Mike Piper

During his 43-year career in radio and television production Mike Piper has created, produced, and directed numerous multi-award winning television programs that have been screened by broadcasters, satellite, and cable channels worldwide. His programs have achieved enviable rating success, topping the 11pm strand for UK's Channel 5 in 2002, reaching a massive 56% of audience share for the Ten Network in Australia, and among the top five most popular on National Geographic Channels Worldwide. He is producing and casting his first feature film, having secured private investment funding. Mike wrote and directed 'The Great Elephant Gathering' in Sri Lanka for National Geographic Television (Asia) in conjunction with NHNZ(Dunedin) and Beach House Pictures (Singapore). 'A Wire Through the Heart'', a dramatized history documentary about the construction of the overland telegraph line for Film Australia, was screened on ABC-TV and BBC Scotland - drawing over a million viewers in both Australia and Scotland. Over a hundred cast and crew were employed during the making of this film. His 4 x 1/2 hour series, 'Opal Fever', commissioned by ABC-TV for its high rating prime-time Reality Bites strand, premiered on the ABC in February 2005, opening the new season during the first rating period of the year. 'Opal Fever' received 4 Australian Cinematographers Society Gold Awards for photography, the first time in the 34-year history of the awards that a Gold Award has been awarded to each episode of a series, an ACS Gold Tripod, the Wild-South National Geographic Channels Best People and Places Documentary, the ATOM 2005 Award for Best Documentary, the Australian Digital Festival Best Documentary Award, and an AFI Nomination for Best Cinematography in a non theatrical production. A number of Mike's films have won national and international acclaim; 'Red Crabs Crazy Ants': Gold Dragon Award at the 2002 Beijing International Film Festival, Finalist with 5 Merit Awards at the 24th International Wildlife Film Festival Missoula, Hors Concours screening at 2001 Banff TV Festival, Finalist 2001 Scinema Science Film Festival. 'Heather Rose Goes to Cannes': Celebration of Ability Media Award. 'Home of the Blizzrd': Prix de la Marine Nationale - Toulon Maritime Film Fest. 'Echidna the Survivor': 26th International Viterbo Film Festival Award. 'Platypus Man': Worldfest Houston Awards - Bronze Award 'Under Pressure': New York International TV Festival - Gold Medal, Chicago US Industrial Film Festival - Gold Camera Award, AWGIE Award, ACS Gold Camera Award. In February 2002 Mike was awarded an Honorary Associate of the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia in recognition of his contribution to conservation and a better understanding of the natural world. Mike was Chairman of the 6th Australian International Documentary Conference, held in Adelaide in November 1999, and was a founding Board Member of AIDC Ltd, the national entity responsible for the administration of the Australian International Documentary Conferences from 2000 until 2003. Other .Participant Asia Australia Media Executive Leadership Program .Participant Enterprise Tasman Business Strategies Program (AFC) .Former Councillor, South Australian Screen Industry Council (SASIC) .Finalist - Hong Kong Australia Business Association, South Australian Business Awards 2002. .Member of the Screen Production Association of Australia .Member of the Australian Marine Conservation Society .Honorary Associate of the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia