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Gregor Jordan

Gregor Jordan is an Australian film director, screenwriter, and actor known for his work in Australian and international cinema, including films like 'Two Hands' and 'Ned Kelly'.

1. Overview

Gregor Jordan is an Australian film director, screenwriter, and actor. Born in 1966, he is known for his significant contributions to Australian and international cinema, with notable works including the films Two Hands (1999), Buffalo Soldiers (2001), Ned Kelly (2003), The Informers (2008), Unthinkable (2010), and Dirt Music (2019). His directorial debut, the short film Swinger, earned him a Jury Prize at the 48th Cannes Film Festival in 1995. He also received the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Direction and Best Screenplay in 1999 for Two Hands. Beyond feature films, Jordan has directed documentaries and music videos, showcasing his versatile career in the entertainment industry.

2. Early Life and Background

Gregor Jordan was born in 1966 in Sale, Victoria, Australia.

3. Early Career and Acting

Prior to his extensive career as a film director, Gregor Jordan was active in acting. He notably played the role of Bassanio in a production of The Merchant of Venice for Shakespeare By The Sea (Australia). He also had a brief appearance in the Australian soap opera Home and Away, featuring in episodes from September to November 1989.

Jordan's initial foray into filmmaking was with the short film Swinger, released in 1995. For this film, he served as director, writer, art director, and producer, demonstrating his early multifaceted involvement in production. Swinger garnered international recognition, winning the Jury Prize in the short film category at the 48th Cannes Film Festival in 1995.

4. Directing Career

Gregor Jordan's primary contribution to the film industry has been as a director, helming a diverse range of feature films, documentaries, and music videos.

4.1. Feature Films

Jordan made his feature film directorial debut with Two Hands in 1999. This film earned him critical acclaim, including two major Australian Film Institute Awards. Following this success, he directed Buffalo Soldiers in 2001. In 2003, he directed Ned Kelly, a biographical film.

His later works include the American film The Informers, released in 2008, which was an adaptation of short stories written by Bret Easton Ellis and Nicholas Jarecki. In 2010, Jordan directed the thriller Unthinkable, which starred prominent actor Samuel L. Jackson. His more recent feature film work includes Dirt Music, released in 2019.

4.2. Documentaries and Music Videos

Beyond narrative features, Jordan has also directed projects in the documentary and music video genres. In 2004, he directed These Days: Live in Concert, a concert video for the popular Australian rock band Powderfinger. He continued his collaboration with Powderfinger by producing a live concert DVD titled Sunsets: Powderfinger's Farewell Tour in 2010, documenting the band's final concert tour.

In 2012, Jordan directed Ian Thorpe: The Swimmer, a documentary film chronicling Australian Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe's unsuccessful attempt to return to professional swimming ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. He also directed the television series Old School in 2014.

5. Screenwriting and Producing

In addition to his directorial work, Gregor Jordan has also made significant contributions as a screenwriter and producer on various projects. He wrote the screenplay for his debut feature film, Two Hands, and co-wrote Buffalo Soldiers. His early short film Swinger saw him credited as both writer and producer. He also served as a writer and producer for the 2014 television series Old School. As a producer, he was involved in the live concert DVD Sunsets: Powderfinger's Farewell Tour (2010) and the documentary Ian Thorpe: The Swimmer (2012).

6. Awards and Recognition

Gregor Jordan has received several notable awards and recognitions throughout his career for his work as a director and screenwriter.

  • 1995**: Cannes Film Festival - Jury Prize (Short Film Palme d'Or) for Swinger.
  • 1999**: Australian Film Institute Awards - Best Direction for Two Hands.
  • 1999**: Australian Film Institute Awards - Best Screenplay for Two Hands.

7. Personal Life

Gregor Jordan with his wife, Simone Kessell, in 2012.
Gregor Jordan with his wife, Simone Kessell, in 2012.

Gregor Jordan is married to New Zealand actress Simone Kessell. They married in 2004 and have two sons. Their first son, Jack, was born in January 2005 in Los Angeles. Their second son, Beau, was born in 2013.

8. Filmography

This section provides a comprehensive list of films and television projects Gregor Jordan has been involved in, categorized by his primary roles.

  • Swinger (1995) - Director, Writer, Art Director, Producer
  • Two Hands (1999) - Director, Writer
  • Buffalo Soldiers (2001) - Director, Co-writer
  • Ned Kelly (2003) - Director
  • These Days: Live in Concert (2004) - Director (Concert video)
  • The Informers (2008) - Director
  • Sunsets: Powderfinger's Farewell Tour (2010) - Producer (Concert DVD)
  • Unthinkable (2010) - Director
  • Ian Thorpe: The Swimmer (2012) - Director, Producer (Documentary)
  • Old School (2014) - Director, Writer, Producer (Television series)
  • Dirt Music (2019) - Director