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This article is about the Australian actress and writer. For the American tennis player, see Michelle Torres.
Mitch Torres
Torres in 2018
Born
Michelle Rose Torres

1964 (age 59–60)
Broome, Western Australia, Australia
Other namesMichelle Torres-Hill
Occupation(s)Actress, director, journalist, playwright, producer, radio presenter, and writer
Years active1986–present
Notable workBabaKiueria (1986)
Whispering in Our Hearts (2001)
Muttacar Sorry Business (2002)
Jandamarra's War (2011)
Kriol Kitchen (2014-2015)

Michelle "Mitch" Rose Torres (born 1964), also credited as Michelle Torres-Hill, is an Australian actress, director, journalist, playwright, producer, radio presenter, and writer. She began as an actress, playing the main role in the 1986 film BabaKiueria. She then worked as a journalist, becoming the first Indigenous Australian on-air presenter for SBS Television, and worked at ABC Television. She then worked for Indigenous radio stations as a broadcaster, producer, and presenter. She moved into filmmaking in the mid-1990s, with her first short film Promise for SBS-TV. Among her works include the documentary Jandamarra's War and the play Muttacar Sorry Business.

Torres has received an AWGIE Award, Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, Human Rights Award, and Australian Teachers of Media Awards for her work on The Circuit and Jandamarra's War. In 2021, she was awarded an honorary degree from the Australian Film, Television and Radio School.

Early life and education

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Michelle Rose Torres[1][2] was born in 1964.[3] She is of Djugun, Gooniyandi, Jabirr Jabirr, Walmadjari, and Yawuru descent from Broome, Western Australia.[4][5] Her great-grandfather was a Filipino pearl diver, Catalino Torres, who married the Jabirr Jabirr woman Matilda Ida Tiolbadonga in 1898.[6][7] A lover of dance, Torres studied at the Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre, where she was able to attain her first acting role for The Fringe Dwellers.[8] She played the role of Rosie in the 1990 theatrical production of Bran Nue Dae.[9]

Career

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As of 2022, Torres had been in the media industry for over 35 years, with work in acting, directing, producing, writing,[4][10] TV journalism, and presenting.[5][8] Torres began her media career as an actor, with credits in The Fringe Dwellers and Tudawali.[4] She played the central role in the 1986 mockumentary BabaKiueria as the reporter Duranga Manika,[11][12] where she followed the lives of a "'typical' white family" and described a football match as "ritualised violence" and betting at the TAB as a religion.[13] In 1988, she started working as a journalist, becoming the first Indigenous on-air presenter for SBS Television.[4][10][8][14] Torres then entered the ABC Television cadetship program.[10][8][14] She was the first presenter and a field journalist for GWN7's Millbindi program.[10][8]

After work in television journalism, Torres worked as a broadcaster for Indigenous radio stations Goolari and WAAMA6NR, then for ABC Kimberley as the morning show's presenter and producer.[10][8][14] Alongside her sister Ali Torres, she was the host for the National Indigenous Television program Kriol Kitchen.[15][16] The series served to educate viewers on the traditional cuisines of the Kimberley Region and highlight some of the scenery of the region.[15] Torres was the primary presenter, while Ali took a background role; in an interview with SBS Food Mitch was referred to as a "self-proclaimed damper destroyer".[16]

In the mid-1990s, Torres moved to filmmaking. Her first short drama, Promise,[8] was a contribution to the Shifting Sands Short Drama Initiative (SBS-TV).[10][14] She then made documentaries such as Jandamarra's War[17] and Whispering in our Hearts.[10][14] She recalled stumbling across the lead actor for the former serendipitously whilst in the Muludja Aboriginal Community.[17] By 2021, Torres was focusing on dramas, with previous work in documentaries and theatrical plays.[14] She was credited as "Michelle Torres-Hill" in the 1990s.[9]

In 2006, Torres and David Milroy wrote the theatrical production Muttacar Sorry Business with funding from the Insurance Commission of Western Australia.[18] The show highlights social determinants including alcohol, risk-taking behaviours, and overcrowding and the resulting high incidence of road trauma among Indigenous communities.[18] The production was expanded into Northern Territory's road safety programs.[19]

In September 2020, Torres was selected as one of eight participants in a new writing and directing initiative organised by WA Indigenous production companies Pink Pepper and Ramu Productions, along with New Zealand company Brown Sugar Apple Grunt, called the RED project. The project consisted of development workshops enabling each participant to write and direct a 10-minute short film, which would be part of a single anthology 80-minute feature film (working title RED) consisting of stories from a female Aboriginal perspective. The other participants were Ngaire Pigram, Debbie Carmody, Kelli Cross, Karla Hart, Chantelle Murray, Jub Clerc, and Kodie Bedford.[10][20]

Personal life

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Torres is the owner of the film company Nagarra Nagarra Film, which has collaborated with Ramu Productions for television series such as Seven.[14] Alongside her sister Ali, she is the owner of Mijinalii, which specialises in soap, candle, and body products and worked in collaboration with the Maganda Makers Business Club.[21] Torres' son Cornel Ozies works as a cinematographer and for his family's production company Wawili Pitjas.[22][23] He previously worked on the sets of The Great Gatsby, The Sapphires, and Thor: Ragnarok.[23] Torres is related to actresses Ningali Lawford and Shari Sebbens.[22] In 2022, Torres was appointed to the Arts and Culture Trust Board, which replaced the Perth Theatre Trust.[5] She served as an ambassador in 2022 for the CinefestOZ film festival.[8]

Works

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Acting credits

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Year Title Role Ref.
1986 Babakiueria Duranga Manika [24]
1986 The Fringe Dwellers Audrena [24]
1987 Slate, Wyn & Me Daphne [25]
1987 Tudawali Kate Wilson [26]
1988 Emerald City Kath [24]
1990 Don't Tell Her It's Me Ticket Agent [27]

Filmmaking credits

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Year Title Director Writer Notes Ref.
1998 Promise Yes Yes [28]
2000 Behind the Ball Yes [28]
2001 Whispering in Our Hearts: Uncovering the Mowla Bluff Massacre Yes [28]
2001 Saltwater Bluesman Yes Yes [28][29]
2002 One Day in '67 Yes Play [28][30]
2002 Muttacar Sorry Business Yes Yes With David Milroy [28]
2005 Case 442 – A Son's Journey to Find His Mother Yes Yes [28][31]
2007–2009 The Circuit Yes Dir. Beck Cole and Kelly Lefever, Series 1 and 2 [28][32]
2007 Bollywood Dreaming Yes Dir. Cornel Ozies [28][33]
2007 Jarlmadangah: Our Dream Our Reality Yes Yes [28][34]
2007 Double Trouble Yes with David Ogilvy, episodes 5, 6, 10 [28][35]
2010 Nyirr Marie Yes Yes [28][36]
2010 Keepers of the Story: Jandamarra Yes Yes [28][37]
2010 Lookin from the River Out Yes [28]
2011 Jandamarra's War Yes Yes [28][38]
2016 Willis Yu Yes Yes [28][39]
2016 Rosie Mulligan Yes [28][40]

Recognition and awards

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In 2021, in recognition of her work in the field, Torres was presented with an honorary doctorate from the Australian Film, Television and Radio School.[8][14]

Year Nominated Work Award Category Result Source
2007 The Circuit AWGIE Awards Television Award — Mini Series Original Nominated [41]
Deadly Sounds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music, Sport, Entertainment and Community Awards Excellence in Film & Theatrical Score Won [41]
Australian Film Institute Television Awards Best Screenplay in Television Nominated [41]
Human Rights Award Television Award Won [41]
2009 The Circuit (Series 2) AWGIE Awards Television Award — Mini-series - Original Won [41]
2010 Australian Film Institute Television Awards Best Television Drama Series Nominated [41]
2011 Jandamarra's War Deadly Sounds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music, Sport, Entertainment and Community Awards Film of the Year Nominated [41]
Australian Teachers of Media Awards Best Docudrama Won [41]
Best Documentary Biography Won [41]
Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards Best Documentary Under One Hour Won [41]

References

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  1. ^ "Nagarra Nagarra Films Pty Ltd". Dun & Bradstreet. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Torres, Mitch - Full record view". Libraries Australia. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Torres, Mitch (1964-)". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d "Mitch Torres". Taiwan International Ethnographic Film Festival. Academia Sinica. 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Mitch Torres". Business News. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  6. ^ Ruiz Wall, Deborah (30 June 2017). Re-imagining Australia: Voices of Indigenous Australians of Filipino descent. Keeaira Press. ISBN 978-0-9923241-5-5. Retrieved 30 August 2024. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  7. ^ Wall, Deborah Ruiz (23 January 2019). "The Link Between Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and the Philippines". Positively Filipino | Online Magazine for Filipinos in the Diaspora. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i Bell, Jodie (1 November 2022). "MEET FIRST NATIONS FINEST AT CINEFESTOZ BROOME FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS!". CinefestOZ. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  9. ^ a b Pinne, Peter (7 March 2020). "Bran Nue Dae (Part 1)". Theatre Heritage Australia. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Biddle, Alexandra (29 September 2020). "Eight Powerful, Female Indigenous Writer/Directors Selected as Part of RED". Screenwest. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  11. ^ van Schijndel, Mariska (26 October 2018). "'Babakiueria': How a mockumentary fights against Orientalism". Diggit Magazine. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  12. ^ Weaver-Hightower, Rebecca (2006). "Revisting the Vanquished: Indigenous Perspectives on Colonial Encounters". Journal for Early Modern Cultural Studies. 6 (2): 93. doi:10.1353/jem.2006.0010. ISSN 1531-0485. JSTOR 40339575. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  13. ^ Matthews, Kate. "Babakiueria: 'This strange and fascinating people'". National Film and Sound Archive. Government of Australia. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h "AFTRS Honorary Degrees For Lynette Wallworth, Cherie Romaro and Mitch Torres". Australian Film Television and Radio School. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  15. ^ a b Laden, Carly (25 October 2019). "Kriol Kitchen is a real appetiser". Broome Advertiser. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  16. ^ a b Hegarty, Siobhan (29 January 2015). "18 minutes with Mitch Torres". SBS Food. Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  17. ^ a b Prior, Flip (7 August 2010). "Film project brings history to life". Yahoo News. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  18. ^ a b Fotheringham, Richard; Smith, James (1 November 2013). Catching Australian Theatre in the 2000s. Rodopi. ISBN 978-94-012-1003-4. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  19. ^ McCarthy, Gerald (14 May 2010). "Muttacar Sorry Business reaching a greater audience". Territory Stories. Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  20. ^ "Eight female Indigenous writer-directors selected for anthology feature 'RED'". IF Magazine. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  21. ^ "100% Indigenous owned and women-led: the story of Ali and Mitch Torres and their business 'Mijinalii'". Good Return. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  22. ^ a b Jopson, Debra (6 June 2016). "Songlines that criss-cross Australia televised as a series for the first time". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  23. ^ a b Clark, Lucie (15 June 2020). "Cornel Ozies on directing Our Law, a documentary about Western Australia's first Indigenous-run police station". Vogue. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  24. ^ a b c "Michelle Torres". ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online. National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  25. ^ Gillard, Gary (17 September 2013). "Don McLennan". Australian Cinema. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  26. ^ Korff, Jens (27 December 2018). "Tudawali (Film)". Creative Spirits. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Don't Tell Her It's Me (1990)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Mitch Torres". AustLit. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  29. ^ "Saltwater Bluesman (2001) - The Screen Guide". National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. Government of Australia. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  30. ^ "One Day in '67 by Mitch Torres". ABC Radio National. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 February 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  31. ^ "Case 442: For what purpose?". National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. Government of Australia. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  32. ^ "The Circuit series 1 (2007) - The Screen Guide". Screen Australia. Australian Government. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  33. ^ "Bollywood Dreaming (2007) - The Screen Guide". Screen Australia. Australian Government. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  34. ^ "JARLMADANGAH: Our Dream Our Reality [from the CAAMA Collection]". Ronin Films. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  35. ^ "Double Trouble Episode Guide". Australiantelevision.net. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013.
  36. ^ "NYIRR-MARIE [from the CAAMA Collection]". Ronin Films. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  37. ^ "KEEPERS OF THE STORY - Jandamarra [from the CAAMA Collection]". - Ronin Films. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  38. ^ "Mitch (Michelle) Torres - The Screen Guide". Screen Australia. Australian Government. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  39. ^ "Willis Yu (2016) - The Screen Guide". Screen Australia. Australian Government. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  40. ^ "Rosie Mulligan (2016) - The Screen Guide". Screen Australia. Australian Government. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  41. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Mitch Torres". AustLit. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
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