OREN GERASSI

Information for Prospective Collaborators, Employers, Lovers and Stalkers.

Who am I?

A smaller and less sophisticated model of me came into existence in 1985. Despite being born in Israel, a war inflicted nation in the Middle East, I was hugged, fed and therefore survived.

I grew up in suburban Tel Aviv, where there are no camels at all, just a lot of stray cats. The cats adjusted well to the hot coastal climate with sun, sandy beaches, and the endless supply of rubbish contributing to a prosperous and strong community.

The institutions facilitating the expansion of the cat habitat had considerable control over my life too, and I had varying degrees of success in resisting religious and nationalistic coercion. While my immediate surrounding was relatively safe, around the fences it was dominated by trauma, suffering and loss.

For comfort, I turned to music. Music was good way to make sense out of what at times seemed like an absurd existence. It opened a door to a dialogue that transcended the technicalities of language.

In the spring of 2008 I left my home town on good terms, with good memories and mental scars for life. The destination: Melbourne, Australia, where I spent almost 13 years doing all sorts of stuff.

In the end of 2020 I moved to lutruwita (Tasmania) with my partner. We lived in a farm for the better part of the year and have now settled in nipaluna (Hobart), by the foot of kunanyi (Mt Wellington), where we often climb and hike. Polite wallabies replaced the angry cats and my gardening skills are improving

Work history

I work in cultural spaces. in the seam between technology and people.
My practice ranges from design to production, and management. From planning, organising and monitoring complex logistic operations over extended periods, to performing specific technical tasks under pressure. My experience ranges from pushing heavy boxes onto filthy trucks, to serving coffee politely to the most grumpy old men, from human resources management, to museums, film, broadcast media and management of large-scale festival productions. I’ve worked as a freelancer and in partnerships, in the private corporate sector and in all levels of government.

  • Technical Officer – University of Tasmania School of Arts

    Music and Performance, The Hedberg, 2023 - current

  • Production Manager – Mona Foma 2023

    Prayer by James Webb, multi-channel audio gallery installation (Launceston / TMAG). Floors of Heaven, underwater sound installation at the Launceston Gorge public swimming pool

  • Technical Producer / Sound Engineer – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

    Sound recording, editing, broadcasting - Radio National, Radio Melbourne, Radio Hobart, Radio Australia, Triple J, ABC Grandstand (2016-Current, Casual)

  • Project Manager – Dark Mofo

    Project planning, budget oversight, stakeholder management, risk and safety, compliance, crew management. Citywide public sound installation and a large-scale mud sculptures installation. (Hobart, March-July 2021, full-time contract)

  • Radio Master Control Room Operator - Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

    Radio Network switching and monitoring, transmission fault finding, emergency broadcast support (2017-2020, Casual)

  • Production Manager, Venues– Melbourne International Comedy Festival

    Risk and safety, warden, compliance, venue liaison, council liaison, supplier liaison, production planning, crew management (2018-2020)

  • Production Manager, Arts Centre Melbourne – Melbourne International Arts Festival

    International touring theatre and dance production management, risk and safety, venue liaison, crew management, budgeting, and scheduling (2019, full time contract)

  • Multimedia Technician / Project Manager - Museums Victoria

    Multimedia technology integration and operation in gallery environment, Audio Visual interactivity, programming, equipment maintenance, technical drawing, budgeting, project planning (2010-2020)

  • Technical Co-ordinator – The Wheeler Centre

    Venue management, service agreement negotiation, infrastructure development, crew management, rostering, equipment operations and maintenance (2012-2016)

  • Producer / Director / President of the Board of Directors - 48 Hour Film Project Melbourne

    During my first-year diploma studies in Melbourne, I perused an entrepreneurial venture and initiated an international short film competition (48 Hour Film Project) which brought emerging Australian talent to the Cannes Film Festival and established a platform for local filmmakers which remains active 13 years on. Over 1500 people participated across 11 events annually (filmmakers and audiences)(2008-2009).

  • Music Producer – Short Film Scores, Independent Music

    Music production using string, percussion, voice, and electronic instruments in a variety of styles. Composition, arrangements, mixing and mastering (2006-current)

  • Sound Designer / Editor

    Field recording, special effects, dialogue editing, balance and preparation for broadcast (2006-current)

  • Roadie / Sound Engineer

    Music and sound amplification and operations. Live music and theatre performances, corporate conferences, sporting events, festivals. (2006-current)

Screen Credits

The Ballad of Des and Mo - Sound Designer, Feature Film - Melbourne International Film Festival (2010), Wasteland - Sound Designer, Feature Film - Nominated Best Sound Design - Maverick Movie Awards (2009) Duet - Music Producer, Short Film - Winner Best Original Music Award 48 Hour Film Project Tel Aviv (2007), Ghost Train - Sound Designer, Short Documentary, Official Selection HotDocs (2014) Winner Best Short Documentary, Tribeca Film Festival (2014) Nominated Best Short Film, Guanajuato International Film Festival (2014) Winner Best Short Film, Human Rights and Arts Festival (2014) Winner Audience Award Best Australian Short, Official Selection Palm Springs International Film Festival (2014) Chicago International Film Festival (2014) Winner Gold Plaque Jury Award. Vis A Vis - Sound Designer, Short Film, London Independent Film Festival (2014) Winner Best Short Film, Official Selection Palm Springs Film Festival (2014), Lurujarri Dreaming - Sound Designer, Short Film (animation) - Heart of Gold International Film Festival (2013) Winner Best Indigenous Film, Costa Rica International Film Festival (2013) Offical Selection. ABC TV, SBS.

Audio and Video examples published in my blog

Cretificates / Education

  • Wilderness First Aid Certificate (TAS TAFE, 2022)
  • Fundamentals of Chemistry (University of Melbourne, as adult learner, 2015)
  • VCE Physics (Box Hill TAFE, as adult learner, 2014)
  • Diploma of Technical Production (SAE institute 2008)
  • Graduated successfully from the 5th Municipal High School in Rishon Lezion, Israel, with a major in music after almost dropping out (2003)

What am I doing when I'm not working, climbing or spending time with people I love?

(Hobart, November 2023)

Volunteering

Sustainable Living Tasmania Vice President

Writing and Music

See link to Blog below

Gardening and Cooking

Weekly hummus batches, chilli paste. Summer planting of beans, tomatoes, chillies and more!


The Answer to the Question of Life, the Universe and Everything Else

I don’t know. 42 is just as likely an answer as promoting the values of love and friendship, paying rent or being recognised. I ask myself existential questions like this all the time and I am coming up with all sorts of answers, some of which I publish in my blog.

If I had to sum it up, I would rather not. The question of why I do things has a history in the philosophical valley between Rousseau and Hobbes, nature and nurture, hope and despair, joy and anger, reflection, documentation, curiosity, ignorance, desire, love and the absence of a better choice.