DONALDSON, Roger

Film Director
Ballarat School of Mines

Hollywood film director Roger Donaldson was born at Ballarat in 1945. From 1963 to 1965 he studied geology at the Ballarat School of Mines (SMB). Although he described his days at SMB as 'great times', Donaldson took a break from his studies to experience the real world. After working in outback New South Wales he reviewed his career options when realising what a lonely existence a career in geology would be.

The loss to the geology world was the art world's gain. Working first within the photography field Donaldson learnt many of his skills from Auckland photographer Bill Double. During the 1970s Donaldson became interested in documentary film making. From this he moved onto feature films, and has directed many successful films including:

• Cadillac Man
• Cocktail
• Dante's Peak
• No Way Out
• Nut Case
• Sleeping Dogs
• Smash Place
• Species
• The Bounty
• The Gateway
• The Recruit
• The World's Fastest Indian
• Thirteen Days
• White Sands