Brindle Films
Trisha Morton-Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Born | Patricia Morton-Thomas |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, producer, director, actor |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Known for | Radiance (1998), Brindle Films, MaveriX |
Patricia Morton-Thomas, professionally known as Trisha Morton-Thomas, is an Australian creative professional encompassing roles as a writer, producer, director, and actor. Her debut feature film appearance was in Radiance (1998), under the direction of Rachel Perkins. In 2011, she partnered with Rachel Clements to establish the production company Brindle Films based in Alice Springs.
Early life
Raised in Alice Springs and the remote regions of the Northern Territory, Morton-Thomas belongs to the Anmatyerr people, identifying as an Aboriginal Australian.
Career
Morton-Thomas launched her professional journey at the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) in 1983, initially volunteering as a radio presenter and cadet journalist until 1990. She then relocated to Darwin to join the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The following year, she moved to Sydney alongside Rachel Perkins.
While in Sydney, she contributed as a sound technician for the newly formed Bangarra Dance Theatre, assisting with the soundtrack for their inaugural ballet. In 1993, she pursued acting studies at the Eora College for Performing Arts. Subsequently, she played the lead role of Mae in Radiance (1998).
Returning to Alice Springs in 2004, Morton-Thomas took on various responsibilities including production manager, producer, and director within CAAMA's film production sector. She joined National Indigenous Television in 2007 as a commissioning editor and later advanced to senior commissioning editor. Additionally, she served as a presenter on ABC Television’s Message Stick.
In 2011, Morton-Thomas co-established Brindle Films with Rachel Clements. This company specializes in producing feature films, documentaries, and television content from its headquarters in Alice Springs.
In collaboration with ABC, Brindle Films produced MaveriX in 2020—a drama series focusing on junior motocross designed for children and young adolescents. The series was filmed in Alice Springs during 2021 and debuted on ABC Me in April 2022, featuring Morton-Thomas as part of the cast.
Together with Clements, she co-produced a feature-length documentary centered on Audrey Napanangka, which was released in 2023 following ten years of development.
More recently, Morton-Thomas has maintained her dual roles in acting and production. She appeared in the inaugural season of Ten Pound Poms (2023), participated in both cast and crew capacities for the feature film Kangaroo (with production commencing in 2024), and was cast in Foxtel/Binge’s drama High Country. In 2024, she reprised her character for the concluding season of Total Control.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019, 2024 | Total Control | Jan Irving | 5 episodes |
| 2024 | High Country | Gladys Cooper | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart | Mary | 1 episode |
| Ten Pound Poms | 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 |
| 2012-13 | Redfern Now | Aunty Mona | 2 episodes |
Filmography
| Year | Title | Character | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Kangaroo | Gwennie | Feature-length film |
| 2017 | Nobody's Child | Nana Mae | Short film production |
| 2002 | Mimi | Mimi | Short film |
| 1998 | Radiance | Mae |
| Year | Title | Position | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Kangaroo | Producer | Feature film |
| 2022 | Audrey Napanangka | Producer | |
| MaveriX | Producer, cultural advisor | 10 episodes | |
| 2021 | Democracy, Darling! | Producer | Short film |
| Uluru and the Magician | Producer | ||
| History Bites Back | Producer | ||
| 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 | Producer | Short film | |
| The Song Keepers | Producer | ||
| 2015 | '8MMM Aboriginal Radio' | 'Producer' | '6 episodes' |
| 2007 | 'Wiliberta Jack' | 'Development producer' | 'Short film' |
| 2006 | 'Always Have and Always Will' | 'Production coordinator' | 'Short film' |
| 'Sunset to Sunrise' | 'Production coordinator' | 'Short film' |
Accolades
- 2018: Awarded ATOM Award for Best Indigenous Video or Website for Occupation Native (2017)
- 2018: Received nomination from Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards for Best Documentary with The Songkeepers (2017)