I recently had the pleasure of recording a four hour interview with editor JAMES BRADLEY, at one of the Australian Film Television and Radio School audio recording suites, arranged by Sean O’ Brien, the Oral History Curator at the NFSA. James’s experience is deep and wide – he’s worked in the industry for over 40 years, editing dozens of music videos, tv commercials, series, corporate films and docos.
His passion for cross-cultural collaboration has led to editing many films with emerging Aboriginal filmmakers over the years, mentoring many of today’s significant Indigenous filmmakers. Just a few of these films are: Dhakiyarr vs The King, Mr Patterns, 5 Seasons, In My Father’s Country, art + soul and Occupation: Native. James shared the 1994 AFI Best Documentary Award for 50 Years of Silence and won the 2005 AFI Non-Feature Editing Award for Mr Patterns. Although best known for his work on documentaries, he’s also edited drama and in 1997, received an AFI Best Editing Nomination for Radiance.
James Bradley grew up around Sydney’s lower North Shore in the ‘50s. He worked in various jobs, including handyman work for Peter Weir, resulting in being an extra in Picnic At Hanging Rock! He began a film course in Hobart, making 16 mill films, shooting, editing, and directing. His first job in the industry was as an assistant editor, progressing to sound editor and editor. In the later stages of his career, he has moved between writing, directing, and producing. His films have won Australian and International Awards. James has also taught film editing and production.
In 2019, at the Australian International Documentary Conference, James received the 19th Stanley Hawes Award for ‘outstanding contribution to the documentary sector in Australia’. James’ most recent film, Ochre and Ink, screened in many international festivals and is the story of Chinese-Australian artist Zhou Xiaoping and his inspiring but sometimes controversial 23-year collaboration with Aboriginal artists in remote Arnhem Land.
He is currently directing and co-producing the feature documentary Welcome to Babel, about the extraordinary life and work of renowned Chinese-Australian artist, Jiawei Shen.
His NFSA recording is accessible here.
Rod Freedman, March 2023
Australian Media Oral History Group 