Jenny Woods.
Jenny Woods has retired after more than five decades in the screen industry, the last 25 years as the documentary representative at Film Finances.
Woods joined the completion bond company in 1993 at the invitation of then head Sue Milliken and has supervised the delivery of more than 400 documentaries.
Paula Jensen has taken over Woods’ role with her support and back-up.
Woods started out in the 1970s producing TVCs for Fred Schepisi and Tim Burstall in Melbourne. She later worked in production on films such as Mad Dog Morgan, The Devil’s Playground and The FJ Holden. In 1997, she took time out from Film Finances to produce the feature film The Sugar Factory for director Robert Carter.
For 10 years she served as general manager of New South Wales Film Corporation, supporting films such as My Brilliant Career, The Night the Prowler, Careful, He Might Hear You, The Odd Angry Shot and Newsfront.
Among the tributes from the documentary community, Prospero Productions MD Ed Punchard said: “A true character of the Australian film industry. Clear, direct, forthright, honest, always supportive. We will miss her greatly for her professionalism but also very much for the all fun and humorous evenings we shared at countless conferences.”
Wildbear’s Veronica Fury said: “It was a pleasure to work with Jenny – she always had a passion and deeper understanding of the production we were working on – she got what we were doing.”
Producer/distributor Andrew Pike first met her more than 20 years ago when the completion guarantor was called in on a much-troubled documentary he was due to distribute. “She was simply fantastic in making the completion process work smoothly: calm, methodical, supportive, considerate. She is a treasure,” Pike said.
Essential Media CEO Chris Hilton said: “Jenny Woods is one of the greats of the industry… always helpful and supportive on our many productions and only raising alarm bells when it really mattered.”
Anni Browning, head of Film Finances Australasia, added: “We will miss Jenny’s immense knowledge of the industry and of our documentary colleagues in particular…and her sense of humour and her love of cats. She is one of a kind.”