{{Short description|Australian film director (born 1938)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Use Australian English|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Michael Rubbo | birth_name= Michael Dattilo Rubbo | image = Michael Rubbo.jpg | caption = Rubbo in October, 2017 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1938|12|31}} | birth_place = [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], Australia | alma_mater = [[Scotch College, Melbourne|Scotch College]]<br>[[Sydney University]]<br>[[Stanford University]] | occupation ={{hlist|Director|writer|producer}} | awards = See below | spouse = Katerina Rubbo | children = 2 }}
'''Michael Dattilo Rubbo''' (born 31 December 1938) is an Australian documentarian/[[filmmaker]].
==Early life== Rubbo, film maker and artist, was born in [[Melbourne]], the son of Australian microbiologist Sydney Dattilo Rubbo,<ref>{{cite journal |title=Obituary Sydney D Rubbo |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/00313027009077329?journalCode=ipat20 |journal=Pathology | volume=2 | issue=1 | pages=83 |publisher=Taylor & Francis Online | doi=10.3109/00313027009077329 |access-date=5 January 2023|url-access=subscription }}</ref> and artist Ellen Rubbo with whom he had his first exhibition at The Argus Gallery. He is the grandson of the painter [[Antonio Dattilo Rubbo]] and is one of four children. He attended the private [[Scotch College, Melbourne|Scotch College]], and studied anthropology at [[Sydney University]]. He earned a [[Fulbright scholarship]] to study film at [[Stanford University]], California; in 1965, he graduated with a Master's degree in Communication Arts.
==Career== Rubbo approached the [[National Film Board of Canada]] about an internship, but they were so impressed by his thesis film, ''The True Source of Knowledge'', they hired him to make films, initially for children. He spent the next 20 years there, as a director, writer, editor and/or producer, mainly of serious films. At the time, the NFB was encouraging an objective approach to non-fiction film, including the use of [[Voice of God#media|voice-of-God narration]],<ref name="CFERubbo">{{cite encyclopedia | title=Michael Rubbo | encyclopedia=Canadian Film Encyclopedia | publisher=[[Toronto International Film Festival]] | accessdate=14 June 2012 | url=http://tiff.net/CANADIANFILMENCYCLOPEDIA/content/bios/michael-rubbo | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220141210/http://tiff.net/CANADIANFILMENCYCLOPEDIA/content/bios/michael-rubbo | archivedate=20 February 2014 }}</ref> but Rubbo became an early pioneer in the field of [[metafilm]], creating subjective, highly personal films that were more like personal journals than objective records of reality. His best-known NFB films are ''[[Sad Song of Yellow Skin]]'' (1972), ''[[Waiting for Fidel]]'' (1973), ''Wet Earth and Warm People'', and ''[[Margaret Atwood: Once in August]]'' (1984).
In between films, Rubbo taught at Australia's [[Australian Film Television and Radio School|National Film School]], and was a visiting lecturer at [[New York University]], [[UCLA]], [[Stanford University]], the [[University of Florida]], [[Harvard University]] and the [[Australian Film, Television and Radio School]]. His work has influenced numerous filmmakers, notably [[Michael Moore]], [[Nick Broomfield]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=D.B. |title=The Documentary Art of Filmmaker Michael Rubbo |url=https://prism.ucalgary.ca/bitstream/handle/1880/51804/9781552388716_backmatter.pdf;jsessionid=CDA285696E59A59C830715FA465148F3?sequence=21 |website=prism.ucalgary.ca |publisher=University of Calgary Press |access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref> [[Louis Theroux]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Freeman |first1=Hadley |title=Stabbed Toes and Swallowed Eyeballs... |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/nov/07/stabbed-tongues-and-swallowed-eyeballs-was-the-amazing-johnathans-terminal-diagnosis-his-greatest-trick |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=7 November 2019 |access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref> Tina DiFeliciantonio<ref>{{cite web |last1=DiFeliciantonio |first1=Tina |title=Playback: Mike Rubbo's 'Sad Song of Yellow Skin' |url=https://www.documentary.org/column/playback-mike-rubbos-sad-song-yellow-skin |website=documentary.org |date=2 February 2003 |publisher=International Documentary Association |access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref> and [[Karen Goodman]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet the Academy Award Nominees... |url=https://www.documentary.org/online-feature/meet-academy-award-nominees-kirk-simon-and-karen-goodman-strangers-no-more |website=documentary.org |publisher=International Documentary Association |access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref>
In 1990, he returned to Australia to take the position of Head of Documentaries at the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]].
Rubbo's films have won numerous awards. Many have been shown on TV and are in the collections of the [[Museum of Modern Art]] (MOMA) and film schools around the world. His films have been screened at many festivals including the [[Sydney Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bateman |first1=Conor |title=The Human Behavior Experiments |url=https://fourthreefilm.com/2015/05/the-human-behavior-experiments-dir-alex-gibney-2006/ |website=fourthreefilm.com |date=22 May 2015 |publisher=4 : 3 Magazine |access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref>
Rubbo has also directed and written four children's feature films including ''[[The Peanut Butter Solution]]'' (1985), ''[[Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller]]'' (1988), ''The Return of Tommy Tricker'' (1994), and the [[Daytime Emmy]] award-winning film ''[[Vincent and Me]]'' (1990).
In 2017, he published the book ''Travels with My Art''.<ref>{{cite book |title=Travels with My Art | isbn=9780994503640 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q9LJtAEACAAJ | last1=Rubbo | first1=Michael | year=2017 | publisher=Michael Rubbo }}</ref>
==Personal life== Rubbo and his wife Katerina, a Russian interpreter, teacher and artist,<ref>{{cite web |title=Katerina Rubbo |url=https://www.botanicalartsocietyaustralia.com/Katerina-Rubbo |website=botanicalartsocietyaustralia.com |publisher=Botanical Art Society of Australia |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> live in Avoca Beach, New South Wales. Rubbo has two grown children, Nicolas Rubbo (living in Canada) and Ellen Rubbo living in Australia.
In 2013, the [[BBC]] named the [[Avoca Beach Theatre]] as one of the 10 most beautiful cinemas in the world.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blauvelt |first1=Christian |title=The 10 most beautiful cinemas in the world |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20131127-the-10-most-beautiful-cinemas |website=bbc.com |publisher=BBC |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> Rubbo was prominent in the campaign to stop plans to redevelop the theatre. Rubbo is also a prominent advocate for the widespread use of bicycles.
==Filmography==
*''The True Source of Knowledge'' - documentary short, [[Stanford University]] 1965 - director<ref>{{cite web |title=The True Source of Knowledge |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e02UmWQGTuw |website=youtube.com | date=26 September 2016 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> *''The Long Haul Men'' - documentary short 1966 - director<ref>{{cite web |title=The Long Haul Men |url=https://en.kinorium.com/181855/ |website=kinorium.com |publisher=Kinorium |access-date=2 January 2023}}</ref> *''Sir! Sir!'' - documentary short, [[National Film Board of Canada]] 1968 - director<ref>{{cite web |title=Sir! Sir! |url=https://www.nfb.ca/film/sir_sir/ |website=nfb.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> *''Mrs. Ryan’s Drama Class'' - documentary short, [[National Film Board of Canada]] 1969 - director<ref>{{cite web |title=Mrs. Ryan's Drama Class |url=http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=10892 |website=onf-nfb.gc.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=3 February 2023}}</ref> *''[[Sad Song of Yellow Skin]]'' - documentary, [[National Film Board of Canada]]/[[PBS]] 1970 - director, writer, editor<ref>{{cite web |title=Sad Song of Yellow Skin |url=https://www.nfb.ca/film/sad-song-of-yellow-skin/ |website=nfb.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> *''Solomon’s Housing'' - documentary, [[National Film Board of Canada]] 1970 - director *''Wet Earth and Warm People'' - documentary, [[National Film Board of Canada]] 1971 - director, writer, editor<ref>{{cite web |title=Wet Earth and Warm People |url=https://www.nfb.ca/film/wet_earth_and_warm_people/ |website=nfb.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> *''Persistent and Finagling'' - documentary, [[National Film Board of Canada]] 1971 - director, writer, editor<ref>{{cite web |title=Persistent and Finagling' |url=https://www.nfb.ca/film/persistent_and_finagling/ |website=nfb.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> *''OK…Camera'' - documentary short, [[National Film Board of Canada]] 1972 - director<ref>{{cite web |title=OK...Camera |url=https://www.nfb.ca/film/ok_camera/ |website=nfb.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> *''The Streets of Saigon'' - documentary short, [[National Film Board of Canada]] 1973 - director, writer, editor<ref>{{cite web |title=The Streets of Saigon |url=https://en.kinorium.com/182310/ |website=kinorium.com |publisher=Kinorium |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> *''The Man Who Couldn’t Stop'' - documentary, [[National Film Board of Canada]] 1973 - director, writer, editor<ref>{{cite web |title=The Man Who Can't Stop |url=http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=12808 |website=onf-nfb.gc.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=3 February 2023}}</ref> *''Bate's Car: Sweet as a Nut'' - documentary short, [[Tony Ianzelo]], [[National Film Board of Canada]] 1974 - producer<ref>{{cite web |title=Bate's Car: Sweet as a Nut |url=https://www.nfb.ca/film/bates_car_sweet_as_a_nut/ |website=nfb.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> *''[[Waiting for Fidel]]'' - documentary, [[National Film Board of Canada]] 1974 - director, writer, editor, co-producer with [[Tom Daly (filmmaker)|Tom Daly]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Waiting for Fidel |url=https://www.nfb.ca/film/waiting_for_fidel/ |website=nfb.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> *''I Am an Old Tree'' - documentary, [[National Film Board of Canada]] 1975 - director, writer, editor, co-producer with [[Tom Daly (filmmaker)|Tom Daly]]<ref>{{cite web |title=I Am an Old Tree |url=https://en.kinorium.com/181722/ |website=kinorium.com |publisher=Kinorium |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> *''Log House'' - documentary short [[National Film Board of Canada]] 1976 - director, with Andreas Poulsson<ref>{{cite web |title=Log House |url=https://www.nfb.ca/film/log_house/ |website=nfb.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> *''The Walls Come Tumbling Down'' - documentary short, [[National Film Board of Canada]] 1976 - director (with Pierre Lasry & [[William Weintraub]]), writer, editor<ref>{{cite web |title=The Walls Come Tumbling Down |url=http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=12638 |website=onf-nfb.gc.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=3 February 2023}}</ref> *''I Hate to Lose'' - documentary [[National Film Board of Canada]] 1977<ref>{{cite web |title=I Hate to Lose |url=https://en.kinorium.com/181723/ |website=kinorium.com |publisher=Kinorium |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> - director, writer, editor *''Solzhenitsyn’s Children…Are Making a Lot of Noise in Paris'' - documentary, [[National Film Board of Canada]] 1979 - director, writer, editor<ref>{{cite web |title=Solzhenitsyn's Children ... Are Making a Lot of Noise in Paris |url=http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=12833 |website=onf-nfb.gc.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=3 February 2023}}</ref> *''Yes or No, Jean-Guy Moreau'' - documentary, [[National Film Board of Canada]] 1979<ref>{{cite web |title=Yes or No, Jean-Guy Moreau |url=https://www.nfb.ca/film/yes_or_no_jean-guy_moreau/ |website=nfb.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> - director, writer *''Daisy: The Story of a Facelift'' - documentary, [[National Film Board of Canada]] 1982 - director, writer, editor, co-producer with Kate Jansen<ref>{{cite web |title=Daisy: The Story of a Facelift |url=https://www.nfb.ca/film/daisy_the_story_of_a_facelift/ |website=nfb.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> *''Not Far from Bolgatanga'' - documentary short, [[National Film Board of Canada]] 1982 - writer, editor, co-producer and co-director with Barrie Howells<ref>{{cite web |title=Not Far from Bolgatanga |url=https://www.nfb.ca/film/not_far_from_bolgatanga/ |website=nfb.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> *''[[Margaret Atwood: Once in August]]'' - documentary, [[National Film Board of Canada]] 1984<ref>{{cite web |title=Margaret Atwood: Once in August |url=https://www.nfb.ca/film/margaret_atwood_once_in_august/ |website=nfb.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> - director, writer, editor, co-producer with Barrie Howells *''[[The Peanut Butter Solution]]'' - feature, Les Productions La Fête/[[Telefilm Canada]] 1985 - director, writer, producer *''[[Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller]]'' - feature, Les Productions La Fête/[[Telefilm Canada]] 1988 - director, writer *''[[Vincent and Me]]'' aka ''Vincent et Moi'' - feature, Les Productions La Fête/[[Telefilm Canada]] 1990 - director, writer *''The Return of Tommy Tricker'' - feature, Les Productions La Fête/[[Telefilm Canada]] 1994<ref>{{cite web |title=The Return of Tommy Tricker |url=https://en.kinorium.com/101034/ |website=kinorium.com |publisher=Kinorium |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> - director, writer *''Uni'' - documentary series, [[Simon Target]], [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] 1997<ref>{{cite web |title=Uni |url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/uni-1997/11366 |website=screenaustralia.gov.au |publisher=Screen Australia |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> - producer *''[[Race Around the World]]'' - documentary series, [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] 1997 - executive producer *''King’s School'' - documentary series, [[Simon Target]], [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]<ref>{{cite web |title=King's School |url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/kings-school-1998/13151 |website=screenaustralia.gov.au |publisher=Screen Australia |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> 1998 - producer *''The Little Box That Sings'' - documentary, [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] 1999<ref>{{cite web |title=The Little Box That Sings |url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/the-little-box-that-sings-1999/16321 |website=screenaustralia.gov.au |publisher=Screen Australia |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> - director, writer, producer *''Much Ado About Something'' - documentary, [[PBS]]/[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] 2001<ref>{{cite web |title=Much Ado About Something |url=https://en.kinorium.com/237493/ |website=kinorium.com |publisher=Kinorium |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> - director, writer, producer *''All About Olive'' - documentary, The Helpful Eye 2004<ref>{{cite web |title=All About Olive |url=https://aso.gov.au/titles/documentaries/all-about-olive/ |website=aso.gov.au |publisher=Australian Screen |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> - director *''A Hard Rain'' - documentary, [[David Bradbury (film maker)|David Bradbury]], Frontline Films 2007<ref>{{cite web |title=A Hard Rain |url=https://aso.gov.au/titles/documentaries/a-hard-rain/ |website=aso.gov.au |publisher=Australian Screen |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> - writer *''Michael Rubbo's Documentary Journey'' - instructive series, Michael Rubbo, Ellen Rubbo 2020<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Rubbo's Documentary Journey |url=https://libguides.aftrs.edu.au/c.php?g=946830 |website=libguides.aftrs.edu.au |publisher=Australian Film Television & Radio School |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref>
==Awards==
''Mrs. Ryan's Drama Class'' 1969 (director)<ref>{{cite web |title=Mrs. Ryan's Drama Class |url=http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=10892 |website=onf-nfb.gc.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=3 February 2023}}</ref> * Conference on Children, Washington DC: Certificate of Merit, 1970
''[[Sad Song of Yellow Skin]]'' (1970)<ref>{{cite web |title=Sad Song of Yellow Skin |url=http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=10521 |website=onf-nfb.gc.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=3 February 2023}}</ref> * [[24th British Academy Film Awards]], London: [[BAFTA Award for Best Documentary]], 1971 * [[Melbourne International Film Festival]], [[Melbourne]]: Silver Boomerang, Best Film, 1971<ref>{{cite web |title=NFB Production Wins Aussie Award |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DzFgAAAAIBAJ&pg=6467,544590&dq=blake+bill-mason&hl=en |via=news.google.com |access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref> * HEMISFILM, [[San Antonio]] TX: Best Film, 1971 * Festival of World Television, Los Angeles: Best Documentary, 1971 * American Film and Video Festival, New York: Blue Ribbon Award, 1971 * American Film and Video Festival, New York: Emily Award, 1971 * [[22nd Canadian Film Awards]]: Special Award for Reportage, 1970 * [[Atlanta Film Festival]]: Gold Medal, Special Jury Award, 1971
''Wet Earth and Warm People'' (1971)<ref>{{cite web |title=Wet Earth and Warm People |url=https://www.nfb.ca/film/wet_earth_and_warm_people/ |website=nfb.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> * Golden Gate International Film Festival, San Francisco: Honourable Mention, Sociological Studies of Specific Groups or Lifestyles in a Society, 1972 * [[Atlanta Film Festival]], [[Atlanta]]: Bronze Medal, Feature, 1972 * [[Melbourne International Film Festival]], [[Melbourne]]: Diploma of Merit, 1972
''The Man Who Can’t Stop'' (1973)<ref>{{cite web |title=The Man Who Can't Stop |url=http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=12808 |website=onf-nfb.gc.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=3 February 2023}}</ref> * Chicago International Film Festival, Chicago: Certificate of Merit, 1974
''[[Waiting for Fidel]]'' (1974)<ref>{{cite web |title=Waiting for Fidel |url=https://www.nfb.ca/film/waiting_for_fidel/ |website=nfb.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> * American Film and Video Festival, New York: Red Ribbon, World Concerns, 1976
''Bate’s Car: Sweet as a Nut'' (1974)<ref>{{cite web |title=Bate's Car: Sweet as a Nut |url=https://www.nfb.ca/film/bates_car_sweet_as_a_nut/ |website=nfb.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> * Biofest, [[Novi Sad]], [[Serbia|Yugoslavia]]: Award of Merit, 1976
''The Walls Come Tumbling Down'' (1976)<ref>{{cite web |title=The Walls Come Tumbling Down |url=http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=12638 |website=onf-nfb.gc.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=3 February 2023}}</ref> * American Film and Video Festival, New York: Blue Ribbon Award, Citizen Action, 1978
''Where Have All the Maoists Gone?'' (1978) * [[International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg]], [[Mannheim]], Germany: Interfilm Award, 1978<ref>{{cite web |title=IFFMH Chronicle 1978 |url=https://www.iffmh.de/festival/history/1978/index_eng.html |website=iffmh.de |publisher=International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg |access-date=8 March 2023}}</ref>
''Solzhenitsyn’s Children…Are Making a Lot of Noise in Paris'' (1979)<ref>{{cite web |title=Solzhenitsyn's Children ... Are Making a Lot of Noise in Paris |url=http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=12833 |website=onf-nfb.gc.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=3 February 2023}}</ref> * [[International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg]], [[Mannheim]], Germany: International Evangelical Award, 1979
''Daisy: The Story of a Facelift'' (1982)<ref>{{cite web |title=Daisy: The Story of a Facelift |url=https://www.nfb.ca/film/daisy_the_story_of_a_facelift/ |website=nfb.ca |publisher=National Film Board of Canada |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> * [[Melbourne International Film Festival]], [[Melbourne]]: Diploma of Merit, 1983 *[[Uppsala International Short Film Festival]], [[Uppsala]], Sweden: Best Documentary Film, 1984 * American Film and Video Festival, New York: Blue Ribbon Award, Mental Health/Health/Guidance, 1984
''[[The Peanut Butter Solution]]'' (1985) * [[Giffoni Film Festival]], Giffoni Valle Piana, Italy: Gold Medal, 1986 * Laon International Film Festival for Young People, [[Laon]], France: Public's Choice Award, 1986
''[[Vincent and Me]]'' 1990 * [[Daytime Emmy Awards]], New York: Outstanding Children's Special, 1991 * Wisconsin International Children's Film Festival, [[Milwaukee]]: WisKid Award, Full-Length Feature, 1991
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rubbo, Michael}} [[Category:1938 births]] [[Category:Australian activists]] [[Category:Australian expatriates in Canada]] [[Category:Australian film directors]] [[Category:Australian documentary filmmakers]] [[Category:Australian people of Italian descent]] [[Category:Harvard University faculty]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Marlovian theory of Shakespeare authorship]] [[Category:National Film Board of Canada people]] [[Category:Shakespeare authorship theorists]] [[Category:Stanford University alumni]] [[Category:University of Sydney alumni]]