Mini Studios

Leanne Tonkes

2006 SPARK participant.
2006 Enterprise Tasman participant.
2005 Emerging producer Screen Producers Association of Australia Conference.
2004 Independent producer with Screen Producers Association of Australia.
Selected by Australian Film Commission and Film Victoria participate in Inside Track/SPAAMART 2004 - an initiative to introduce key emerging producers to the international marketplace.

PRODUCER TV COMMERCIALS 1999 - Current
Producer of television commercials ranging in budget from $25K to $1.5mil, winning the following awards
Melbourne Advertising and Design Club - Silver and Bronze 2002
New York Festivals (NY) - Finalist 2002
Clio Advertising Awards (NY) - Bronze 2002
Best of Show - Mobius Advertising Awards (NY) 2001
Cannes Young International Director of the Year 2001
Winner of London International Advertising Award (UK) 2001
Mobius Advertising Awards (NY) Outstanding Creativity in Humor 2001
New York Festivals (NY) - Bronze World Medal 2001
ATV Awards - Ad of the Year and Best of Show 2001
Launched and promoted directors Vikki Blanche, Emma Freeman and Jamie Doolan
Marketing representative for Great Southern Films - Visited New Zealand, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York to present directors reel to Heads of Production at major advertising agencies based in these centres. Worked closely with Ausfilm staff and other Ausfilm members to entertain and educate prospective clients with what Australia and particularly Melbourne has to offer.

Producer - SHORT FILMS
Mittens - 13min short film for Fox Searchlab in US
Emma Freeman is the first Australian director to be invited to join this prestigious development program, a division of Fox Searchlight Pictures. Mittens is Emma’s audition film.
2004 St Kilda Film Festival and National Tour
2004 Drifting Clouds Film Festival, New Zealand
2003 Flickerfest International Film Festival, Australia
2003 Palm Springs International Film Festival, California
Director - Emma Freeman, Writer - Emily Ballou

Lamb - winner Tropfest 2002
Post production producer - Finance and supervision of 35mm Dolby Stereo finish.
2002 First Prize, Best Screenplay and Best Original Score, Tropfest, Sydney
2002 St Kilda Film Festival, Melbourne
2002 Australian Short Film Today, New York
2002 Australian Consulate screening, New York
2002 Locarno International Film Festival, Switzerland
2002 Palm Springs International Film Festival, California
2002 Manhattan Short Film Festival
2002 New York International Film Festival
2002 Cork International Film Festival, Ireland
2002 American Cinematheque, Hollywood
Director - Emma Freeman

A Blow, A Kiss
Production Accountant - funded by Australian Film Commission and Great Southern Films - based on Tim Winton short story.
Director - Rey Carlson, Producer - Helene Nicol

THE GUILD OF COMMERCIAL FILMMAKERS - Current
Principal of one of Australia’s top TV commercials production companies

SENSE and CENTSABILITY - 1999 - Current
Established own production company offering financial and production services to production, animation and related companies.

AUSTRALIAN CREATIVE EXCHANGE - 1997 - 2000
A founding director of a consortium of Television Commercial Production Companies, Animation Companies and related businesses. Administered Export Marketing Development Grant from Austrade.
This initiative resulted in a number of international advertising agencies forming bonds with local production and animation companies.

GREAT SOUTHERN FILMS - Financial Controller -1993 - 2001
Providing production/financial assistance to the various directors and producers.
Facilitated transition from manual accounts system to MYOB
Administered transition to GST - attending industry related information sessions to interpret effect on commercial, feature and documentary production.

THE CUTTING ROOM - Post Production Supervisor -1989 - 1993
Working with Roberta Horslie ASE Learnt the intricacies of film editing, both linear and non-linear, quoting and supervising commercial post production through all stages to both tape and film finishes. Worked on the initial ground breaking Transport Accident Commission campaign created by Greg Harper - Grey Advertising

METROPOLIS AUDIO - Sound Engineer -1986 - 1989
Sound studios run by Ernie Rose, Ian McKenzie and Roger Savage.
Produced jingles with writers such as Mike Brady, Bruce Roland and Peter Sullivan. Music Engineer - Studio albums and live performances for artists such as The Eurythmics, Hunters and Collectors, Vince Jones, Pseudo Echo, and John Farnham. Soundrack for The Man from Snowy River II.

AAV AUSTRALIA - 1983 - 1986
Duplication of radio commercials and programs. Operated SFX Library providing and maintaining library of SFX and music for feature film and television.