John Brawley has developed a reputation as one of Australia’s most talented and sought after Directors of Photography, who works with vision, speed and an inherently collaborative nature. While working in the US, John continues to build that reputation internationally.
John Brawley relocated to the US at the start of 2017 to shoot the USA drama series QUEEN OF THE SOUTH starring Alice Braga. Fox’s first year medical drama THE RESIDENT immediately followed – he’s currently back shooting Season 2 and just directed his first episode. Other recent credits include the Fox pilot GONE BABY GONE for director Phillip Noyce; the Syfy/UCP series HUNTERS, produced by Gale Anne Hurd and Matchbox Pictures; and THE BEAUTIFUL LIE starring Sarah Snook, for ABC Television (now on Hulu), which received considerable critical and audience acclaim and earned him an AACTA nomination for Best Cinematography in Television.
Previous Australian series credits include acclaimed Network Ten series PUBERTY BLUES, where he used a ground breaking mix of cutting edge technology and period lenses to achieve the 70’s era look; the first six seasons of the beloved series OFFSPRING and political drama PARTY TRICKS both for Network Ten; HIDING for ABC Television; UNDERBELLY: SQUIZZY for Nine; TANGLE for Foxtel; primetime television comedy series LOWDOWN and TWENTYSOMETHING for ABC Television; and more recently THE WARRIORS for acclaimed Australian producer Robert Connolly. John has made strides in the feature world too, having shot several genre films including 100 BLOODY ACRES (starring Angus Sampson and Damon Herriman), LAKE MUNGO and THE PERFECT HOST, starring David Hyde Pierce, which premiered at Sundance prior to its US release. John graduated with an MA from the prestigious Australian Film Television and Radio School and is a dual Australian/US citizen. Also represented by Innovative Artists.
johnbrawley 
Just want to say thanks for everything you’ve been doing on the Blackmagic front. I’m on a few of the bulletin boards that you comment on, and the people can be ridiculously puerile and malicious. You’ve held your head above water brilliantly and with panache my friend. I can’t wait for this camera, side-by-side shot comparisons are really everything I need to know- it’s gonna be sweet.
Hi John, Ash’s dad Mike here. Thanks you for such an amazing insight to the complex work required to make visual entertainment in film so appealing. I loved your examples of the work in Puberty Blues and your explanations for us all. I also loved watching Ash and her fellow cast members doing such amazing work – but then again I am biased. Ash was so safe in Glendyn, Emma and your hands. She had such an amazing experience. Best Wishes, Mike
Hi John
Just wanted to say thanks for the video presentation you did for ozdox at AFTRS in Sydney last week.
I look forward to seeing yer latest work.
cheers bP
Hello John,
I’ve written a manuscript about the two years my family spent with the Missouri Old Order Amish in the early 70’s.
“Adopted by the Amish: A Family’s Pilgrimage Back in Time,” narrates the true story of a man and his family who sought a better way of life for themselves. And even though they returned to the modern world they left behind, the lifelong friendships and memories they made changed their lives forever.
I would be happy to discuss the possibility of publishing this story and/or turning it into a television series.
Bob Brawley
Do you have footage of blackmagic cinema camera and cooke s4?
Hello Ryan.
Nothing I have a copy of, sorry….
jb
Hello John,
Any impressions on the Black Magic Micro Cinema Camera? Eagerly awaiting mine and hexacopter ready…
Great job cousin!!
Hi John I got the Blackmagic Video Assist to go with my OM-D EM-5 MK 2 after seeing that you used it so brilliantly. Very inspiring – now here is my question. I got the Olympus HDMI cable because Olympus uses micro HDMI and attached my Video Assist. The video is great, but no sound gets transferred to the recording monitor. Then I watched your video again and noticed that the sound your are using might not come from the Video Assist – or if it did how does that work?
Love your stuff
Chris, Denmark
Hi Chris, I’ve not checked, but I’m not sure that it passes sound over the HDMI. I normally record sound separately so it’s not something I really look at.
JB
Hello Chris. There’s no way to get sound over the HDMI. You’d have to dual record sound I’m afraid. It’s one for the to do list for Olympus unfortunately.
Hi John,
My name’s Pat Taylor and I’m a colorist and shooter in Austin. I wasn’t sure how to reach you on an individual basis, so I thought this might work. Hope that’s cool.
I just saw a post you made to the CML forum regarding the Blackmagic Mini Pro and your use of it in Queen of the South. First of all, huge kudos on your work on that show. It’s quite beautifully shot.
One of the members of that thread is spending a strangely large amount of time bashing the MP. I’ve used the cam several times myself and had both good and bad experiences with it. In the end it all came down to learning the cams strengths and weaknesses and using it appropriately, like all cams.
Anyway, I have just one simple question – The stills you put up on that post were incredible and I was wondering what lenses you were using. I’m always on the lookout for good sensor/glass combos as it informs my work as a colorist and beginner shooter.
Thanks very much
Pat Taylor
ptaylor@colourskyfilms.com
colourskyfilms.com
HI Patrick.
If it’s from Queen Of The South then it’s Panavision Ultraspeeds / pVintage.
Thanks for the very kind words.
JB
Hello john,
I would am reading your article on the olympus EM-1, the original one. I do not have access to another video camera and given that this is the only one i have (loaned by someone else), i am thinkkng of making this video cam work to take professional-enough videos.
I wonder if you think it is still salvagable? Meaning it can be used as a video cam to make videos, or is it not worth it?
Thanks in advance!