Alan Coleman

In the early 1960s Alan joined ATV in the Midlands as a trainee cameraman and worked on a wide range of live programming including Lunch Box which was hosted by Noele Gordon. Alan rose through the ranks quickly and was soon appointed as a director. He directed the first eight years of Crossroads which was the worlds first five nights a week fast turn around drama series - know fondly to viewers as 'soap.' Alan left the motel saga after being appointed Head of Children's Drama for ATV. During this time he produced and directed the hit shows Escape into Night, The Jensen Code and Kids From 47A.

 

1974 proved to be an eventful year for Alan. His documentary On The Road To Nowhere won the prestigious 'Best of Award' at the San Francisco International Film Festival and he was head hunted by Reg Grundy! Alan moved to Australia to help establish the Grundy TV Drama Department and produced and directed Class of 74 which was Grundy's first ever serial drama and Australia's first ever teen 'soap.'

 

During his time at the Grundy Organization Alan produced, directed and wrote other hit serials including Class of 75, Prisoner: Cell Block H, Glenview High, the acclaimed mini-series Case For The Defence, the male prison saga Punishment, the children's series Secret Valley and many others. Alan was the driving force behind The Young Doctors which would become Australia's longest running drama series and the first Aussie 'soap' to sell internationally. Alan recently recorded an audio commentary for a DVD entitled The Young Doctors- Classic Cliffhangers which has been released by Umbrella Entertainment.

 

Alan left the Grundy Organization to establish his own production company and this new company produced and directed many corporate videos and commercials. Alan directed top shows for the big screen at the Sydney Entertainment Centre and during the early 1990s he returned to the Grundy Organization to Executive Produce Neighbours, Shortland Street (in New Zealand), Unter Uns (in Germany) and Goede Tijden - Slechte Tijden (in the Netherlands).

 

After leaving these productions Alan directed the children's drama The Adventures of the Bush Patrol in Perth as well as Home & Away, Breakers and Family Affairs for Channel 5 in the UK. Other recent directing credits include the television series Echo Point, Above The Law, TwentyfourSeven and the virtually live series Going Home which was set on a commuter train. Alan has directed several stage productions in Australia including The Club by David Williamson, Blackrock and Round and Round the Garden from the trilogy The Norman Conquests by Alan Ayckbourn.

 

Alan continues to work as a director in the television industry and to produce corporate videos. He also runs workshops training actors in the special skills and disciplines required to work for the film and television camera. These workshops have been run for actors on the sets of Neighbours, Home & Away, Shortland Street and have toured through-out Australia and the UK.

 

"Alan is a true pioneer," said his agent Darren Gray of Darren Gray Management, "He has written the rules for five nights a week fast turn around drama and has launched the careers of many actors and behind the scenes crew. I can't think of anyone more deserving of this special award and am very proud to know and work with Alan and most importantly to call him a friend. I know that Alan's work has brought pleasure to millions of viewers around the world and I am delighted that his enormous contribution to the world of television is being recognised by The Soap Show, their panel of judges and their listeners."