Russell Thornton
About
About
Russell Thornton is an award winning Australian Composer.
He is recognised for his music in animation, film and television, with his most recent works including the Wild Adventures of Blinky Bill for the Seven Network and Sydney Sailboat for the ABC.
Russell’s music lends itself to many genres, and has helped tell stories for Red Energy, MacDonald Jones Homes and the Australian Red Cross blood service.
He has composed music for intimate moments through to epic battles, providing that unique musical answer to a dramatic question.
In November 2014 Russell won his first APRA Screen Music award for his work on the animated series “Get Ace”.
Bio
Raised in the Hunter Valley (and a proud Novocastrian) Russell Thornton studied music composition at the University of Newcastle Conservatorium of Music under Colin Spiers, Robert Constable and Nigel Butterly. In 2002 he commenced on an Honours degree in Film Music Composition, receiving mentorship and lessons from renowned Australian composer Nigel Westlake.
His first high profile gig came in 2004 with Russell composing the music for “We Gave Blood”, a national television commercial for the Red Cross of Australia, presenting images of the production and advertising crew donating blood whilst making the commercial. Widely recognised as a success the commercial won, amongst other prizes, a Cannes Bronze Lion and an LA Clio in 2005.
In 2014 Russell’s score for the animated series “Get Ace” was awarded Best Music for Children’s Television at the APRA Screen Music Awards. In 2012 “Love Finds a Way”, a song he composed and produced for the short film “Shopping” won Best Original Song for Short Film at the Long Island International Film Expo.
He recently scored the confronting SBS series “First Contact” provided additional music for the ABC documentary “Outback Choir” and music production services on the feature film “Love Is Now”. Russell has also worked on national commercial campaigns for Mitsubishi Australia, Jacob’s Creek, Ryobi and the National Disability Service, the short films “Twisted” and “Paul’s Dream”, and the SBS documentary “The Pageant – Miss Nude Australia”.
Other credits include the Fox/BBC series “Supernova” (series I and II) the cartoon series “Master Raindrop” and “The Legend of Enyo” the documentary “The Aussie Who Baffled The World” and the short film “Woody” all receiving AGSC Screen Music Award Nominations.
Awards &Nominations
APRA Screen Music Awards: Best Music for Children’s Television – Get Ace – Season 1
Long Island International Film Expo: Best Song (Short Film) – ‘Love Finds a Way’ from Shopping
Xstrata Achievement in the Arts Award
Cannes Bronze Lion – We Gave Blood
Newcastle Shoot Out: Best Music – F.B.
ABC 1233 Music Awards: Best Music – Broken
APRA Screen Music Awards: Best Music for Children's Television - The Wild Adventures of Blinky Bill
APRA Screen Music Awards: Best Music for Children’s Television – Sydney Sailboat
APRA Screen Music Awards: Best Soundtrack Album – Woody
APRA Screen Music Awards: Best Song for the Screen – Love Finds a Way from Shopping
APRA Screen Music Awards: Best Music for a Documentary – The Impossible Lens, The True Story of Dr. Jim Frazier
APRA Screen Music Awards: Best Music for Children’s Television – The Legend of Enyo
APRA Screen Music Awards: Best Music for Children’s Television – Master Raindrop
APRA Screen Music Awards: Best Music for a Mini Series or Tele-movie – Supernova, Series 2
APRA Screen Music Awards: Best Music for a Television Series or Serial – Supernova, Series 1
CV
The Wild Adventures of Blinky Bill, Animation Series (Flyingbark Productions/7 Network)
Red Energy – TVC
Homeworld – TVC
Sydney Sailboat – Animation Series (Essential Media/ABC)
Australia: The Story of Us – Documentary Series (7 Network)
First Contact – Documentary / Reality Series (SBS & Blackfella Films) Composed for Sonar Music
Get Ace – Animation Series (Galaxy Pop)
The Fragments – Short Film
Twisted – Short Film
TAB: Team Boban – TVC
Woody – Short Film
Ryobi One + – TVC
Monster Made – Animation Series Pilot (Sticky Pictures)
Temple & Webster – TVC
ING Credit Card – TVC
Ergon Energy – TVC
Clara – Short Film
The Woodlies – Animation Series Main Theme (Flyingbark Productions)
StarStruck – Music Director
Quilton– TVC
The Impossible Lens – Documentary
Jacob’s Creek True Characters – Online Commercials
Fleur de Lis – Short Film
Shopping – Short Film
Blue Dudes – Animation Series Main Theme (Matt Hall Productions)
A Start in Life – TVC
Breathless – Short Film (Produced by Samantha Laidlaw)
Lie To Me – Short Film
The Boondi War – Short Film
Road to Tumaini – Documentary Trailer
Love Package – Online Commercial
Grandma – Short Film
Come Play! – Promotional Video Clip to FIFA for Australia World Cup 2022 Bid
Tourism Tasmania – TVC
The Patrick’s Identity – TVC
The Legend of Enyo – Animation Series (Flyingbark Productions)
National Disability Service – Television Commercials
Possessions – Short Film
Barton The Ghost Catcher – Short Film
First Steps – Documentary (Eponine Creative)
Master Raindrop – Animation Series (Flyingbark Productions)
Best Undressed – Documentary (iKandy Films)
Mitsubishi 4WD4Life Campaign – Television Commercials
Teen Fit Camp, Main Theme – Television Series
Thredbo: 50 Years of History – Documentary (Rebel Films)
Paul’s Dream – Short Film (Caravan Pictures)
Supernova, Series 2 – Television Series (Fox World Aust./Hartswood Films)
The Other Half – Short Film (Eponine Creative)
Touched by Fellini – Short Film
The Code – Documentary
Supernova, Series 1 – Television Series (Fox World Aust./Hartswood Films)
Moonfall – Short Film
Mitsubishi 5/10 Warranty Campign – Television Commercials
F.B. – Short Film
We Gave Blood – Television Commercial