Whether through Writing, Directing or Acting, Rohan is compelled to explore stories with powerful universal themes: brotherhood, genocide, racism, obsessive love, blind revenge, political tyranny, heroism, and the psychological and emotional trauma caused by combat. Initially (and preferably), he seeks the expression of these themes via his passion for creative writing. Only with substantial time to investigate is he able to strip back and fully explore these themes– as they are deeply rooted in his (and others’) human experience. Rohan’s other creative love, is acting. He loves to work with actors to realize the interpretation of universal themes into the ‘coming alive’ on screen. He believes acting is one of the two greatest art forms (singing being the other). Acting utilises a person’s physicality, their intellect and their emotional experience to express, and transcend themselves; in order to truthfully live out a conceived character’s experience. We have all witnessed performances that have lifted a film to cult status or to greatness. It is Rohan’s aim to write and direct screen stories that reach these heights.
In 2011, Rohan was named one of Melbourne’s Top 100 most influential, inspirational, provocative & creative people by 'The Age' newspaper’s ‘Melbourne Magazine’.
Rohan was the Development Producer and Screenwriter on the feature film ‘Hermano’ – Venezuela’s entry for the 2011 Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. Set in the slums of Caracas, ‘Hermano’ also screened at:
- Cannes Film Festival – Junior.
- The 32nd Moscow International Film Festival: winning the Golden George for Best Film, Critics Award and Audience Award
- Huelva Latin American Film Festival in Spain: winning Best Film
- Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival: winning the Audience Award
At last count, Hermano has won thirteen awards at ten International Film Festivals, screening at 52 festivals in 40 countries.
The film was released in Venezuelan cinemas to critical and audience acclaim, with over 400,000 people flooding their local multiplexes. The audience response kept the film in packed Venezuelan cinemas for four months. This led to multiple nominations for ‘Hermano’ at the Venezuelan Feature Film Awards (the ‘Roman Chalbaud’s’) for 2011; where it took out Best Film, Best Script and Best Actor. It was also released in cinemas in Spain, and has been purchased for cinema release by multiple international territories – through it’s sales agents ‘M-Appeal’ (International) and ‘Music Box Films’ (USA).
Rohan has recently completed a treatment for a feature film based on Geoffrey Bardon – the man credited with starting one of Australia’s, and the world’s, greatest art movements: the Western Desert’s Papunya Tula. For this project Rohan was awarded a mentorship with The Australian Writer’s Guild, which was financed by Film Victoria.
Short films Rohan has produced, written and/or directed have screened in the UK, USA, Russia, China, Japan, Latin America and Australia, winning prizes such as The Audience Choice Award at the Chicago International Latin American Film Festival (2006), and making the final 16 of Tropfest 2009.
He has had extensive experience crewing on over forty feature films, television dramas, short films and music videos and over 250 television commercials; performing a variety of roles, including: First Assistant Director, Art Director and Unit Manger.
He has a Post-Graduate Degree in Film and Television from the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) Film and Television School (2003), where he won ScreenSound Australia’s ‘Outstanding Drama’ award, and AAV Australia’s award for ‘the best script from a graduating student in film, video and animation’.
He also has a Diploma of Performing Arts (Acting, 19920), having worked as an actor with some of Australia’s most experienced film and television directors – George Ogilvie, Ian Watson and P.J. Hogan (Muriel’s Wedding), as well as stage productions directed by Peter Sardi, Jenny Kemp, Richard Murphett and Brett Adam.
Rohan has twenty-five years experience in the Arts and Entertainment industry.