Curriculum Vitae
BASED: Edinburgh, UK
PHONE: 07415932963
gemmajaneparsons@gmail.com
DOB: 15th August 1983
Full drivers licence with own car.
Current First Aid
EMPLOYMENT
2006-2019 BEYOND EMPATHY LTD Project Coordinator Illawarra Region
Delivering long-term arts based projects that create opportunities for change for individuals and communities experiencing on-going or reoccurring hardship.
2004-2006 WOLLONGONG CITY COUNCIL Youth Worker, Community Artist
FILMOGRAPHY, THEATRE & DIGITAL ARTWORK
2018 PROTECTION Project Coordinator/Director/Editor
A feature length animated film produced by and with children and their families living in public housing, with stories that reinforce the key themes of respectful relationships and protective behaviors. Wollongong, NSW
Festival Awards: Official Selection Eau Claire World Film Festival, US
Finalist-Best Children’s Film, LIFFT India, World Cine Fest
2018 BLUE ROSE Project Coordinator/Key Artist
A multimedia, interactive, sensory art installation and project produced with people with disabilities, who do not use verbal language. Wollongong, NSW
In collaboration with Merrigong Theatre Company
Festivals Awards: Nominated for Prix Ars Electronica, Linz Austria
2017 SAME DRUM Assistant Director
Music video produced with young people from an Intensive English Centre to help empower newly arrived migrants and increase diversity on screen.
In collaboration with DADAA and Community Arts Network, Perth WA
Directed by Poppy Van Oorde-Grainger
2015 CUBBY HOUSE Project Coordinator
A participatory film and visual art installation created by and with children under 12.
In collaboration with Polyglot Theatre, Melbourne VIC.
2013 RITES OF PASSAGE Project Coordinator/CoDirector
A feature film exploring the turmoil of adolescence, produced with young people living in public housing. Wollongong, NSW
Festival Awards: Special Jury Prize, Warsaw Film Festival, Free Spirit Competition
Golden Aphrodite, Best Editing, Cyprus International Film Festival
People’s Choice, Bay Street Film Festival, Canada
Nominated Jury Prize, Sao Paulo International Film Festival
Best Film, Auburn International Film Festival for Children and Young Adults,
Nominated, Tomorrow Award, Oulu International Film Festival for Children and Young People
Best Director, First Feature, Colorado International Film Festival
2013 RITES OF PASSAGE SHORTS Project Coordinator/Producer/Editor
10 short digital stories written and directed by young people, Wollongong, NSW
Festival Awards: Special Mention -FlickerUp Flickerfest 2014, Youki International Youth Media Festival 2014, Best Indigenous Film – Campfire Film Awards 2014, Women Media Arts and Film 2014, Short Soup 2014, Under 18 Best Film – Real Film Festival Newcastle 2014, Best Film – Wollongong Australia Day Youth Film Award 2014.
2010 2506 Project Coordinator/Writer/Director
A short musical film project developed with Indigenous teenagers from Berkeley, NSW.
Festival Awards: Best Audience Response Award – Margaret River Short Film Festival WA AUS 2010, Show Me Shorts, Auckland, NZ 2010
2016 THE BIRDS Stage Manager
Co-production between The Disability Trust and Merrigong Theatre Company.
Directed by Anne-Louise Rental
2016 FESTIVAL OF THE BROLGA Stage Manager
Community Arts Festival, Moree, NSW
Directed by Mathew Priestley
2015 CREATIVE COLLECTIVE Ast. Stage Manager
The Dusseldorp Forum, Sydney Theatre Company, BE, Sydney, NSW
Directed by Marta Dusseldorp and Mathew Priestley
2015 FESTIVAL OF THE BROLGA Workshop Facilitator
Facilitating the production of short video pieces around the marriage of education and local Gomeroi language and Culture at Moree East Primary School, Moree, NSW
2014 RAINBOW RYDGE Stage Manager
Community Arts Festival, Armidale, NSW
Directed by Mathew Priestley
2012 DEF WISH CAST Assistant Director
Music Video, Sydney, NSW
Directed by Allan Moore
INDUSTRY FILMS & TV
2019 OUTLANDER (Season 5) Crowd Runner
Starz (Crowd 2nd AD Kim Stewart)
2018 JOBS FOR WOMEN Assistant Director for Reenactment Scenes
(Director – Robynne Murphy)
2016 HARMONY 3rd Assistant Director (Attached)
Film Grit. (Director Corey Pearson, 1st AD Rick Beecroft)
2012 AROUND THE BLOCK Art Department
Kick Pictures. (Director Sarah Spillane, Production Designer Michael Fitzgerald)
2012 THE CHUCK IN 2nd Assistant Director
Brown Cab Productions. (Director Jon Bell, 1st AD Tom Read)
SPECIALIST SKILLS PROVIDED
2016-2019 COOMADITCHIE UNITED ABORIGINAL CORPORATION Volunteer
2018 NGARABA-AAN TRAIL Video Production
Recording stories for interactive videos embedded along a walking trail. (In conjunction with Illawarra Aboriginal Lands Council)
2016 CAPTURING CULTURE Project Facilitator/Editor
Assisting the young residents of the community to interview and record the stories of their Elders.
2016 Social Media Assistance: Setting up and maintaining Social Media sites and promoting local artist’s events.
VIDEO PRODUCTION: Barnardos South Coast
2015- Promotional video for Youth Support Program
Illawarra Forum
2015-Making Healthy Normal (social media commercial)
Aboriginal Health Promotions
2012- Its Your Choice Now (Cinema Commercial)
Awards- Aboriginal Health Awards 2012-Winner, Closing The Gap In Aboriginal Youth and Wellbeing.
Tender Funerals(Community Based Funeral Service)
2014- Crowd Funding Video
Project 291-Wollongong City Council
2015- Project 291 Surf Awareness Program
Illawarra Women’s Health Centre
2016- Crowd Funding Video
REFEREES
Phillip Crawford
Creative Director-Beyond Empathy
Leland Kean
Artistic Development Manager-Merrigong Theatre Company
Scott Ince
2nd AD- Harmony
Gemma Parsons 