Moving-pictures-stories-guy based in Sydney, Australia.
COMMERCIAL
PHOTOPLAY FILMS
Oliver Lawrence, Executive Producer
+61 412 265 078 | oliver@photoplay.co | photoplay.co
DRAMA + MUSIC VIDEO
DIRECT
+61 415 560 208 | melvin.montalban@gmail.com
Melvin is a filmmaker and artist who has established himself as a director for TV drama, commercials, music videos, and short films, whose work is typified by evocative storytelling, technical executions and emotional truth.
He has recently made his TV directorial debut with The Unusual Suspects, produced by Aquarius Films and starring Miranda Otto and Aina Dumlao. He is also developing his first feature film Flesh Without Blood, with Unusual Suspects creator Jessica Redenbach screenwriting, with support from Screen Australia and produced by Thumper Pictures. Melvin also recently exhibited his first large-scale public art installation, multi-channel film Temple, in collaboration with visual artist Leila Jeffreys at Vivid Sydney 2022. His recent short film Letters is a sobering tale of bushfire survival and a call to arms to support the Climate Change Bill for MP Zali Steggall.
A 2008 graduate from the Australian Film TV Radio School, Melvin's short films Rope Burn and Cupid have each screened at 20+ film festivals both in Australia and internationally. Cupid has been officially selected for festivals including Palm Springs International ShortsFest, Cleveland IFF, Sedona IFF, Reel Shorts Film Festival in Canada, Short Shorts in Japan, Raindance in London, and Dungog here in Australia.
PRESS FOR THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS
‘Melvin Montalban to make his TV Directing Debut on SBS’s The Unusual Suspects’ - IF.COM.AU
‘The Unusual Suspects is authentic and refreshing’ - REVIEW, SCREENHUB.COM.AU
‘Class comedy with bite’ - REVIEW, SMH.COM.AU
‘Expect a really entertaining ride,’ says director of The Unusual Suspects - INTERVIEW, SBS.COM.AU
‘Filipino stories and representation highlighted in the new SBS show’ - PHILTIMES.COM.AU
‘A story that feels true to us’ - INTERVIEW, SBS.COM.AU
‘The Unusual Suspects … bound for Series Mania’ - IF.COM.AU
PRESS FOR LETTERS
‘Letters tells urgent tale of bushfire survival’ - CAMPAIGNBRIEF.COM.AU
PRESS FOR SHAKE THE DUST OFF YOUR WINGS
‘Shake The Dust Off Your Wings at The Galeries’ - BROADSHEET.COM.AU