Dr Damian Fasolo fell in love with video cameras in his teen years, before taking up a degree at Murdoch. 20 years later he is a multi-award-winning film producer and much-loved lecturer and researcher at Murdoch University.
Dr Fasolo began his journey as a film producer at Murdoch University, where he completed his Honours in Film and Television.
“I was passionate about film and Murdoch was one of the only universities in WA to offer this type of degree. I was also drawn to the campus – it’s large open spaces and native bushland”, he said.
During his studies Damian worked on several award-winning short films - when it came to graduating, he spent time in the screen industry in Sydney and Perth before eventually landing a job as a Studio Manager at Murdoch University.
“I learnt a lot while working as a Studio Manager. I was learning the latest film equipment and demonstrating it to students in classes daily. Also, the job allowed me to hone my cinematography skills and shoot many films.
Creating award-winning films
Having worked on numerous music videos, TVCs, documentaries and television productions, Damian’s clients list includes the likes of the BBC UK, BBC Australia, Seven Perth, ABC, Invasion Films, Market United, Black Russian Productions, Ribosome, McDonalds, the Cancer Foundation and Homestart, just to name a few.
“I’ve been fortunate to work with some big names and on some interesting projects. Some of my favourite include the videos I’ve done for the BBC as well as short films such as the award-winning Sol Bunker.
Damian’s short film work has also earned him numerous awards including two prestigious Gold ACS Awards and four WASA nominations. His short film ‘The Road Not Taken’ follows a young girl as she reflects on her painful past, and the paths laid out to her through life's journey. The film played in nine festivals worldwide and received an honorary special mention at the Clare Valley Film Festival and took out second place at the South Texas International Film Festival.
“The Road Not Taken was an interesting film to work on. It opened many other doors too. I was invited by Oxford University to deliver a paper on the representation of adolescence and adaptations of works of art in contemporary film.”
Damian’s most recent feature film ‘Broken’ was loosely inspired by true events and explores a young couple’s marriage breakdown, the ensuing pain and destruction, and ultimately their road to redemption.
Produced on a minuscule budget of just $15,000, the film uses a minimalistic approach to narrative, characterisation, and cinematography to captivate the audience. The film also won a coveted Australia Cinematography Award.
Creating the next generation of producers
Being a lecturer in Screen Production has allowed Damian to inspire the next generation of producers, not only through this expansive work history and award-winning films but also through his passion for cinematography.
“Murdoch has some great facilities too which students can start to use from their first year. We have two large production studios, an editing suite, sound suite and a loans room with over a million dollars’ worth of equipment”.
“I love being able to share my knowledge and experience with others. I enjoy sharing everything I know with young, eager minds who are just starting their journey as a producer”.
“We want to ensure our students have the best start to their careers so we are continuously updating our equipment so when they graduate, they can enter the workforce and start using the equipment they used at uni”.
Damian’s 5 top tips for Creative Media
- Get involved from day one - This industry is all about who you know, so the more people you can network with, the better.
- Be organised and be on time - It is vital when being a film producer that you are time efficient to ensure deadlines are met. Creating a habit early makes it easier later.
- Ask a lot of questions!
- Work hard and aim high - The effort put in now will pay off later. So focus, go the extra mile and continuously push yourself.
- Enjoy your time at Murdoch - University is an experience like no other. The people you meet at Murdoch and the things you learn can lead you all over the world.