Listings in Filmmaking/Videography
Helen Newman – Nomad Films
Helen Newman, creator of Nomad Films, is a multi-award winning Australian filmmaker and video artist whose work over the last 20 years has taken her around the globe gathering stories from the inspiring to the heartbreaking.
FILMMAKER: As both producer and director on film projects from short form to feature length documentaries Helen has a broad knowledge of both the creative and practical qualities needed to bring a film project to life.
Helen’s documentaries have screened on ABC TV, ABC iView, NITV and at a range of national and international film festivals.
VIDEO ARTIST: Helen has collaborated with a variety of performance, visual, animation and sound artists to create a varied collection of multi-platform, site specific and performance-based works.
Her projection works have played at festivals and exhibitions in Albury, Wodonga, Wagga, Chiltern, Beechworth and Bago state forest. Her 360 immersive work, Pygmy 360, was short-listed for Vivid, Sydney, 2020.
PROJECT MANAGER: Helen also has experience as project manager for arts based projects and was Creative Director for the hugely successful Limelight: Art, Science, Light event in 2022.
Megan Rigoni – Centre Stage Scripts
A former teacher, Megan is an award winning playwright, screenwriter and producer. She has been writing and producing for theatre in education and Arts and Health since 1999, creating scripts that educate, elevate and engage audiences on issues that matter. Whilst shining a light, live theatre draws a visceral response, prompting audiences to reflect on their own experiences, thereby raising awareness and conversation.
Trading as Centre Stage Scripts, Megan’s credits include:
Two plays for young people registered at Australian Plays Transform
Four plays for youth with music for large casts (up to 100)
Symphony of Life (play with music) paying tribute to leading cancer support group, Brave Hearts on the Murray. Starring John Wood and directed by Chris Pidd, Symphony of Life featured a choir of cancer survivors and sufferers and local acting talent. It played to sell out audiences at the Butter Factory Theatre (2012)
Heroes (men’s health play with music), produced by The Other Theatre Company, starring John Wood with choreography by Penny Cleary, and featuring talented local dancers and actors. Performed at the Cube, Wodonga (2014)
Carpe Diem Mental Health Play starring John Wood and Chris Pidd, was transposed from Heroes. Carpe Diem has toured nationally to 135+ towns in NSW, Victoria, ACT and South Australia; each show, supported by mental health providers including PHN, RAMPH, CarersNSW, Standby, Anglicare SA, Ski for Life, Riverina Bluebells and Lifeline.(2015-2024) Touring with RAMHP, Carpe Diem received a Partnership Award from the NSW Govt.(2016)
The Rain Maker Youth Mental Health Play directed by Chris Pidd and starring John Walker, was workshopped and tested locally.(2020)
The Rain Maker Youth Mental Health Play, directed by Chris Thompson, starring John Voce, Rune Nydal and Nic Dugdale toured NSW, Victoria and SA. (2022)
The Rain Maker Film Project was adapted from The Rain Maker play and filmed in Beechworth, starring John Walker, Saxon Gray, Sebastian Johnston, Pete Denahy and Robbie Mc Kinlay. It is a valuable mental health resource available for high school and community audiences.
Days Like These Screenplay adapted from Carpe Diem has been awarded Best Female Screenwriter- New York Screenplay Competition(2024); Best Australian Screenplay- Best Script Awards-London (2022)
Megan lives on a beef cattle farm in high country Victoria with her husband and pets. Their daughters are based in Melbourne and son on his nearby farm.
