguished career is only surpassed by his dedication as a loving father.
The walls of the Clovelly Bowling club were lined with many many incredible images and milestones that chronicled Esben's career. Seeing them all together was like a broader visual essay on our screen industry over the past few decades, and a poignant reminder of the way we were. In Allan Hogan's eulogy he spoke of a film industry – the one that Esben inhabited along with many of us who worked through the 70's, 80's and 90's, and of a yearning for the values that flourished in that era, when filmmakers had a certain amount of creative freedom and support to tell their stories on screen. It was more than nostalgia for that past era, it was a cry for scrutiny of current industry practice and policy, and by association the increasingly difficult hurdles Esben faced as a filmmaker. These sentiments were certainly echoed by many who were there.
As a reflection on an esteemed creative life that gave so much and had much more to give, it's a timely reminder of the policies we all live under, and the need to monitor change, assess the impacts and stand up for what we believe in. Esben was a director who stood up for himself, he was a founding member of ADG/ASDA, and advocated the core values of the directors' guild over the past thirty years. We honour his lifelong passion and commitment to creative story telling on screen and the craft of filmmaking.
Finally thanks to all of you who sent in anecdotes, stories and tributes for Esben. As a tribute I'll paste some of the comments below. Going on the outpouring of feelings on display, Esben will certainly not be forgotten in the years that come.
Our deepest condolences go to Esben's family.
Ray Argall
ADG President
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The ADG recently asked its members to submit anecdotes, jokes and memories of Esben for us to compile and send to his family. These are some…
“Esben gave me my first job at the age of 8 on the film Goin’ Down. Even though I showed no natural talent and laughed and looked straight down the barrel he never held it against me. He and Lisa let me house sit their Melbourne flat when I was 20 and took me out to dinner when I was family-less. They were always generous and gleeful company, easy to laugh, warm and wry. I am so sorry for Lisa, Buster and Greta's loss.
All my love,
Claudia Karvan”
"I've known Esben since 1970 when he came to Film Australia from Melbourne with Hayden Keenan… "What a pair of outspoken brash rebels they were. They were eternally young. But Esben always had great integrity, … I remember he advised me to put an extra scene in Love Letters From Teralba Road when he first read the script…. it’s the best scene in the film."
– ADG board member Stephen Wallace
“Esben was the first person I contacted when I began to research Girl in a Mirror. It was way before the ABC had come on board, way before I even had a producer attached to the project. At first he was cautious. He told me that he believed that a documentary about Carol would be interesting and worthwhile, but revisiting his memories of her would be painful. If he was going to participate he had to be sure that the project would be of high enough quality that he wouldn't have to go through the process again later with another documentary maker. Soon after, we met in a cafe in Avalon, and over lunch, Esben talked with great depth and honesty about Carol. His reflections on their turbulent youthful relationship were lively, funny, compassionate and insightful. He told me that a few years after they'd separated, he'd heard that Carol was very ill in hospital. Then suddenly she was gone. His youth had blinded him to the possibility that one of his compatriots might die. Thirty years afterwards, the depth of the regret he felt for not visiting her before she died brought tears to his eyes.
Esben agreed to support Girl in a Mirror to honour Carol and her work, and as a way of reconciling with his memory of her. In doing so, he took a gamble and put his faith in me as a first time documentary maker. His early support was absolutely crucial to the birth of the project. Later, he dug out his archive and welcomed me into his home to comb through it, and when we went into production he gave a perceptive, frank and moving interview. His contribution to Girl in a Mirror became the foundation for a documentary that deeply touched a wide audience, bringing new recognition and acclaim for the work of Carol Jerrems, and taking me a big step forward in my career as a director. I have been privileged to experience the generosity and candid honesty of Esben Storm. It is something that I will always remember him for. “
– Kathy Drayton, 31st March 2011
“I remember as a young school kid up the north coast watching 27A and being blown away. It made me realise that the power of film could tell Australian stories. Ten years later in 1985 as a young actor I arrived on set for Crawford Productions first feature film I Live with My Dad directed by Paul Moloney and staring Peter Hehir. I was playing a young street kid who lived with the vagrants, the loudest and most fun was an actor pretending to be a blind drunk. He was the director of 27A, Esben Storm. Between takes we would wander into hotels along Elizabeth Street and test the authenticity of our characters, trying to see if we would get thrown out or could pan handle money. On one grey Melbourne morning we were lying in the gutter waiting for the filming to start when I told Esben how much I admired his film and that I wanted to be a director. Esben’s reply was simple. “Why?” I told him I wanted to tell stories and make people feel how I felt and he smiled and said “So do it. What’s stopping you?” A few years later, with no funding and no resources I finished my first feature film; years later we called it old school style. Thanks Esben.”
– Murray Fahey
“I am saddened by Esben’s passing but have fond memories of his energetic passion since first meeting him in the early 1970’s when he was part of an exciting time that created a revitalized local production industry.
Esben remained as enthusiastic about making films all his life and would unashamedly and delightfully share his latest project plans with me, never allowing the reality of the difficulty of getting films made to deter his commitment to achieve this.
He will be missed and will be remembered as a role model for future generations of Australian filmmakers.”
– AFI Chair, Alan Finney
“I will remember Esben for his kindness.
He lent me his hat once for a prop
It was a great hat!”
– Mark Gould
“Those days on Round the Twist, with Esben, Phil and all the team were the most joyous, fun filled days for all of us, they hold the most special memories I have of life in the film Industry and it was Esben's joy on Twist that made the show the wonderful success it was and such a great production to be part of.
When ever there has been a tough day since Twist I have tried to take that spirit that was Esben's and hold on to it, remembering that it was his positivity and fun that made everything possible at that time.
We are so very sorry.”
– Monica (Pearce) and Geoffrey Hall.
“At The Swinburne Institute of Technology (now Swinburne university) was where I first saw Esben, having abandoned his desk he was heading out the door with another student Malcolm Richards. Between the two of them they were carrying almost the entire Film and Television courses modest camera equipment package. I dutifully returned to some written assignment with a degree of resentment and admiration for such boldness.
I did not see much of Esben post film school but was always hearing about his exploits in the film world either as a director, writer or actor. From that first day he seemed to me like some heroic adventurer always heading out another door with a camera in tow and no regard for the nay Sayers.
The last time we met was at a friend’s wedding and I was not surprised to see the same energetic, slightly self-deprecating persona. In conversation with Esben I learnt a little about the projects he was developing and the work he had done or was hoping to do and the inevitable struggles involved.
In more recent times I have enquired of him through his partner Lisa and from what I can gather his many talents continued to be directed towards works of his own creation.
I am grateful to Esben for not just embodying but living the wonderful spirit of adventure we all felt as students and demonstrating by example the power of actions over words. To Lisa and his family I pass on my heartfelt condolences.”
– Louis Irving
“When I first met Esben Storm at the Film Makers Co-op in the 70's, I was amazed at his enthusiasm & knowledge. We were young bucks, full of dreams. I had just completed Double Dealer and asked Esben to join me as director on a project I was writing and developing entitled Summer City. But Esben was busy on his own projects. He had a house with Haydn Keenan in Bondi, and said "Hey… love to help in some way, why not come and use our house as your production office".
I did, and that's where we had our first crew meetings. Esben never asked for a penny, he would throw ideas at me after every meeting. When I told him I had cast a couple of NIDA students (Steve Bisley Mel Gibson) that would support John Jarratt and I, he laughed and said "This looks like fun, wished I could join you and suggested a couple of crew members that may like to jump onboard ".
Esben had a big heart, he was one of those bright, energetic, creative Aussie film makers that was not frightened to take risks. We will remember him forever.”
– Phil Avalon
“Esben Storm was the first Australian filmmaker I ever met. When I was a 17 year old school student I attended a WEA film group screening of 27A, which Esben presented in the early 1980s. This event was profound, both as a viewing experience, but also to alert me to the fact that an Australian film industry and culture was flourishing. I have now been involved in Australian cinema for close to 25 years, prompted and inspired by that first meeting.”
– Janet Merewether.
“Esben and I wrote and produced the TV series Kick together. Our EP (the wonderful Debbie Lee) called Esben “a force of nature".
So many funny, incisive and compassionate things have recently been said about Esben, by so many of his collaborators and admirers, and what came out of the speeches at Esben's funeral and wake was how much people valued him for being such an honest, generous, loving man (quite apart from all the creative accolades), but I also think, because of Esben's seemingly indefatigable enthusiasm, warmth and creative energy he was our talisman for unending inspiration and vivacity, that's why we were all so shocked when it all suddenly stopped and we realise that we have to face a world without it, and him.”
– Adam Bowen