Producer
Freya Blackwood has had her considerable skill base employed by a range of entertainment industry occupations for over 12 years. Born September 1975 in Edinburgh, she grew up in Orange in NSW Australia. The daughter of a painter and an architect, she was encouraged to draw and paint from a young age.
In 1997 Freya completed a Bachelor of Design (Visual Communications) at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) where she became interested in filmmaking. In her final year at UTS Freya wrote, directed and produced her first film, a 16mm short titled THE MODEL.
Shortly after, Freya wrote, co-produced and co-directed a second 16mm short film A HEAVENLY SWEET STACCATO OF GRAPES with fellow UTS graduate Eliza Johnson. After working as a production assistant for Cherub Films, Freya next turned her skills toward the special effects industry in Sydney, meeting Ben Hawker while working on THE MATRIX. Freya continued to work in special effects at Fox Studios part time while studying for a graduate diploma in Production Design at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS).
Freya and Ben moved to Wellington New Zealand in early 1999 where she worked for Weta Workshop as a prosthetic painter and makeup artist on THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy. Freya then went on to work as a Weta production manager within the then newly formed Weta Collectables Company. She was responsible for photography, shipping and also oversaw the creation of a line of Jim Henson Merchandise.
It was while working at Weta Workshop Freya found her personal interest in book illustration re-kindled. She set about forging a new career in the field of children’s book illustration. Freya’s illustrations have won several awards both in Australia and the US. AMY AND LOUIS, written by Libby Gleeson has been published in Australia, the US, Germany, France, Finland and Korea. Amongst the books Freya has recently illustrated is HER MOTHER’S FACE, a story written by novelist/ screenplay writer Roddy Doyle (THE COMMITMENTS, THE SNAPPER) published by Arthur A. Levine Books. She has several other books by prominent Australian and UK authors currently underway.
Over the past 4 years Freya has acted as producer for the first- time- feature BLACKSPOT while managing to simultaneously create a successful, award winning career in children’s book illustration.