Leo Baker

Leo Baker is a writer and director of film and animation. His most recent work  is the feature documentary film called ‘The Will To Fly’ about the life and tumultuous sport career of Olympic champion aerial skier, Lydia Lassila. Leo has also created two short films ‘Love Notes’ and ‘Off Course’, that have found success of the international film festival circuit.

In 2010 Leo completed animating and editing the animated film ‘The Lost Thing’ which won many international awards, including the 2010 Annecy Crystal and the 2011 Academy Award for best animated short film. In 2011 Leo was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship to research sustainable animation industries around the world, with the intent to reinvigorate the Australian animation industry.

Where were you born?

Melbourne

What other jobs have you had?

I began my career as a freelance camera assistant and film loader in the film industry. I was strongly drawn to visual effects and subsequently worked for several years on international feature films as a visual effects artist, eventually specialising in animation. The practical knowledge of cameras, lenses, lighting, and movement has been invaluable to my animation and film work. I have also produced several music videos that include fusions of animation and visual storytelling skills. The most recent being a video for ‘Praying For Sunshine’ for the Melbourne based band Children Collide, which featured at ‘Spectacle: The Music Video’ exhibition at ACMI in 2013.

What themes are recurring in your work?

I love colour, composition and contrast. I will always be a student of creativity, always willing to try new ideas whilst developing my style.

What have been the highlights of your career?

Animating Academy Award winning film The Lost Thing in 2010 and travelling around the world on a Winston Churchill Fellowship in 2011. The Will To Fly will definitely be a highlight, but not until 2016.

What are you passionate about?

Imagination, story telling, film making, ideas, creativity, music, photography, the unexpected, being inspired, being bold creatively.

Haven’t I seen you before?

Possibly, in the surf.

Anything else you’d like to share with us?

Plenty! How much time do you have?