Timothy White, usually credited as Tim White, is a New Zealand-born film producer who has produced and executive produced many films in both Australia and New Zealand. He produced his first film in the late 1970s, while still at film school, and later became known in Australia for his collaborations with husband-and-wife filmmakers

Nadia Tass Nadia Tass (born Tassopoulou or Tassopoulos; ), is an Australian theatre and film director and film producer. She mostly makes films with her writer-producer husband David Parker, through their production company Cascade Films. Tass is known ...

and David Parker, beginning with ''

Malcolm Malcolm, Malcom, Máel Coluim, or Maol Choluim may refer to: People * Malcolm (given name), includes a list of people and fictional characters * Malcom (footballer) (born 1997), Brazilian football forward * Clan Malcolm * Maol Choluim de Innerp ...

'' in 1986. He went on to produce and executive produce many Australian, New Zealand, and international productions, mostly theatrically-released feature films but also

telemovie A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a terrest ...

s and TV series. Recent work includes '' The Furnace'' (2020) and

Gracie Otto Gracie Otto is an Australian filmmaker and actress. She made her feature-length directing debut with the 2013 documentary ''The Last Impresario'' about prolific British theatre impresario and film producer Michael White (producer), Michael White ...

's the musical comedy '' Seriously Red'' (2022).

Early life and education

Timothy White was born in the town of Fairlie on the

South Island The South Island ( , 'the waters of Pounamu, Greenstone') is the largest of the three major islands of New Zealand by surface area, the others being the smaller but more populous North Island and Stewart Island. It is bordered to the north by ...

of New Zealand. He graduated from the

Ilam School of Fine Arts The Ilam School of Fine Arts at the University of Canterbury, located in the Ilam suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, was founded in 1882 as the Canterbury College School of Art. The school became a full department of the university in the ...

at the

University of Canterbury The University of Canterbury (UC; ; postnominal abbreviation ''Cantuar.'' or ''Cant.'' for ''Cantuariensis'', the Latin name for Canterbury) is a public research university based in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was founded in 1873 as Canterbur ...

Christchurch Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...

, New Zealand. It was there that he met Vincent Ward. While still at Ilam, New Zealand author

Janet Frame Janet Paterson Frame (28 August 1924 – 29 January 2004) was a New Zealand author. She is internationally renowned for her work, which includes novels, short stories, poetry, juvenile fiction, and an autobiography, and received numerous award ...

agreed to let Ward and White (as director/producer team) to adapt one of her novels. This became ''A State of Siege''. The screenplay of the 52-minute film was written by Frame herself, co-written by White. The story is described as that of "a retired art teacher dealing with isolation and loneliness, culminating in a stormy, terrifying night". The film was released in 1978. White later took a print of the film to Europe and managed to sell it to a number of distributors. He then won a producing fellowship to train at

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film studio, film production and Film distributor, distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the ...

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

Career

Producer

Film

In 1982 White co-produced (with Robert Le Tet) the

psychological horror Psychological horror is a genre, subgenre of horror fiction, horror and psychological fiction with a particular focus on mental, emotional, and Mental state, psychological states to frighten, disturb, or unsettle its audience. The subgenre freque ...

film ''

Next of Kin A person's next of kin (NOK) may be that person's spouse A spouse is a significant other in a marriage. A female spouse is called a wife while a male spouse is called a husband. Married The legal status of a spouse, and the specific righ ...

'', shot in Australia, while working in a commercial production company run by advertising director Tony Williams. White returned to New Zealand to be

first assistant director The role of an assistant director (AD) on a film includes tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, and maintaining order on the set. They also have to ...

on Ward's debut feature film ''

Vigil A vigil, from the Latin meaning 'wakefulness' ( Greek: , or ), is a period of purposeful sleeplessness, an occasion for devotional watching, or an observance. The Italian word has become generalized in this sense and means 'eve' (as in "on t ...

'' (1984). This was followed by ''

Strikebound ''Strikebound'' is a 1984 Australian film directed by Richard Lowenstein. It is based on the experiences of real people during the 1937 coal-miners' strike in Victoria, Australia, the Korumburra miners' strike. Synopsis ''Strikebound'' is the ...

'', a drama based on the 1937 Korumburra miners' strike in

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India * Victoria (state), a state of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital * Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...

. The film, released in 1984, was co-produced with Miranda Bain, directed by

Richard Lowenstein Richard Lowenstein (born 1 March 1959) is an Australian Filmmaking, filmmaker. He has written, produced and directed feature films such as ''Strikebound'' (1984), ''Dogs in Space'' (1986) and ''He Died with a Felafel in His Hand (film), He Died ...

, and edited by

Jill Bilcock Jill Elizabeth Bilcock (born 1948 as Jill Stevenson), is an Australian film editor. She was nominated for BAFTA Awards for ''Strictly Ballroom'' (1992), ''Romeo + Juliet'' (1996), and ''Moulin Rouge!'' (2002), and ''Elizabeth'' (1998). In 2007 ...

. It was nominated for many AFI Awards, including Best Film, and winning Best Achievement in Production Design. White collaborated with the husband-and-wife filmmakers

and David Parker, on their first and perhaps best known film, the award-winning 1986 comedy ''

'', as well as '' Rikky and Pete'' (1988), and '' The Big Steal'' (1990), which were both very successful too. Other film credits as producer include '' Celia'' (1989); ''

Death in Brunswick ''Death in Brunswick'' is a 1990 Australian black comedy/romance starring Sam Neill, Zoe Carides, and John Clarke. It is based on the 1987 comic novel of the same name by Boyd Oxlade. At the APRA Music Awards of 1991, "Death in Brunswick" won ...

'' (1990; written by NZ satirist John Clarke), starring

Sam Neill Sir Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill (born 14 September 1947) is a New Zealand actor. His career has included leading roles in both dramas and blockbusters. Considered an "international leading man", he is regarded as one of the most versatile acto ...

; '' Spotswood'' (1991), starring

Anthony Hopkins Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor. Considered one of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for List of Anthony Hopkins performances, his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins ha ...

and

Russell Crowe Russell Ira Crowe (born 7 April 1964) is an actor and film director. Russell Crowe filmography, His work on screen has earned him List of awards and nominations received by Russell Crowe, various accolades, including an Academy Award, two Gold ...

; and ''

Eight Ball Eight-ball (also spelled 8-ball or eightball, and sometimes called solids and stripes, spots and stripes, bigs and smalls, big ones and little ones, or rarely highs and lows) is a discipline of pool played on a billiard table with six pockets, ...

'' (1992). For ''

Map of the Human Heart ''Map of the Human Heart'' (also called ''Carte du Tendre'' and ''La Carte du Tendre''; released in the Philippines as ''War Dragon'') is a 1992 film by New Zealand director Vincent Ward. The script for ''Map of the Human Heart'' was written by ...

'' (1992), directed by his friend and collaborator Vincent Ward, White worked with a multinational cast and crew, filming in locations around Europe and in the Arctic. He also co-produced '' Angel Baby'' (1995); New Zealand romance film ''

Broken English Broken English is a term often used to describe non-standard, non-traditionally spoken or alternatively-written version of the English language. This term is often considered derogatory and has been used to invalidate non-standard or "low pre ...

'' (1996); ''

Cosi COSI (), officially the Center of Science and Industry, is a science museum and research center in Columbus, Ohio. COSI was opened to the public on 29 March 1964 and remained there for 35 years. In 1999, COSI was moved to a facility, designed ...

'' (1996), starring

Toni Collette Toni Collette (born Collett; 1 November 1972) is an Australian actress, singer, and songwriter. Known for her work in television, blockbusters and independent films, her accolades include a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award, wit ...

and

Rachel Griffiths Rachel Anne Griffiths (born 1968) is an Australian actress. List of awards and nominations received by Rachel Griffiths, Her accolades include a Golden Globe Award, three AACTA Awards, and nominations for an Academy Award and four Primetime Em ...

; and ''

Oscar and Lucinda ''Oscar and Lucinda'' is a novel by Australian author Peter Carey. It won the 1988 Booker Prize the year it was released, and the 1989 Miles Franklin Award. It was shortlisted in 2008 for The Best of the Booker, in celebration of the prize's ...

'' (1997), directed by

Gillian Armstrong Gillian May Armstrong (born 18 December 1950) is an Australian feature film and documentary film director, director, best known for ''My Brilliant Career (film), My Brilliant Career'' (1979), ''Mrs. Soffel'' (1984), ''High Tide (1987 film), Hi ...

and starring

Ralph Fiennes Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes (; born 22 December 1962) is an English actor, film producer, and director. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Ralph Fiennes, various accolades, including a British Academy Film ...

and

Cate Blanchett Catherine Élise Blanchett ( ; born 14 May 1969) is an Australian actor and producer. Regarded as one of the best performers of her generation, she is recognised for Cate Blanchett on screen and stage, her versatile work across stage and scre ...

. In late 1996, White became founding head of a co-production venture between Fox and

Mel Gibson Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson (born January 3, 1956) is an American actor and filmmaker. The recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Mel Gibson, multiple accolades, he is known for directing historical films as well for his act ...

, called Fox-Icon, based at

Fox Studios Australia Disney Studios Australia (formerly known as Fox Studios Australia) is a Film, motion picture and television production facility in Sydney that has operated as part of The Walt Disney Company since 2019. Occupying the site of the former Sydney ...

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

. The company failed to produce a single film, shutting down in December 1999, but during this time White personally executive produced two films ('' Strange Fits of Passion'' and '' Two Hands''). Gibson was the founder-owner of

Icon Productions Icon Productions, also formerly referred to as Icon Entertainment International, is a production company founded in August 1989 by actor/director Mel Gibson and Australian producing partner Bruce Davey. Icon Productions LLC's headquarters were ...

(est. 1989). He co-produced the 2003 comedy crime thriller film ''

Gettin' Square ''Gettin' Square'' is a 2003 Comedy film, comedy Crime film, crime thriller film directed by Jonathan Teplitzky and written by Chris Nyst. An international co-production between Australia and the United Kingdom, it stars Sam Worthington, David ...

'', starring

Sam Worthington Samuel Henry John Worthington (born 2 August 1976) is an Australian actor. He is known for playing Jake Sully in the ''Avatar'' franchise (2009–present), Marcus Wright in '' Terminator Salvation'' (2009), and Perseus in '' Clash of the Titan ...

and

David Wenham David Wenham (born 21 September 1965) is an Australian actor who has appeared in film, television and theatre. He is known for his roles as Faramir in The Lord of the Rings (film series), ''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy, Friar Carl in ' ...

. In 2005 he co-produced New Zealand/Fijian director

Toa Fraser Toa Fraser (born 1975) is a New Zealand born playwright and film director. His first feature film, ''No. 2 (film), No. 2'', starring Ruby Dee won the Audience Award (World Dramatic) at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. His second, ''Dean Spanley'' ...

's film '' No. 2'', which won the World Cinema Audience Prize at

Sundance A Sun Dance is a Native American ceremony. Sun dance or Sundance may also refer to: Places ;Canada * Sundance, Calgary, Alberta, a neighbourhood * Sundance, Manitoba, a ghost town ;United States * Sundance, New Mexico, a census-designated pl ...

. He followed this with another New Zealand film, directed by

Robert Sarkies Robert Sarkies is a New Zealand film director and screenwriter. He is best known for his 2006 drama film '' Out of the Blue'' and the 2014 TV movie ''Consent: The Louise Nicholas Story''. Early life and education Robert Sarkies grew up in the ...

– '' Out of the Blue'' (2006), as co-producer with Steven O'Meagher. In 2009 White co-produced Australian director Scott Hicks' 2009 film '' The Boys Are Back'', starring

Clive Owen Clive Owen (born 3 October 1964) is an English actor. He first gained recognition in the United Kingdom for playing the lead role in the ITV series '' Chancer'' from 1990 to 1991. He received critical acclaim for his work in the film '' Close ...

, and then executive produced the 2010 New Zealand-South Korean fantasy action film ''

The Warrior's Way ''The Warrior's Way'' is a 2010 New Zealand-South Korean fantasy action film written and directed by Sngmoo Lee and starring Jang Dong-gun, Kate Bosworth, Geoffrey Rush, Danny Huston and Tony Cox. The film was released on 3 December 2010. Its ...

'' (shot in New Zealand), starring

Kate Bosworth Katherine Anne Bosworth (born January 2, 1983) is an American actress. Following minor roles in the films ''The Horse Whisperer (film), The Horse Whisperer'' (1998) and ''Remember the Titans'' (2000), she had a leading role in movie ''Blue Crush' ...

Danny Huston Daniel Sallis Huston (born May 14, 1962) is an American-British actor, director and screenwriter. A member of the Huston family of filmmakers, he is the son of director John Huston and half-brother of actress Anjelica Huston. He is known for ...

, and

Geoffrey Rush Geoffrey Roy Rush (born 6 July 1951) is an Australian actor. Known for often playing eccentric roles on both stage and screen, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Geoffrey Rush, numerous accolades, including an Academy Aw ...

. In 2012 he again teamed up with Sarkies to produce the NZ drama film ''

Two Little Boys "Two Little Boys" is a sentimental song about two friends who grow up to be soldiers. Recorded as early as 1903 in the United States, it became an international hit for Australian Rolf Harris 66 years later. It was published in 1903 by American ...

''. He produced Australian director Julius Avery's debut feature film, ''

Son of a Gun Son of a gun is an exclamation in American and British English. It can be used encouragingly or to compliment, as in "You son of a gun, you did it!" Definition The ''Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary'' and ''Webster's Dictionary'' both de ...

'' (2014), starring

Ewan McGregor Ewan Gordon McGregor ( ; born 31 March 1971) is a Scottish actor. His accolades include a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. In 2013, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to drama and ...

and

Alicia Vikander Alicia Amanda Vikander (; ; born 3 October 1988) is a Swedish actress. List of awards and nominations received by Alicia Vikander, Her accolades include an Academy Award and nominations for two Golden Globe Awards and three British Academy Film ...

; and the sci fi thriller, ''

I Am Mother ''I Am Mother'' is a 2019 Australian science fiction thriller film directed by Grant Sputore and written by Michael Lloyd Green, based on a story by both. Starring Clara Rugaard, Luke Hawker, Rose Byrne, and Hilary Swank, the film follows Dau ...

'' (2019), starring

Hilary Swank Hilary Ann Swank (born July 30, 1974) is an American actress and film producer. She first became known in 1992 for her role on the television series '' Camp Wilder'' and made her film debut with a minor role in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' (19 ...

and

Rose Byrne Mary Rose Byrne (born 24 July 1979) is an Australian actress. She made her screen debut in the film ''Dallas Doll'' (1994) , and continued to act in Australian film and television throughout the 1990s. She gained her first leading film role in ...

. White co-produced the 2020 drama '' The Furnace'' (2020), set in outback

Western Australia Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...

in 1897 and starring

, with Tenille Kennedy. In 2022 he co-produced the musical comedy film '' Seriously Red'', directed by

and featuring many of the hits of

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily as a country music, country musician. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton's debut album ...

TV series

In 1992 he co-produced, with David Parker and

Michael Wearing Michael Howard Wearing (12 March 1939 – 5 May 2017) was a British television producer, who spent much of his career working on drama productions for the BBC. He is best known as the producer of the well received serials ''Boys from the Blackstuff ...

, the three-part multinational TV drama series '' Stark'', written by

Ben Elton Benjamin Charles Elton is a British comedian, actor, author, playwright, lyricist and director. One of the major figures in the alternative comedy movement of the 1980s, his early stand-up style was Left-wing politics, left-wing political satire ...

and directed by

Executive producer

Film

White has also executive produced several films, including two Australian films released in 1999: '' Strange Fits of Passion'' (1999) and

Gregor Jordan Gregor Jordan (born 1966) is an Australian film director, writer and actor. Jordan's films include '' Two Hands'' (1999), '' Buffalo Soldiers'' (2001), and ''Ned Kelly'' (2003). ''Two Hands'' won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Di ...

's '' Two Hands'', starring

Heath Ledger Heath Andrew Ledger (4 April 1979 – 22 January 2008) was an Australian actor. After playing roles in several Australian television and film productions during the 1990s, he moved to the United States in 1998 to further develop his film care ...

and

Bryan Brown Bryan Neathway Brown AM (born 23 June 1947) is an Australian actor. He has performed in over eighty film and television projects since the late 1970s, both in his native Australia and abroad. Notable films include '' Breaker Morant'' (1980), ...

, under his own name. After being appointed head of the Australian branch of British production company

Working Title Films Working Title Films Limited, formerly Visionensure Limited and Working Title Limited, is a British film and television production company that is a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, which is itself a division of Comcast. The company was founded by ...

, White executive produced another of Jordan's films, the 2003 ''

Ned Kelly Edward Kelly (December 185411 November 1880) was an Australian bushranger, outlaw, gang leader, bank robber and convicted police-murderer. One of the last bushrangers, he is known for wearing armour of the Kelly gang, a suit of bulletproof ...

'', starring Heath Ledger,

Orlando Bloom Orlando Jonathan Blanchard Copeland Bloom (born 13 January 1977) is an English actor. He made his breakthrough as the character Legolas in The Lord of the Rings (film series), ''The Lord of the Rings'' film series (2001–03). He reprised his r ...

, and

Naomi Watts Naomi Ellen Watts (born 28 September 1968) is a British actress. Known for her work predominantly in independent films with dark or tragic themes, she has received various accolades, including nominations for two Academy Awards, a Primetime ...

. He also executive produced

Julia Leigh Julia Leigh (born 1970) is an Australian novelist, film director and screenwriter. In 2011 her debut feature film'' Sleeping Beauty'' was selected to screen in official competition at the Cannes Film Festival. She is an author of two award-winn ...

's 2001 erotic drama ''

Sleeping Beauty "Sleeping Beauty" (, or ''The Beauty Sleeping in the Wood''; , or ''Little Briar Rose''), also titled in English as ''The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods'', is a fairy tale about a princess curse, cursed by an evil fairy to suspended animation in fi ...

''; executive producer on the 2011 film '' Mr. Pip'', starring

Hugh Laurie James Hugh Calum Laurie (; born 11 June 1959) is an English actor, comedian, singer, musician and writer. He first gained professional recognition as a member of the English comedy double act Fry and Laurie with Stephen Fry. Fry and Laurie act ...

, which premiered in New Zealand in October 2013. White served as an executive producer on NZ director

James Napier Robertson James William Napier Robertson (born 24 March 1982) is a New Zealand writer, film director, actor and producer, who wrote and directed 2009 film ''I'm Not Harry Jenson'', and 2014 film The Dark Horse (2014 film), ''The Dark Horse'', for which ...

's debut feature '' The Dark Horse'' (2014); and on Robert Sarkies drama

based on a true story, '' Consent: The Louise Nicholas Story'', which won a New Zealand Film Award.

TV series

On television, he executive produced (along with Steven O'Meagher and others) the 2010 New Zealand TV drama series '' This Is Not My Life''. Directed by Sarkies and Peter Salmon, it won Best Drama Programme in the 2011 Aotearoa Film and Television Awards. In 2020 he executive produced the drama television miniseries written by

Eleanor Catton Eleanor Catton (born 1985) is a New Zealand novelist and screenwriter. Born in Canada, Catton moved to New Zealand as a child and grew up in Christchurch. She completed a master's degree in creative writing at the International Institute of M ...

, ''

The Luminaries ''The Luminaries'' is a 2013 novel by Eleanor Catton. Set in New Zealand's South Island in 1866, the novel follows Walter Moody, a prospector who travels to the West Coast settlement of Hokitika to make his fortune on the goldfields. Instead ...

'' (based on her 2013 novel of the same name, and commissioned by

BBC Television BBC Television is a service of the BBC. The corporation has operated a Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast television service in the United Kingdom, under the terms of a royal charter, since 1 January 1927. It p ...

Awards and nominations

* 1986: Winner, AFI Award for Best Film for ''

'' * 1995: Winner, AFI Award for Best Film, for '' Angel Baby'' * 1999: Winner, AFI Award for Best Film, for '' Two Hands'' * 2008: Winner, Best Film, in the

New Zealand Film Awards New Zealand film and television awards have gone by many different names and have been organised by different industry groups. As of 2017, New Zealand has relaunched a standalone New Zealand Television Awards after a five-year hiatus. The film awa ...

, for '' Out of the Blue''

Footnotes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:White, Tim New Zealand film producers Date of birth missing (living people) Living people Ilam School of Fine Arts alumni People from Fairlie, New Zealand