Robert Bruning

Robert Bruning (27 May 1928 – 4 March 2008) was an Australian actor and film producer, who was the founder of film production firm Gemini Productions

Robert Bruning
Born
Robert Bell

(1928-05-27)27 May 1928
Died4 March 2008(2008-03-04) (aged 79)
Occupation(s)Actor and film producer

Biography

Bruning was born as Robert Bell in Dongara, Western Australia in 1928. He worked as an amateur actor at the New Theatre in the Sydney suburb of Newtown in the 1940s and 1950s.[1] Bruning also was a regular guest performer in Homicide, Division 4, The Sullivans and A Country Practice.[1] He also had substantial roles on Australian films such as 1970's Ned Kelly and his production credits, on sitcoms, variety, and drama add up to more than 200 hours of television.[1]

Of his production career, he is notable for his creation of Australia's first telemovie, Is There Anybody There?, of which 21 more were made.[1]

Gemini Productions

Bruning set up Gemini Productions in 1971; others in the company were Bill Huges (director), David Hannay (production manager), Michael Lawrence (director) and Alister Smart (director). Its first production was the TV series The Godfathers at $5,600 an episode. They then made the variety show True Blue Show. When both shows ended, Bruning had to return to acting.[2]

Bruning felt there would be a market for Australian TV movies like the ones Aaron Spelling made in the US. He succeeded in selling Paradise (1975) to Channel 9. Although he was unhappy with the end result, it enabled Bruning to make Is There Anybody There? which he sold to Channel Seven, and was well received. The network agreed to buy three more TV movies from Bruning, Mama's Gone A-Hunting (1977), The Alternative (1977) and Gone to Ground (1977) all made for around $90,000 each.[3] The film was shot in Sydney.[3]

Although the films rated well, they were deficit financed which meant Gemini was losing money. (Around this time the networks would pay $70–$84,000 for a TV movie which usually cost $105–125,000. The Australian Film Commission covered the deficit.)[4] Bruning realised he needed the protection of a bigger company and sold Gemini to Reg Grundy, agreeing to run Gemini for Grundy for two years.[5]

Gemini made seven TV movies in 1977 which he later felt was too many. Six were made for a cost of $750,000 and followed Gemini's initial four films.[6] "It's the largest order of locally made product ever," said Greg Brown of Seven "and we are sure viewers will be impressed."[7]

The films were usually shot over three six-day weeks with a week lay off in between using many of the same crew. Costs were kept down by using urban settings and locking down scripts.[8]

Bruning died suddenly on 4 March 2008, in Wellington, New Zealand, aged 79.[1] He was survived by his third wife, Anne, a line producer, their son Nic and three daughters from previous marriages: Ariane, Lucie and Sophie.[1]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Type
1969That Lady from PekingKarlFeature film
1970Ned KellySergeant SteeleFeature film
1975Sunday Too Far AwayTom WestFeature film
1976Polly Me LoveTV movie
1979SnapshotElmerFeature film

Television

Year Title Role Type
1970The Long ArmTV series
1971-72The GodfathersChris JohnsonTV series
HomicideTV series
Division 4TV series
The SullivansTV series
A Country PracticeTV series

As crew

Year Title Role Type
1971-72The GodfathersProducerTV series
1972CrisisProducerTV movie
1972The SpoilerProducerTV series
1972Jesus Christ SuperstarProducerDocumentary
1973The People Next DoorProducerTV series
1975ParadiseProducerTV movie
1976Is There Anybody There?ProducerTV movie
1977Mama's Gone A-HuntingProducer, StoryTV movie
1977The AlternativeProducerTV movie
1977Gone to GroundProducerTV movie
1977Death TrainProducerTV movie
1977Roses Bloom TwiceProducerTV movie
1978The Night NurseProducerTV movie
1978The Newman ShameProducerTV movie
1978Image of DeathProducerTV movie
1978Plunge Into DarknessProducerTV movie
1978DemolitionProducerTV movie
1984The SettlementProducerFeature film
1988-91Rafferty's RulesProducerTV series
1991The Time GameExecutive producerTV movie
1992The Distant HomeExecutive producerTV movie
1993You and Me and Uncle BobProducerTV movie
1993Big IdeasProducerTV movie
1994Blue HeelersSupervising producerTV series
1996The TerritoriansProducerTV movie
199613 Gantry RowProducerTV movie

References

  1. "Actor/producer Robert Bruning dead". The Age. Melbourne. 2 April 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  2. Beilby p 517
  3. "First Look for a Thrill". Sydney Morning Herald. 8 August 1976. p. 89.
  4. "Film body moving to Beverly Hills". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 8 February 1978. p. 17. Retrieved 4 January 2020 via Trove.
  5. Beilby p 517-518
  6. "IN BRIEF Dunstan is willing". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 14 April 1977. p. 3. Retrieved 4 January 2020 via Trove.
  7. "Gather around for a 'woman's picture'". Sydney Morning Herald. 17 April 1977. p. 105.
  8. Beilby p 518

Notes

  • Beilby, Peter; Murray, Scott (September–October 1979). "Robert Bruning". Cinema Papers. pp. 517–519.
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