‘I didn't want to': How John Clarke's daughter surprised herself with a doco about her dad

Sydney Morning Herald04-06-2025

Not many people knew John Clarke as well as his daughter Lorin – 'we worked together in the same office for decades, on and off,' she says. But she's as surprised as anyone that she has made a movie about the much-loved writer, actor and comedian, who died suddenly while bushwalking at age 68 in 2017.
'It's the last thing I wanted to do,' she says. 'I didn't get up every morning going, 'I must tell his story.' But then when other people tried to, saying, 'We think this is the story. We don't want you to be involved, but we'd like all the rights and everything', suddenly I thought, 'Shit, I do want to protect his legacy.''
The result of that effort is Not Only Fred Dagg But Also John Clarke, a feature-length documentary that will screen in public for the first time at the Melbourne International Film Festival in August. It is one of 20 titles announced on Thursday in MIFF's First Glance.
It wasn't the thought of someone dishing dirt on Dad that ultimately got Lorin Clarke over the line. It was the likelihood that they wouldn't even try.
The thesis of the filmmaking team from New Zealand that in 2020 approached the Clarke family – Lorin, her sister Lucia, and their mother, Helen McDonald, an art historian and author in her own right – was that John was the foundation stone of the country's comedy. Without him, there would be no Flight of the Conchords, no Rhys Darby, no Taika Waititi.
'It was so wrong, it was hero worship,' she says. 'And my mum said to me, 'If something were to be made and it were a hagiography, that would be a real shame', because he wouldn't appreciate that. He'd be so allergic to the idea.'
In crafting her version of his life, Lorin has had access not just to his vast treasure trove of archives ('the man did not throw out an envelope') but also a series of interviews she conducted with him for a podcast that never eventuated.
The biggest gift, though, was a document her husband, Stewart, (who helped John with his IT needs) found on his computer four days after his death.
'The whole desktop was empty except for a single Word document, about 70 pages long, titled 'For Lauren and Lucia',' she says. 'He'd written everything down: 'this is how I felt in primary school' ... 'I remember looking out the window in the classroom and thinking this …' It blew my mind that he did this, that he didn't tell us, and that there was no instruction. I just went, 'Holy shit. Well, I guess I'm making a film.''
The portrait she has painted of her father is intimate, and it straddles the public and the private. Growing up in New Zealand, he was deeply scarred by his parents' disastrous marriage – 'they hated each other,' says Lorin, 'as their life project. Really, that was their whole thing' – was expelled from high school, dropped out of university, and at age 22 became a national sensation when his parody of a sheep farmer appeared for the first time on the country's only television station.
Fred Dagg was at first scorned by critics but was quickly embraced by audiences. When Clarke decided to relocate to Australia in 1977, at the age of 29, it was in part to escape the long shadow cast by his comedic creation.
Lorin's film, of course, traces the career milestones, but it does much more. 'If you went to see a film about John Clarke, and you came away with all the things you could Google about John Clarke, what's the point,' she says of the task she set herself.
She didn't expect to unearth tales about a shady hidden life, and nor did she. There was no secret second family, no dreadful kinks. The girls had a childhood that was, Lorin says, 'offensively idyllic … it was just creativity, it was like Heide without the drugs and the partner sharing. It was in Greensborough, but it felt like a Tuscan mountainside, a glorious, funny, playful place to be.'
Finding people to say a bad word about John wasn't easy. But one of Lorin's favourite moments in the film comes when his nominal boss at the ABC, Kate Torney – who as news director had oversight of the interview Clarke and his writing partner Brian Dawe did each week from 2000 until his death – observes that 'he didn't love management'. Given his clear loathing of bureaucracy, that might be the understatement of the century.
The other features John Ruane, director of Death in Brunswick (1990), in which Clarke played Dave, the gravedigger mate of Sam Neill's bumbling Carl.
When Lorin asks Ruane to recall his first impressions of John, he stares down the barrel of the camera and says: 'When I met your father, I thought he was an arrogant, cantankerous …'
She could not have been more delighted. Nor, it transpired, could John's widow.
'I called Mum later, and told her what [Ruane] had said,' Clarke recalls. 'And she said [of the director], 'I always liked him.''

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Excel at spreadsheets. There's a competition for that?

The Advertiser

a day ago

The Advertiser

Excel at spreadsheets. There's a competition for that?

Who truly excels at Excel? At the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championships, enthusiastic spreadsheeters compete to see who will be the global star of a computer program that many love to hate. Melbourne-based filmmaker Kristina Kraskov followed six teenagers on the road to the 2023 edition of the competition in Florida, for her first feature documentary, Spreadsheet Champions. It's been billed as a "heartwarming tale of formulas and friendship". It's certainly a quirky subject for a low-budget documentary and Kraskov says it's ultimately a lovely human story. "We find out what can happen when you just allow yourself to love what you love and you really go for your dreams, despite what everyone else thinks," she said. Spreadsheet Champions had its world premiere at SXSW in the US in March and will screen at the Melbourne International Film Festival in August. The filmmaker travelled the world to interview Excel national champions in the USA, Greece, Guatemala, Cameroon, Australia and Vietnam. For some of them, winning in the US equals life-changing offers of jobs, scholarships and better housing. Australia's entry, Queensland high school student Braydon, openly admits he didn't do much training before taking out the national titles. "I kind of just winged it, then won it," he said. His campaign for the global title involved a week of practice. The laid-back 17-year-old says he wouldn't describe himself as a nerd or a geek because he believes there's too much negativity about people who are good at technology and computers. "It's important to recognise that the people who call others "nerds" or "geeks" really just aren't able to do what they want with technology themselves," he said. So for those like Braydon who have the ability, what does it take to become global champion of the cells? As well as building spreadsheets, competitors were also tested on their ability to find data hidden in documents - and remember the dates of important program updates. While even an accountant might only use about 20 per cent of Excel's capabilities, those vying for spreadsheet glory also need to know almost everything the program can do, Kraskov explained. "They're solving different problems and they're being marked on speed and accuracy, so they have to be really fast. They can't make mistakes," she said. Kraskov, 31, has worked for various Australian television productions including Emergency (Nine), The Dog House Australia (Ten) and Dancing with the Stars (Seven). Experienced at capturing the action for these shows, she filmed Spreadsheet Champions with a two-person crew and gear that would fit in a backpack - only to discover the challenges of filming in tropical humidity in Vietnam. "I was a bit freaked out at how much my lens would fog up ... it was just me on the camera, so I had to not panic and get it done." The production received Screen Australia and VicScreen funding and support from the MIFF Premiere fund but the filming was self-financed. The full program for the Melbourne International Film Festival is out in July. Two dozen titles revealed so far include the Australian premiere of Julia Holter: The Passion of Joan of Arc, the US composer's live score of the classic 1928 French silent film that will be performed at the Melbourne Recital Centre. There's also the world premiere of When the World Came Flooding In, an immersive installation and virtual reality documentary about life following a natural disaster. Spreadsheet Champions screens on August 12 and 22 at the Australian Centre for Moving Image and the Melbourne International Film Festival runs August 7-24. Who truly excels at Excel? At the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championships, enthusiastic spreadsheeters compete to see who will be the global star of a computer program that many love to hate. Melbourne-based filmmaker Kristina Kraskov followed six teenagers on the road to the 2023 edition of the competition in Florida, for her first feature documentary, Spreadsheet Champions. It's been billed as a "heartwarming tale of formulas and friendship". It's certainly a quirky subject for a low-budget documentary and Kraskov says it's ultimately a lovely human story. "We find out what can happen when you just allow yourself to love what you love and you really go for your dreams, despite what everyone else thinks," she said. Spreadsheet Champions had its world premiere at SXSW in the US in March and will screen at the Melbourne International Film Festival in August. The filmmaker travelled the world to interview Excel national champions in the USA, Greece, Guatemala, Cameroon, Australia and Vietnam. For some of them, winning in the US equals life-changing offers of jobs, scholarships and better housing. Australia's entry, Queensland high school student Braydon, openly admits he didn't do much training before taking out the national titles. "I kind of just winged it, then won it," he said. His campaign for the global title involved a week of practice. The laid-back 17-year-old says he wouldn't describe himself as a nerd or a geek because he believes there's too much negativity about people who are good at technology and computers. "It's important to recognise that the people who call others "nerds" or "geeks" really just aren't able to do what they want with technology themselves," he said. So for those like Braydon who have the ability, what does it take to become global champion of the cells? As well as building spreadsheets, competitors were also tested on their ability to find data hidden in documents - and remember the dates of important program updates. While even an accountant might only use about 20 per cent of Excel's capabilities, those vying for spreadsheet glory also need to know almost everything the program can do, Kraskov explained. "They're solving different problems and they're being marked on speed and accuracy, so they have to be really fast. They can't make mistakes," she said. Kraskov, 31, has worked for various Australian television productions including Emergency (Nine), The Dog House Australia (Ten) and Dancing with the Stars (Seven). Experienced at capturing the action for these shows, she filmed Spreadsheet Champions with a two-person crew and gear that would fit in a backpack - only to discover the challenges of filming in tropical humidity in Vietnam. "I was a bit freaked out at how much my lens would fog up ... it was just me on the camera, so I had to not panic and get it done." The production received Screen Australia and VicScreen funding and support from the MIFF Premiere fund but the filming was self-financed. The full program for the Melbourne International Film Festival is out in July. Two dozen titles revealed so far include the Australian premiere of Julia Holter: The Passion of Joan of Arc, the US composer's live score of the classic 1928 French silent film that will be performed at the Melbourne Recital Centre. There's also the world premiere of When the World Came Flooding In, an immersive installation and virtual reality documentary about life following a natural disaster. Spreadsheet Champions screens on August 12 and 22 at the Australian Centre for Moving Image and the Melbourne International Film Festival runs August 7-24. Who truly excels at Excel? At the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championships, enthusiastic spreadsheeters compete to see who will be the global star of a computer program that many love to hate. Melbourne-based filmmaker Kristina Kraskov followed six teenagers on the road to the 2023 edition of the competition in Florida, for her first feature documentary, Spreadsheet Champions. It's been billed as a "heartwarming tale of formulas and friendship". It's certainly a quirky subject for a low-budget documentary and Kraskov says it's ultimately a lovely human story. "We find out what can happen when you just allow yourself to love what you love and you really go for your dreams, despite what everyone else thinks," she said. Spreadsheet Champions had its world premiere at SXSW in the US in March and will screen at the Melbourne International Film Festival in August. The filmmaker travelled the world to interview Excel national champions in the USA, Greece, Guatemala, Cameroon, Australia and Vietnam. For some of them, winning in the US equals life-changing offers of jobs, scholarships and better housing. Australia's entry, Queensland high school student Braydon, openly admits he didn't do much training before taking out the national titles. "I kind of just winged it, then won it," he said. His campaign for the global title involved a week of practice. The laid-back 17-year-old says he wouldn't describe himself as a nerd or a geek because he believes there's too much negativity about people who are good at technology and computers. "It's important to recognise that the people who call others "nerds" or "geeks" really just aren't able to do what they want with technology themselves," he said. So for those like Braydon who have the ability, what does it take to become global champion of the cells? As well as building spreadsheets, competitors were also tested on their ability to find data hidden in documents - and remember the dates of important program updates. While even an accountant might only use about 20 per cent of Excel's capabilities, those vying for spreadsheet glory also need to know almost everything the program can do, Kraskov explained. "They're solving different problems and they're being marked on speed and accuracy, so they have to be really fast. They can't make mistakes," she said. Kraskov, 31, has worked for various Australian television productions including Emergency (Nine), The Dog House Australia (Ten) and Dancing with the Stars (Seven). Experienced at capturing the action for these shows, she filmed Spreadsheet Champions with a two-person crew and gear that would fit in a backpack - only to discover the challenges of filming in tropical humidity in Vietnam. "I was a bit freaked out at how much my lens would fog up ... it was just me on the camera, so I had to not panic and get it done." The production received Screen Australia and VicScreen funding and support from the MIFF Premiere fund but the filming was self-financed. The full program for the Melbourne International Film Festival is out in July. Two dozen titles revealed so far include the Australian premiere of Julia Holter: The Passion of Joan of Arc, the US composer's live score of the classic 1928 French silent film that will be performed at the Melbourne Recital Centre. There's also the world premiere of When the World Came Flooding In, an immersive installation and virtual reality documentary about life following a natural disaster. Spreadsheet Champions screens on August 12 and 22 at the Australian Centre for Moving Image and the Melbourne International Film Festival runs August 7-24. Who truly excels at Excel? At the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championships, enthusiastic spreadsheeters compete to see who will be the global star of a computer program that many love to hate. Melbourne-based filmmaker Kristina Kraskov followed six teenagers on the road to the 2023 edition of the competition in Florida, for her first feature documentary, Spreadsheet Champions. It's been billed as a "heartwarming tale of formulas and friendship". It's certainly a quirky subject for a low-budget documentary and Kraskov says it's ultimately a lovely human story. "We find out what can happen when you just allow yourself to love what you love and you really go for your dreams, despite what everyone else thinks," she said. Spreadsheet Champions had its world premiere at SXSW in the US in March and will screen at the Melbourne International Film Festival in August. The filmmaker travelled the world to interview Excel national champions in the USA, Greece, Guatemala, Cameroon, Australia and Vietnam. For some of them, winning in the US equals life-changing offers of jobs, scholarships and better housing. Australia's entry, Queensland high school student Braydon, openly admits he didn't do much training before taking out the national titles. "I kind of just winged it, then won it," he said. His campaign for the global title involved a week of practice. The laid-back 17-year-old says he wouldn't describe himself as a nerd or a geek because he believes there's too much negativity about people who are good at technology and computers. "It's important to recognise that the people who call others "nerds" or "geeks" really just aren't able to do what they want with technology themselves," he said. So for those like Braydon who have the ability, what does it take to become global champion of the cells? As well as building spreadsheets, competitors were also tested on their ability to find data hidden in documents - and remember the dates of important program updates. While even an accountant might only use about 20 per cent of Excel's capabilities, those vying for spreadsheet glory also need to know almost everything the program can do, Kraskov explained. "They're solving different problems and they're being marked on speed and accuracy, so they have to be really fast. They can't make mistakes," she said. Kraskov, 31, has worked for various Australian television productions including Emergency (Nine), The Dog House Australia (Ten) and Dancing with the Stars (Seven). Experienced at capturing the action for these shows, she filmed Spreadsheet Champions with a two-person crew and gear that would fit in a backpack - only to discover the challenges of filming in tropical humidity in Vietnam. "I was a bit freaked out at how much my lens would fog up ... it was just me on the camera, so I had to not panic and get it done." The production received Screen Australia and VicScreen funding and support from the MIFF Premiere fund but the filming was self-financed. The full program for the Melbourne International Film Festival is out in July. Two dozen titles revealed so far include the Australian premiere of Julia Holter: The Passion of Joan of Arc, the US composer's live score of the classic 1928 French silent film that will be performed at the Melbourne Recital Centre. There's also the world premiere of When the World Came Flooding In, an immersive installation and virtual reality documentary about life following a natural disaster. Spreadsheet Champions screens on August 12 and 22 at the Australian Centre for Moving Image and the Melbourne International Film Festival runs August 7-24.