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Michele Bennett (film producer)

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This article is about the Australian film producer. For the former First Lady of Haiti, see Michèle Bennett.

Michele Bennett
Born
Michele Rosemary Bennett

Australia
OccupationFilm producer
Years active1982–present
PartnerMichael Hutchence (1982–1987)

Michele Rosemary Bennett is an Australian film and television producer.[1][2][3][4][5] She is the founder of Cherub Pictures and Pariah Productions and has produced films such as Chopper (2000), The Magician (2005), Drift (2013), and Judy and Punch (2019), as well as the television series Mr Inbetween (2018–2021), NCIS: Sydney (2023) and Queen of Oz (2023). Bennett has also produced music videos for artists such as INXS, U2, Prince, Silverchair and Foo Fighters.

Bennett's relationship with INXS lead vocalist, Michael Hutchence, inspired the band's 1988 hit single "Never Tear Us Apart".

Career

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In the early 1980s, Bennett had four jobs while she was studying at University in Melbourne, including a brief career as a model,[6] and then started working as a photographer's agent.[7]

In 1982, Bennett appeared on the music video for "The One Thing" by INXS, as one of the women at the banquet table.[8][9]

In the late 1980s, Bennett started working with Australian filmmaker Richard Lowenstein on several music videos.[7] In 1986, she made a cameo in Lowenstein's film Dogs in Space. In 1989, Bennett produced the U2 documentary LoveTown, directed by Lowenstein.[1]

In the early 1990s, Bennett produced the INXS music videos "Suicide Blonde",[10] "By My Side" and "Bitter Tears".[11] She also produced music videos for artists such as U2,[1] Prince,[1] Silverchair,[12] and Foo Fighters.[1]

Bennett began collaborating with Australian filmmaker Andrew Dominik on music videos and commercials in Sydney in the early 1990s.[13]

In 1991, Bennett founded her own production company, Cherub Pictures.[12] The company has produced music videos, documentaries and television commercials.[12]

In 2000, Bennett produced her first feature film through her company Pariah Productions,[14][2] Andrew Dominik's crime drama Chopper (2000), which became a critical and box office hit in Australia.[1] Since then, Bennett has produced feature films such as Scott Ryan's The Magician (2005), Morgan O'Neill and Ben Nott's Drift (2013), and Mirrah Foulkes's Judy and Punch (2019).[1]

In 2004, Bennett produced the INXS documentary Welcome to Wherever You Are, directed by Lowenstein.[11] In 2005, she produced the documentary Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man, directed by Lian Lunson.[1][15]

From 2018 to 2021, Bennett produced the television series Mr Inbetween.[1]

In February 2019, Bennett was a member of the jury of the Tropfest in Sydney.[16]

In 2023, Bennett produced the television series NCIS: Sydney and Queen of Oz.[17][18]

Personal life

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Bennett speaks Mandarin.[19]

From 1982 to 1987, Bennett was in a relationship with INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence.[20] They shared a flat in Paddington with New Zealand-Australian singer Jenny Morris, who was INXS's backing vocalist.[21] Bennett inspired INXS's 1988 hit song "Never Tear Us Apart".[22] Bennett introduced Hutchence to Australian filmmaker Richard Lowenstein, who directed several music videos for INXS,[10] including the one for "Never Tear Us Apart".[23] According to Hutchence's sister, Tina, Bennett was the only woman her brother said he had considered marrying.[24] Lowenstein, who was close friends with Hutchence, also said that he believed that Bennett was the only woman that Hutchence would marry; "I always felt that, after everything, he'd go back and marry Michele and have a baby with her," he told The Independent in 1998.[25]

Bennett and Hutchence remained close friends after the end of their relationship and she was described as Hutchence's "first real love",[26] his "closest friend and confidante".[25] Bennett was the last person that Hutchence called on the morning of his death, on 22 November 1997.[27] According to Bennett, Hutchence called her two times that morning; first he left a message in her answering machine, then he called her again at 9:54 am and she answered the phone. Bennett said that Hutchence was crying, sounded upset, and told her he needed to see her. Bennett arrived at his hotel room door at about 10:40 am, but there was no response, so she wrote him a note and left it at reception. Hutchence's body was discovered by a hotel maid at 11:50 am.[28][29] His death was ruled as suicide while depressed and under the influence of alcohol and other drugs.[29]

Bennett refused to talk about her relationship with Hutchence publicly until the 2019 documentary Mystify: Michael Hutchence,[25][10][30] directed by Richard Lowenstein, a close friend of both Bennett and Hutchence's.[31]

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Bennett was portrayed by actress Jane Harber in the 2014 Australian biographical miniseries INXS: Never Tear Us Apart.[32] Bennett claimed that the miniseries was not accurate and that she was not contacted by the filmmakers.[10]

Filmography

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Actress

Year Title Role Director Notes
1982 INXS: The One Thing Girl at the banquet table Richard Lowenstein Music video
1986 Dogs in Space Grant's girl Feature film; as Michelle Bennett

Producer

Year Title Director(s) Notes
1989 U2: LoveTown Richard Lowenstein Documentary[1]
Flying Emus: Different Drum Paul Clarke Music video
1990 INXS: Suicide Blonde Richard Lowenstein Music video[1][11]
1991 INXS: By My Side
INXS: Bitter Tears
2000 Chopper Andrew Dominik Feature film[33]
2004 INXS: Welcome to Wherever You Are Richard Lowenstein Documentary[11]
2005 The Magician Scott Ryan Feature film[1]
2006 Magic Happens: The Story of 'The Magician' Luke Doolan Documentary[1]
2007 September Peter Carstairs Consulting producer[34]
2009 Apricot Ben Briand Short film[35]
2013 Drift Morgan O'Neill and Ben Nott Feature film[1]
2019 Judy and Punch Mirrah Foulkes
2021 Shark Nash Edgerton Short film[36]
2023 Queen of Oz Christiaan Van Vuuren Television series[18]

Executive producer

Year Title Director(s) Notes
2004 It Takes Two to Tango Luke Shanahan Short film[37]
2005 Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man Lian Lunson Documentary; executive in charge of production for Cherub Pictures[15]
2010 Bridezilla: Western Front Justin Kurzel and Daniel Fletcher Music video[38]
2014 The Mule Tony Mahony and Angus Sampson Feature film[39]
2018–2021 Mr Inbetween Nash Edgerton Television series[40]
2023 NCIS: Sydney Shawn Seet, David Caesar, Kriv Stenders and Catherine Millar Television series[17]

Accolades

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2000 Australian Film Institute Awards Best Film Chopper Nominated [41]
2018 Screen Producers Australia Awards Drama Series Production of the Year Mr Inbetween Won [42]
2018 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards Best Drama Series Nominated [43]
2019 Best Film Judy and Punch Nominated [44]
Best Drama Series Mr Inbetween Nominated
2019 Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards Best Film Judy and Punch Nominated [45]
2021 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards Best Drama Series Mr Inbetween Nominated [46]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Michele Bennett". FX Networks. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Pariah Films Pty Ltd". Dun & Bradstreet. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  3. ^ Quinn, Karl (26 April 2019). "New Michael Hutchence documentary explores source of his depression". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australian film producer Michelle Bennett
  4. ^ "Michele Bennett". National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  5. ^ George, Sandy (6 December 2013). "A producer's work is never done". SBS Australia. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  6. ^ Creswell, Toby (2017). Shine Like It Does: The Life of Michael Hutchence. Echo, Bonnier Publishing. pp. 47–48. ISBN 978-1760407360. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b "The Magician (2005)". Australasian Cinema. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  8. ^ "INXS - The One Thing (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 28 November 2012. Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  9. ^ "The Lowdown – INXS". 107.1 Hank FM. 25 January 2023. Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d Adams, Cameron (7 August 2021). "What you didn't know about that notorious INXS concert". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d "I'm Only Looking – The Best of INXS (2004, DVD) – Credits". Imgur. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  12. ^ a b c "Director Julius Avery Joins Cherub Pictures". IF Magazine. 23 March 2010. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  13. ^ Wilson, Jake (27 August 2021). "Death threats, boycotts and a white witch: Inside the making of Chopper". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  14. ^ Peirce, Andrew F (1 July 2021). "Iconic Australian Film Chopper Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary With Exclusive August Cinema Re-Release". The Curb. Archived from the original on 21 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man" (PDF). Berlinale.de. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  16. ^ "Tropfest is back in Parramatta Park in 2019". Time Out. 23 October 2018. Archived from the original on 23 July 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  17. ^ a b Hailu, Selome (19 March 2024). "'NCIS Sydney' Renewed for Season 2 at CBS and Paramount+ Australia". Variety. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Queen of Oz (2023)". Screen Australia. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  19. ^ Creswell, Toby (2017). Shine Like It Does: The Life of Michael Hutchence. Echo, Bonnier Publishing. p. 47. ISBN 978-1760407360. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  20. ^ Hay, Carla (26 April 2019). "2019 Tribeca Film Festival movie review: 'Mystify - Michael Hutchence"". Culture Mix Online. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  21. ^ Bard, Ariela (8 June 2024). "Losing her voice, finding a cause: how Jenny Morris turned tragedy into triumph". The Australian.
  22. ^ Potton, Ed (18 October 2019). "'It's telling that on his last night Michael Hutchence was alone' — Mystify's director on his friend's death". The Times. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  23. ^ Brandle, Lars (25 March 2024). "INXS Goes Behind the Scenes on 'Never Tear Us Apart': Exclusive Premiere". Billboard. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  24. ^ Hutchence, Tina; Glassop, Patricia (2000). Just a Man: The Real Michael Hutchence. Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 9780330390194. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2024. The only woman I have ever heard him say he would wed, is Michele Bennett.
  25. ^ a b c Milliken, Robert (5 April 1998). "The Death of a Rock Star". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 December 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  26. ^ Benitez-Eves, Tina (16 October 2019). "'Mystify' Documentary About INXS' Michael Hutchence Will Have One-Night U.S. Theater Showing". Billboard. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  27. ^ "Who knew what on night Michael Hutchence died". The Daily Telegraph. 28 March 2019.
  28. ^ "Michael Hutchence death explained: the Coroner's account in his own words". Herald Sun. 29 January 2014. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  29. ^ a b Hand, Derrick; Fife-Yeomans, Janet (2008) [2004]. The Coroner: Investigating Sudden Death. Sydney, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-0-7333-2221-1.
  30. ^ "Mystify: Michael Hutchence announced by BBC Music and BBC Two". BBC. 26 April 2019. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  31. ^ "A Conversation With Richard Lowenstein ("Mystify: Michael Hutchence")". Magnet Magazine. 30 January 2020. Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  32. ^ Knox, David (6 February 2014). "A touchstone for Michael Hutchence". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 12 September 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  33. ^ "Australian Film Productions, 1990–2019" (PDF). The Production Book. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 March 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  34. ^ "September (2007)". Australasian Cinema. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  35. ^ Darke, Brayden (10 November 2011). "Homebake 2011 – Film (& Performance) Line-up". Music Feeds. Archived from the original on 22 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  36. ^ "Shark (2021)". Screen Australia. Archived from the original on 22 July 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  37. ^ "It Takes Two to Tango (2004)". Screen Australia. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  38. ^ "Bridezilla - Western Front". Vimeo. 4 February 2010. Archived from the original on 8 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  39. ^ "The Mule (2014)". Screen Australia. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  40. ^ "Mr Inbetween (2018)". Screen Australia. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  41. ^ "AACTA Awards – Winners & Nominees – 2000". Australian Film Institute. Archived from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  42. ^ Knox, David (23 November 2018). "Screen Producers Awards 2018: winners". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  43. ^ "AACTA Awards – Winners & Nominees – 2018". Australian Film Institute. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  44. ^ "AACTA Awards – Winners & Nominees – 2019". Australian Film Institute. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  45. ^ "Film Critics Circle of Australia – 2019 Awards Winners". Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  46. ^ "AACTA Awards – Winners & Nominees – 2021". Australian Film Institute. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
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