Paula has been interested in the world of film, television and theatre for as long as she can remember. Her passion began as an actor and at the age of twelve Paula started acting classes and began performing in plays.Coming to Melbourne in 1993 from Canberra, Paula continued her passion of acting and started to hone her skills for film and television. It was through reading scripts and seeing how many exciting projects were out there that Paula decided to step behind the camera and get stuck into producing. At the same time Paula ran the Melbourne University’s Watch My Shorts short film festival competition. After five years the festival was held in high regard having blossomed from a small, local festival into a national event. Since Paula’s departure the festival has failed to continue.Paula directed her first play Tanya and Kit in 1996 at the Melbourne University.

Paula then went on to direct a documentary piece for a Youth Suicide prevention charity called Here for Life. Paula went to various parts of Australia and interviewed schools, families and attemptee’s to gain a better understanding of suicide. Paula directed two other projects for Here for Life for their Life’s a Ball program, where professional athletes go to schools; and also for Youth Week where top bands come together and provide entertainment for teenagers.

Paula freelances for other Production Companies including The Money Shot where her main role is to produce and/or direct corporate videos, product launches, music video clips and TV commercials. In that time Paula’s clients included Bulla Cream, Bakers Delight, Oral B, Carnival Cruises, Duracell, Kraft and Gillette to name a few.

Paula has produced many short films, her latest an animation called Recycle which was funded by the Australian Film Commission and directed by award winning animator Cath Murphy. Recycle went on to screen at festivals all over the world to much acclaim.

The last five years have seen Paula directing, producing and shooting a documentary, A Sporting Chance, the story of an Olympic athlete’s journey from one Olympics to the next. Paula travelled all over the world getting a behind the scenes look at what the life is like of a professional athlete, in the sport of Taekwondo.

This 80-minute documentary was awarded the top honour of Best Film from the prestigious Sport Movie and TV 24th Milano International FICTS Festival in Italy, October 2006. At the same festival ASC won its category Documentary: Great Champion. ASC also screened at the Sports and TV Movies FICTS Festival in Mumbai, India in 2006, will screen in Jerusalem in January 2007 and by special request at the 1st Sports and TV Movies FICTS Festival in Warsaw, Poland in February 2007. A Sporting Chance has been released on DVD.

Paula was one of the finalists in the 2005 ANU run ‘5 in 3 on 1’ documentary competition with her short documentary Trimmy. Paula had three weeks to make a five-minute documentary on one topic. The topic was personal story and Paula chose the sensitive story of her sisters’ suicide. Paula won third prize and was one of three finalists to screen on ABC Stateline and the only finalist to screen on a local Canberra network Channel Vision. Trimmy recently screened at the WIFT (Woman In Film and Television) Short film Showcase in Victoria, Australia and the Chicks with Flicks Film Festival in New York.

Paula’s latest project The Blue Flag again sees Paula travelling the world to tell the story of the United Nations. With a father that works at the UN, Paula became frustrated with the criticism and negative portrayal of the institution and decided to find what it is that the UN actually does.

Paula has been filming both at HQ in NY as well as UN missions in Liberia, China, Jordan, Palestine, Iraq office, Lebanon and DRCongo. Through interviewing both UN personnel and people affected by the UN Paula hopes to demystify and personalise the United Nations. The Blue Flag is due for film festival release in 2012.

Paula directed the comedy play Just Us but Not Really – The Lost Episode for the 2012 Melbourne Fringe Festival.

Paula also writes for various publications and is working on her second novel. She blogs when she can about the funnier side of life at: http://paulagleeson.blogspot.com.au/

Stay up-to-date! Bookmark our site and check back soon for further updates.