Trisha Morton-Thomas

Australian Indigenous writer, producer and actor

Trisha Morton-Thomas

Patricia Morton-Thomas, usually credited as Trisha Morton-Thomas, is an Australian writer, producer, director, and actor. Her first role in a feature film was in Radiance (1998), the first feature film by director Rachel Perkins. Morton-Thomas and Rachel Clements co-founded filmmaking company Brindle Films in Alice Springs in 2011.

## Early life

[edit]

Morton-Thomas[1] grew up in Alice Springs and the remote Northern Territory.[2] She is an Aboriginal Australian of the Anmatyerr people.[3]

## Career

[edit]

Morton-Thomas started her career at the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) in 1983, where she worked as a volunteer radio announcer and later as a cadet journalist until 1990 when she moved to Darwin to work with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation there.[2]

In 1991 Morton-Thomas moved to Sydney with her good friend Rachel Perkins, who, she says, "dragged me along with her".[4]

In Sydney she worked with the newly-formed Bangarra Dance Theatre as a sound technician, collaborating with David Page on the soundtrack for Bangarra's first ballet, Praying Mantis Dreaming. In 1993 she studied with Noel Tovey in the Uta Hagen acting technique at the Eora College for Performing Arts.[2]

After finishing at Eora College, Morton-Thomas appeared in Radiance in 1998, directed by Perkins. She played the main character, Mae.[5]

In 2004, she returned to Alice Springs and began working with CAAMA as a production manager, producer, and director for their film production slate.[2]

In 2007 Morton-Thomas joined the newly established National Indigenous Television as a commissioning editor, later being promoted to senior commissioning editor.[5]

She was a presenter on the ABC Television show Message Stick.[6]

In 2011 Morton-Thomas formed Brindle Films with Rachel Clements. Based in Alice Springs, Brindle films has produced feature films, documentaries and television shows.[7]

In 2020 it was confirmed that ABC and Brindle Films would partner to produce MaveriX, a drama TV series aimed at children and young teenagers set in the world of junior motocross, which would be the largest ever local productions for the NT. It was shot in Alice Springs in 2021[8] and premiered on ABC Me on 1 April 2022, Morton-Thomas also appeared in the series.[9][10]

Morton-Thomas and Rachel Clements co-produced a feature documentary about Audrey Napanangka, made by filmmaker Penelope McDonald, her son Dylan River, and others. The film took around 10 years to make and was released in 2023.[11][12]

In 2023, Morton-Thomas appeared in the first season of Ten Pound Poms.[13]

In May 2024 Morton-Thomas joined the production of feature film Kangaroo as cast and part of the crew.[14] She was also announced as part of the cast for Foxtel/Binge drama High Country.[15]

In 2024 Morton-Thomas appeared in the final season of Total Control, reprising her role from the first season.[16]

## Filmography

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Television appearances  Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

2019, 2024  | Total Control (TV series) | Jan Irving  | 5 episodes
2024  | High Country | Gladys Cooper  | 2 episodes
2023  | The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart | Mary  | 1 episode
Ten Pound Poms (TV series) | Auntie May  | 4 episodes
2022  | True Colours | Theodora  | 4 episodes
MaveriX | Barb Brewin  | 4 episodes
2020  | Thalu | The Principal  | 1 episode
2015  | 8MMM Aboriginal Radio | Lola  | 6 episodes
2013-12  | Redfern Now | Aunty Mona  | 2 episodes

### Film appearances

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

2025  | Kangaroo | TBA  | Feature film
2017  | Nobody's Child | Nana Mae  | Short
2002  | Mimi | Mimi  | Short
1998  | Radiance | Mae  |
Producer/crew  Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

2025  | Kangaroo | Producer  | Feature film
2022  | Audrey Napanangka | Producer  |
MaveriX | Producer/cultural consultant  | 10 episodes
2021  | Democracy, Darling! | Producer  | Short
Uluru and the Magician |
History Bites Back |
2019  | Robbie Hood | Cultural consultant  | 6 episodes
Not Just Numbers | Executive producer  |
2018  | Finke:There and Back | Producer  |
2017  | Occupation: Native | Producer  |
Coat of Arms | Short
The Song Keepes |
2015  | 8MMM Aboriginal Radio | Producer  | 6 episodes
2007  | Wiliberta Jack | Development producer  | Short
2006  | Always Have and Always Will | Production coordinator  | Short
Sunset to Sunrise | Short

## Awards

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* 2018: Winner, ATOM Awards (Australian Teachers of Media Awards), Best Indigenous Video or Website, for Occupation Native (2017)[citation needed]
* 2018: Nominated, Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards, Best Documentary, for The Songkeepers (2017)[citation needed]

## References

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1. ^ "Current details for ABN 26 019 659 900". ABN Lookup. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
2. ^ a b c d "Trisha Morton-Thomas". Ronin Films. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
3. ^ "Trisha Morton-Thomas". Ronin Films. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
4. ^ Morelli, Laura (10 August 2017). "Trisha Morton-Thomas dishes up a fresh look at Australia's colonial past". NITV. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
5. ^ a b "Trisha Morton-Thomas". Brindle Films. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
6. ^ "Message Stick". Australian Screen. NFSA. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
7. ^ "About". Brindle Films. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
8. ^ "ABC/Brindle Films' 'MaveriX' to be largest ever local production for the NT". IF Magazine. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
9. ^ Knox, David (28 March 2022). "Airdate: MaveriX". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
10. ^ Knox, David (28 March 2022). "Airdate: MaveriX | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
11. ^ "About". Audrey Napanangka. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
12. ^ "Audrey Napanangka (2023) - The Screen Guide". Screen Australia. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
13. ^ Knox, David (14 May 2023). "Ten Pound Poms | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
14. ^ Slatter, Sean (15 May 2024). "Ryan Corr, Lily Whiteley hop to it in the NT as Kate Woods' 'Kangaroo' begins production". IF Magazine. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
15. ^ Knox, David (4 May 2023). "More cast added to High Country | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
16. ^ Knox, David (31 May 2023). "Total Control filming third and final series | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 22 February 2024.