From Farscape to Harrow and Redfern Now, Damion Hunter balances acting while teaching high school. Sounds like the premise of a movie itself!
You’ve been in productions such as Redfern Now, Harrow and Black Snow. How do you feel your career has unfolded thus far?
I also work as an English and History teacher which takes up a lot of time, so I’m lucky to have that body of work behind me. I haven’t quite figured out the key to going back-to-back with jobs the way most actors do, but I’m working on getting to that level!
Going into the future do you have a preference in film, television or theatre?
I like film and I’d like to see it come back. I think streaming services are killing off cinema. I grew up going to the cinema and that whole event of watching a movie has been stripped away. The cinematic experience was half the fun. I think the quality of some movies being streamed deserves the big screen with everyone cheering, laughing and munching on their popcorn.
Damion Hunter and Elly Chatfield in Smoke Between Trees
As an Indigenous person and actor, do you think the Australian entertainment industry is making a strong attempt to tell more Indigenous stories?
Absolutely. I think we’re going forward and will continue to do so. There’s a lot more Indigenous stories being told now than when I was in high school, and it’s refreshing. Diversity is progressing and that goes for all marginalised people. There are more non-binary and LGBTIQ+ people on TV shows. They are becoming more visible, just like Indigenous people and new Australians. There’s more than one narrative out there, and TV is starting to show that. Mind you, it’s still got a long way to go, especially with the casting process.
‘Diversity is progressing and that goes for all marginalised people”.
Do you agree that Indigenous and LGBTIQ+ people have shared a similar trajectory over the years in being portrayed negatively on film?
Yes, but thankfully that paradigm has shifted. Twenty years back I played a policeman on The Bill, which was quite fresh for the time. Indigenous blokes were only playing unemployed people or marginalised characters, but when I got the role of a cop I thought, “This is out there! Okay, I’m going with this!” It was great that they were finally playing to diversity. They realised they couldn’t just market to white Australia anymore.
Damion Hunter in Smoke Between Trees
In terms of all your work involving Indigenous themes, which do you think has been the most profound?
I did a movie called Smoke Between Trees which is a very beautiful, touching and riveting story. It’s very emotional about grief and loss. I was given permission to delve deep and be in touch with what’s real. When it was shown at the Melbourne International Film Festival I was practically in tears before the opening credits rolled. It’s a powerful film made with love. Elly Chatfield, who played my mother was amazing and is such a beautiful soul. And the lead, Tiriel Mora gave it all gravity and depth.
“LGBTIQ+ people are becoming more visible, just like Indigenous people and new Australians.”
Redfern Now is acclaimed as one of the best dramas to cover Australian Indigenous issues. What was your experience working on that?
It was a powerful series and achieved a lot both critically and artistically. It gave me a chance to take pride in who I am, as well as my mob and to tell our stories. Those stories were great, especially the one about the kid in trouble for not singing the national anthem in school. I had friends in grade five who were pinned for that. This was before ideas of individual learning plans for students, and they didn’t recognise ‘closing the gap’ back then – let alone attempting to close it.
The Australian Closing the Gap strategy on Indigenous disparity has been unique in this country.
Yes, it’s about disparity right across the board, not just for life expectancy but also salary, birthrate mortality, employment opportunities and incarceration rates. Not just for aboriginal men and women, but also for children. That’s compared to non-Australians, and by that, I mean Asian, Indian, Pakistani, Iraq, Iranian, Lebanese, Italians and so on. When you put them all together, we’re still a large disparity.
Damion Hunter in Last Ark
Who are your other Indigenous mates in the industry?
I’m a big fan of Natasha Wanganeen (Rabbit Proof Fence). She’s always doing great things and I have a lot of time for my ‘brother’ Mark Coles Smith (Mystery Road: Origin). Mark’s a good soul to be around. I’ve also been lucky enough to work with Jimi Bani (Redfern Now) a few times. He has his craft down rock solid and is very comfortable with who he is. He also knows how to write stories.
Have you ever played a gay role?
At NIDA I played Vincent from The Jungle, by Louis Nowra. He’s a personal assistant of a singer styled on Marianne Faithfull. It’s an interesting play and I’d love to see how it translates into a film. It’s set in Kings Cross (Sydney) in the Nineties and reads like a Quentin Tarantino script. It has a real Pulp Fiction underbelly tone with separate intertwined stories.
“Indigenous LGBTIQ+ people are marginalised within another margin! How tough would that be!”
Have you been out clubbing with your gay mates?
When I was younger, I would go clubbing with my gay cousin Suri. Also going through NIDA there were heaps of gay nightclubs involved and we’d all end up at the Courthouse on the corner of Oxford Street. That place was so great. It was dingy and still going in daylight. If we’d had enough dancing at other clubs but still felt like drinking, we’d go to the Courthouse and see how long we could wade it out.
What celebrity would you turn gay for?
I’d go for the Rock (Dwayne Johnson). Regardless of body parts or sexuality, he’s got a lot of charisma, which is always the winning point for me. I like his vocabulary and the way he looks directly at people as he talks. He gives people his attention, and I like that in people.
Who’s your music diva?
Beyonce. I like her moves and wish I could dance along to her songs, but sadly I can’t! I sometimes try to in front of my students, and they all have a good laugh! Drunk in Love – oh my goodness! I love that song, not to mention her stuff with Destiny’s Child.
Damion Hunter in Smoke Between Trees
What’s your irresistible dancefloor song?
I like to Move It by Reel 2 Real. I remember dancing to that in the nightclubs. I love early Nineties House music. I also love Hit That Perfect Beat (Bronski Beat) and Born Slippy (Underworld) from Trainspotting.
What do you think of DNA having a First Nations issue?
Mate, I think it’s great. First Nations should be presented everywhere all the time. I mean why do NAIDOC Week and National Sorry Day only happen once a year? But I think it’s great that DNA celebrates indigenous people, especially in the LGBTIQ+ community. Indigenous LGBTIQ+ people are marginalised within another margin. I mean how tough would that be? It’s just not cool. I don’t understand why heterosexual men feel they’ve got to be homophobic to be heterosexual. I just don’t get that mentality. I don’t know what they’re scared of. Some hetero dudes are misogynistic as well. It should all be about loving, not suppressing. I actually feel safer around queer people than jacked-up footy players!
Tell us about your upcoming sci-fi film Last Ark.
It’s amazing. The director Tom Taylor is like a mad scientist. He’s done everything himself. He’s written, directed, edited and produced it. He even 3D-printed all the models and made all the weapons and costumes by hand. When I was living in the Blue Mountains, he casually asked me to do some costume shoots, then I went back to film a bit and it gradually became a feature film! I’m eagerly awaiting to see how this beast turns out.
“I actually feel safer around queer people than jacked-up footy players!”
You’ve studied at both WAAPA and NIDA. What’s your advice to people entering the entertainment industry?
WAAPA and NIDA are great but these days we have these amazing things called smart phones and you can shoot some great stuff on them. My advice would be to write your stories and film them. When you craft something out of love people will gravitate to it. People want love in this world. When they see how much love you’re giving out through your project, they’ll come to you and a team will build from there.
Who has been the biggest inspiration in your career?
Sam Worthington (Avatar) is a good friend of mine and I’ve always loved his work. I went to NIDA with him, and I’ve watched his journey go from strength to strength. I’ve learned lessons from how he goes about his craft. He’s amazing not just with that but with the way he’s built a career and his shrewd choice of roles. The last thing I did with him was pitching a trailer called The Boys of 74 which was about the Socceroo’s making it into the World Cup. If we had gotten the money, we would have made it in 2004 and released it just in time for when the Socceroos made it again in 2006. Sometimes you look back and think “How did we not get the green light for that!”
Is there a quote that you live by?
“Read the room!” That’s what I’m always saying to the kids in the classroom.
What’s your choice on boardies vs. Speedos?
Boardies! No one needs to see the other! (Laughing)
Briefs, boxer briefs or freeballs?
Trunk boxer briefs. I used to like briefs and one day my wife looked at me and said, “I’m getting you some trunks!” I’ve been wearing them ever since and probably should have a lot sooner!
Smoke Between Trees is on SBS ON DEMAND
