John Pirrie – Producer

This is John Pirrie's first production. John was a high school teacher for 15 years where he taught English and History.

He has written three novels, his first, Under the Weather, was published in 2003.

John originally came to this project as a script editor after a chance encounter with David Field. John and David were both holidaying on the south coast when their children started playing together.

“David and I just started making small talk as the children were running around. He told me he was an actor working on a script, I told him I was a writer and then right away he offers the script to me for my opinion,” John said.

After reading the script John immediately called David and committed himself to the project as script editor.

A couple of years on, and many script versions later, John was holidaying with his family on Fraser Island when they got blown off course in a double cyclone. He and his family sought refuge at an isolated hotel where John bumped into an old friend he had not seen in over 20 years.

With plenty of time to spare John told his friend all about The Combination and how the film had failed to attract any funding. His friend was a successful businessman and an astute investor and agreed to fund the film on the proviso that he remained a silent investor.

John was then made producer of the film. “The most challenging part was having to literally be across everything at all times, from the cast to the crew to the budget. I thought managing a classroom was tough work but you try organising these teenage boys!  It’s lucky I’m bald and no hair to pull out or lose. But seeing the finished product was so amazing and fulfilling, the stress was well worth it,” he said.

John is currently writing a few film scripts and says he’d love to work with David and George again. “David is just fantastic to work with, he is so collaborative and a great thinker. George has been the ultimate surprise package. His insights and knowledge of cinema is amazing for a man trained as a wall tiller,” he said.

John lives on the south coast of NSW with his wife and kids.