{{Short description|Australian television producer (born 1945)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Infobox person | image = | name = Ric Birch<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=1MJF4K4JUGkC&dq=GTK+%28TV+series%29++abc++birch&pg=PA207 Page 207: Ric Birch (photo: A. B. C.) from Sydney Morning Herald – 26/6/1969], Ubu Films: Sydney Underground Movies, 1965–1970, By Peter Mudie</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47229727 |title=GERALD STONE'S CANBERRA SHOW |newspaper=The Australian Women's Weekly |volume=41 |issue=22 |location=Australia |date=31 October 1973 |accessdate=24 November 2016 |page=45 |via=National Library of Australia}}, Photo:''..At back, from left: Ric Birch(director)...''</ref><ref>{{Citation | title=[Biographical cuttings on Ric Birch, film producer, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals] | date=1900 | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/35871836 | accessdate=24 November 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Byrne, Jennifer | title=Ric Birch | journal=The Bulletin with Newsweek | date=2004-09-14 | publisher=A C P Computer Publications | volume=122 | issue=6438 | pages=36(3) | issn=1440-7485 }}</ref> | caption = | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1945}}<ref name="MofCeremonies_Born">{{cite book |last1=Birch |first1=Ric |title=Master of the Ceremonies: An eventful life |date=2004 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |page=1 |isbn=9781741144178 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cCOjaEFyyMMC&dq=%22Ric+Birch%22+born+in+1945&pg=PA1 |accessdate=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131686206 |title=AOK for GTK |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=44 |issue=12,540 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=9 February 1970 |accessdate=24 November 2016 |page=15 |via=National Library of Australia}}, ''...The success of GTK is due...headed by 24-year-old producer Ric and his production assistant, Mike Carson 22...''</ref> | birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | death_date = | death_place = | education = Melbourne University<ref name="MofCeremonies_Arts">{{cite book |last1=Birch |first1=Ric |title=Master of the Ceremonies: An eventful life |date=2004 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |page=2 |isbn=9781741144178 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cCOjaEFyyMMC&dq=%22Ric+Birch%22+born+in+1945&pg=PA1 |accessdate=19 September 2020}}</ref> | occupation = Producer, director | known_for = "Master of Ceremonies" – Executive Producer and Director of numerous global ceremonies | spouse = | children = | website = https://www.spectak.com/ }} '''Ric Birch''' (born 1945) is an Australian producer and director. He was first known as a producer and interviewer on GTK (TV series), a popular music TV series on ABC Television.<ref name="ABCTVgtk">{{cite web |title=Elton John on 'GTK' with Ric Birch (18 March 1971) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4czjfjlFcvM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/4czjfjlFcvM |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|website=YouTube |publisher=ABC Television |accessdate=19 September 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He then founded and became director of Spectak International, an events production company specializing in global ceremonies production, television, film and theatre and themed entertainment. The company has produced opening and closing ceremonies for the Commonwealth, East Asian, and Olympic Games.<ref name="SpectakInternational">{{cite web |title=Spectak International |url=https://www.spectak.com/ |website=Spectak International |accessdate=19 September 2020}}</ref> He is internationally known as the "Master of Ceremonies" due to his involvement in many globally seen ceremonies.<ref name="PRNewswire">{{cite web |title=Master of Ceremonies Ric Birch Joins Filmmaster Events |url=https://tass.com/press-releases/709092 |website=TASS Russian News Agency |publisher=PR Newswire|accessdate=19 September 2020 |date=26 November 2013}}</ref>
== Education and early event production == Birch studied a combined Arts and Law degree at Melbourne University in 1962, with the aim of becoming a lawyer. But, through volunteering backstage at the Universities annual Arts Revue, he made the change to theatrical production. He got his first job at ABC Television in Melbourne.<ref name="MofCeremonies_Arts" /> He became a freelance director in the late 1970s, before getting his start in event production as the executive director of the Opening and Closing ceremonies for the Brisbane 1982 Commonwealth Games.<ref name="MofCeremonies_Brisbane">{{cite book |last1=Birch |first1=Ric |title=Master of the Ceremonies: An eventful life |date=2004 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |page=9 |isbn=9781741144178 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cCOjaEFyyMMC&dq=%22Ric+Birch%22+born+in+1945&pg=PA1 |accessdate=19 September 2020}}</ref> He later went on to be Director of Entertainment at World Expo 88 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, during the Australian Bicentenary year.<ref name="ABC-Regardedas">{{cite news |title=AU 3:19 / 9:58 27/1/2020 ABC 612 Breakfast interview;....Ric Birch, all things Spectak, including Expo 88. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjjPQLsV7ws |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/KjjPQLsV7ws |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|accessdate=19 September 2020 |work=ABC Radio Brisbane |date=27 January 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
== Olympic Games involvement == Birch has been involved in the planning and execution of Olympic Games Opening and Closing ceremonies for 5 different editions, making him regarded internationally as an expert these events.<ref name="ABC-Regardedas" /> His Olympic career includes: * Main producer for the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the LA 1984 Olympic Games.<ref name="AFR-Sydney">{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Tony |title=Olympics fear and loathing: Ric Birch unloads |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/olympics-fear-and-loathing-ric-birch-unloads-20000923-k9o4n |accessdate=19 September 2020 |work=Australian Financial Review}}</ref> * Executive Producer for the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.<ref name="AFR-Sydney" /> * Executive Producer and Main Director of Ceremonies for the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.<ref name="AFR-Sydney" /> * Producer for the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Torino 2006 Winter Olympic Games and Torino 2006 Winter Paralympics.<ref name="ItG_RioJob">{{cite web |last1=Osborne |first1=Paul |title=Ric Birch given new role with company associated with Rio 2016 Opening and Closing Ceremonies |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1017150/ric-birch-appointed-executive-producer-of-company-producing-rio-2016-opening-and-closing-ceremonies |website=insidethegames.biz |accessdate=19 September 2020}}</ref> This was his first time producing ceremonies for a Winter Olympic Games, which he worked with Filmmaster Events and Marco Balich. * International Artistic Advisor for Creative Director Zhang Yimou for the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.<ref name="ItG_RioJob" /> * He was also hired as Executive Producer for the Opening and Closing ceremonies for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games,<ref name="ItG_RioJob" /> but in 2016 it was found that he had left the project due to the change of directors and planning of the event.<ref name="ItG_leavesJob">{{cite web |last1=Butler |first1=Nick |title=Ric Birch given new role with company associated with Rio 2016 Opening and Closing Ceremonies |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1034274/ric-birch-no-longer-involved-in-rio-2016-olympic-or-paralympic-ceremonies-after-row-over-budget |website=Inside The Games |accessdate=19 September 2020 |date=11 February 2016}}</ref>
== Other events == In 1990, Birch worked as Director on the 25th Anniversary Singapore National Day Parade.<ref name="Singapore25th">{{cite web |title=Singapore 25th Anniversary (NDP 1990) Jubilee Spectacular |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF0PMbVcSNY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/YF0PMbVcSNY |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|website=YouTube |accessdate=19 September 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
Birch was also director and producer of Sydney New Year's Eve between 1996 and 1999.<ref name="AFR_NYE">{{cite web |last1=Allen |first1=Lisa |title=NSW and Vic going crackers over year 2000 fireworks |url=https://www.afr.com/politics/nsw-and-vic-going-crackers-over-year-2000-fireworks-19991210-k96en |publisher=Australian Financial Review |accessdate=19 September 2020 |date=10 December 1999}}</ref> His last event was NYE 1999, where in the finale light effect on the Sydney Harbour Bridge revealed the word 'Eternity' in Copperplate writing, in honour of Arthur Stace. This scene was then replicated with fireworks in the Sydney 2000 Olympics opening ceremony.
In 2009, he worked as an Advisor on the 2009 Hong Kong East Asian Games Opening and Closing ceremonies. In 2010 he participated in the planning of celebrations to commemorate 200th anniversary of the 'Grito de Dolores' – Hidalgo's call for independence – and the beginning of the Mexican war for independence from Spain. The ceremony took place on 15 September 2010.<ref name="SpectakInternationalMexico">{{cite web |title=Spectak International |url=https://www.spectak.com/mexico.html |website=Spectak International |accessdate=19 September 2020}}</ref> In the same year, he helped stage the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games Opening and Closing ceremonies, but the working relationship broke down between Birch (and other contractors) and the games organizers as he was not paid in full.<ref name="smh_delhi">{{cite news |last1=Doherty |first1=Ben |title=Birch was rude and cynical, say Delhi officials |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/birch-was-rude-and-cynical-say-delhi-officials-20110206-1aihl.html |accessdate=19 September 2020 |agency=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=7 February 2011}}</ref>
==See also== * GTK (TV series)
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.spectak.com Spectak International] – Official Site * [https://web.archive.org/web/20041010022745/http://www.abc.net.au/queensland/stories/s1190009.htm Rich Birch Interview] – Australian Broadcasting Corporation * [https://www.celebrityspeakers.com.au/brspeaker_bio.asp?Speaker_Index_Text=306 Ric Birch] – Celebrity Speakers * {{IMDb name|id=0083290|name=Rick Birch}} * [https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/ric-birch-entertainment-director-expo-88-visits-state-library Ric Birch, Entertainment Director for Expo 88, Visits State Library], State Library of Queensland {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Birch, Ric}} Category:Living people Category:People educated at Scotch College, Melbourne Category:1945 births Category:Australian television producers