Ian Jones
Writer, Producer, Director, Company Director
An interview taken from ‘The Olderfleet Oracle’ (circa 1970)
by Cass Alexander
There is a certain aura which surrounds people of superior intellect, not neccessarily one which will stimulate the optic nerve, but one which will exude forth during conversation: it has, I suppose, some foundation in the aforesaid intellectual's knowledge and self confidence, but primarily in a natural friendliness and desire to participate to the fullest extent, in anything in which he or she is involved. So it is with Ian Jones.
He began our recent interview by describing his past, painting vivid pictures of his life at the university and later, at the birth of Channel 7.
Ian Jones has been interested in film since childhood, and during his term at Melbourne University, began to work with the spocketed celluloid. He made his first film whilst still an undergraduate, and later went on to work on the 20th Century Fox production of "Kangaroo".
Not only a behind the scenes man, Ian is an actor of considerable repute (so he hinted),
having played with the Union Theatre Rep. Co., the Tin Pan Alley Players, and at The Comedy Theatre.
Upon settling down, he became a journalist for the Herald Sun organization, remaining there for four
years.
Off again, this time to England where he studied television production techniques. In 1956 the Herald Sun television people invited him to help get Channel 7 on the air, and on returning to Melbourne, he was appointed a foundation director. He remembers (with an obvious self masochistic delight), the trials and tribulations involved in training staff, under what can best be described as primitive conditions - a faint smile appeared as he remembered a sign hung on one of the studio walls - "You don't have to be mad to work here --- but it helps!"
Channel 7 grew, and Ian Jones was promoted to Assistant Production Manager, having gained a tremendous amount of experience, both of a technical nature, and in artistic creativity. However, this position had its drawbacks, in that it only allowed time for the making of two or three specials a year. So another move to greener pastures, after seven years of television pioneering.
Having had many contacts with the Crawford family whilst at Channel 7, it was natural that, of the many offers of employment he received, Ian chose Crawford Productions as his new employers.
He was taken on as "Executive in charge of special projects". Well, I suppose "Homicide" was considered a special program in those days because, with Phil Freedman, I.J. wrote the very first episode of this "new format" drama. His ties with Homicide lasted well over a year, as he directed the first 50 episodes.
Bigger things were to follow with the coming of Hunter. Ian wrote the first Hunter with Terry Stapleton, and directed the first package of 13 shows. He toured Australia with the production crews, and was instrumental in bringing the "Singapore" and "Snowy Mountains Files" to Australian (and now, World) audiences.
I asked him about the dangers of filming and he recounted two events which had happened on location. The first occurred whilst filming at Mt. Kosciusko for Hunter. They had finished shooting behind the chalet and one of the two Snowcats the crew had at their disposal was despatched to return some actors to the chalet. Ian wanted one more shot, (a P.O.V.) showing boulders whizzing past as the "cat" ploughed through the deep snow.
With three actors (including Gerard Kennedy), and the Ansett driver inside, and Ian supporting cameraman Doug Hobbs on the roof, they rolled camera and started moving: suddenly the cat veered sideways. Pushing Doug off first, Ian jumped off the lurching cat, which proceeded to career straight towards him. He scrambled out of its way and watched as the cat slid down the mountain, coming to rest against a boulder some distance away. Miraculously no-one was hurt, inside or out, but an Arri-S camera was smashed; the camera battery somehow stayed put on the roof during the downhill slide, and was found between the cat and the boulder - crushed wafer-thin.
On another occasion, whilst filming on top of a 13 storey building at Surfers Paradise, Ian noticed a camera toppling over, made a dive to stop it crashing onto the concrete roof, tripped and landed two feet from the edge of the building, which incidentally, had no safety rail.
A man of many interests is Ian Jones, and in what little spare time he gets, enjoys classical and film music, gardening and "going bush". He also collects bottles, historiana and militaria.
He is the world's recognized authority on, - yes, you guessed it - Ned Kelly.
At that stage I suddenly developed writer's cramp and requested leave that I may attempt to put into writing, what had been one of the most fascinating conversations of my life.
We salute you, Ian Jones, as our personality of the month.
CASS ALEXANDER
Ian Jones passed away on the 31st of August 2018