Frank Howson

Frank Howson (born Frank Michael Howson^[5][6] 1952, Melbourne, Australia)^[3] has had a diverse career based in entertainment. Noted for film and theatre work, he directed Flynn (1996) on the early life of Errol Flynn and Hunting (1991).^[7] Howson, with Peter Boyle, helped establish Boulevard Films which produced thirteen films from Boulevard of Broken Dreams (1988) to Flynn; besides producing for Boulevard Films, Howson often wrote scripts and directed.^[8] Major actors in Boulevard Films productions include: Guy Pearce, John Waters, Kerry Armstrong and John Savage.^[3]

Howson has been in show business since he was seven (on stage: acting, dancing, singing)^[3] and is experienced in many facets of the industry. After leaving school, Christian Brothers College, St. Kilda (1963-1967),^[9] Howson's first job was with Melbourne radio station 3UZ as office boy. This deepened his love for contemporary music and he met many of his idols. Eventually promoted to panel operator, he worked on John McMahon's popular weekly show Radio Auditions (see 3UZ). Whenever not enough acts showed up, young Frank was summoned to perform under made up names. During this period Howson was nicknamed Magical Frank^[10] when asked to perform on a pilot for a TV talent show by 3UZ's Jimmy Hannan. In 1972, Howson was understudy to Reg Livermore^[10] in the role of Herod for the Australian theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar, he had a cameo as a Stage Attendant in the TV broadcast.^[3] Also in the Australian production were John Paul Young and William "Billy" Miller.^[11]

Legendary DJ Stan Rofe signed Howson to a recording deal and produced his first single: Seventeen Ain't Young (written by Jeff Barry)^[5] / Hide and seek (Richie Adams, Mark Barkan)^[5] performed by "Frankie Howson" (1969)^[12] who was seventeen during recording, it became a Top 40 hit in Melbourne. Barry, Adams and Barkan were all involved in The Archies, both songs were on their first album, The Archies, and are described as Bubblegum Pop.^[13]

Howson released two other singles This Night (Howson, Kenneth Firth, Miller)^[5] and 1983 The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter (John Capek, Howson)^[5][14], which was later performed by Stephen Cummings.^[6] He spent two years recording an unreleased album Wastelands featuring backing musicians, including two tracks by then garage band, Models, in their first recording sessions. “Wastelands” (song) was written by Howson and Davis Schofield^[5] (aka David Springfield).^[6] Models later had a #1 hit in Australia with Out of Mind, Out of Sight (1985).^[15]

Howson took a demo tape by The Ferrets to Molly Meldrum who signed them to Mushroom Records, they achieved a 1977 #2 hit single Don't Fall In Love^[15] from their début album Dreams of a Love which went Gold.^[16] It contains the Howson (and Schofield) song Killing Ourselves^[5]. Howson recorded his own version (1978) produced by Billy Miller of The Ferrets.^[14]

Howson was manager of the Australian branch of German-based I.C. Records to publish musical works (including his own)^[14] (distributed by EMI). He signed New Romantic band Pseudo Echo and co-wrote their songs ‘’Autumnal Park’’ and ‘’Destination Unknown’’ with Tony Lugton, ^[6] they later had a 1987 #1 hit in Australia with their version of Funky Town^[15] and around the world. I.C. Records scored 3 national hits in Australia in its first 12 months of operation. Howson and Peter Boyle were Executive Producers^[14] for John Paul Young's 1983 hit Soldier of Fortune (John Capek, Marc Jordan)^[5] reaching #15^[16].

Howson and Allan Zavod wrote Time Can't Keep Us Apart^[5] which won the 1987 Asian Popular Song contest performed by Kate Ceberano^[17] to an estimated TV audience of 500 million.

After an early career in theatre as actor, dancer, singer, in 21 major productions before turning 21. This included a role in Melbourne stage production of Oliver! (1966)^[18] ; Howson moved to directing and producing.^[3] Four musicals for children were great successes, The Faraway Land of Magical Frank (1976)^[19] The Boy Who Dared To Dream (1978, 1981)^[18], Aladdin, and Sinbad - The Last Adventure, and two (Magical Frank and The Boy) were recorded as albums (1976).^[20] They were performed at the Playbox Theatre, Alexander Theatre, the Ormond Hall and the Athenaeum, respectively.

Boulevard Films was a production company on Errol St, North Melbourne.^[21] Executive producer was usually Peter Boyle (sometimes Malcolm Oliverstone or George Birch), with Howson, Jacques Khouri, William Vass as producers, Barbi Taylor as associate/line producer; some films were co-produced with James Vernon.^[3]

Howson wrote, produced, acted in and directed various Boulevard Films; they were nominated for 13 AFI awards and sold internationally to such companies as Miramax, Paramount, Warners, J&M Entertainment, Disney, and American Broadcasting Corp.^[3]

Boulevard’s notable productions include:

• 1988 Boulevard of Broken Dreams (Howson screenwriter, cameo) won two AFI Awards: John Waters “Best Actor” and Kym Gyngell “Best Supporting”; nominated for five others including "Best Picture".^[3] Its soundtrack (with nine Howson co-compositions)^[5] was nominated for an ARIA Award for Best Soundtrack Album of the Year.
• 1990 What the Moon Saw (Howson screenwriter, cameo) won an AFI Award for Rose Chong "Best Costume Design".^[3] It revolves around a child absorbed with the story of Sinbad.^[22]
• 1991 Hunting starred John Savage, Kerry Armstrong (nominated for AFI “Best Actress”) and Guy Pearce; Howson wrote and directed.^[3] Pearce had made his film début with an earlier Boulevard Film, Friday on My Mind.^[23]
• 1996 Flynn starred Pearce, Steven Berkoff, Claudia Karvan and Savage; Howson directed and co-wrote.^[3] Significant problems occurred while making this film with Boulevard Films collapsing acrimoniously.^[10]

Some Boulevard Films listed at Internet Movie Database did not have a general release, eg. The Final Stage (1995)^[24] had it's 'World Premiere' ten years later at Melbourne Underground Film Festival (aka MUFF) 2005.^[4]

“Howson … moved to Hollywood in 1997 after a catastrophic falling out with his business partner and the collapse of Boulevard Films. In 2000 he was given a suspended jail term over charges relating to the business collapse.”^[1]

Howson has been married three times:

1. Lisa Waters (fl. 1976); involved in theatre including co-producing The Faraway Land of Magical Frank (1976) with Howson; described as a "tempestuous marriage" by her daughter Sonya Waters.^[25]
2. Lynn Murphy (? - c. 1997) involved in theatre (costume co-ordinator, 1981 The Boy Who Dared to Dream)^[18] and in film production (as Lynn Howson) on Boulevard Films: Heaven Tonight (1990) and Hunting (1991)^[26] (and actor as Lynn Murphy).^[27] Their relationship started in 1979^[28] and ended at about same time as Boulevard Films imploded.^[29] Their son, Oliver Howson was born in 1991.^[28]
3. Terri Garber (2001 - 2002) involved in acting on Boulevard Films: Beyond My Reach (1990).^[30]

Howson has been debilitated, at times, by Spasmodic Dysphonia which robbed him of his voice: gasping and stuttering; it is periodically mitigated by Botox injections into his larynx. His gravelly voice can be heard in a 2005 radio interview with Paul Harris and Brett Cropley of 3RRR on Film Buffs' Forecast.^[10]

John Michael Howson aka Hollywood Howson, flamboyant Australian entertainer, is his cousin.^[29]

Howson was on the Crystal Prix Jury for the 1997 Cannes Film Festival with Robert Altman. From 1997 to 2005 Howson worked and lived in Hollywood. He served on the Board of Directors for the Starlight Children’s Foundation of California.

Mr. Insincere, (written / performed by Howson)^[5] appears in the Disney movie Burn Hollywood Burn (1998), starring Eric Idle (as Alan Smithee) and Ryan O'Neal; with Whoopi Goldberg, Jackie Chan, Sylvester Stallone, and Robert Evans.^[31] Howson was asked by Steven Berkoff to direct the TV version of Berkoff’s international hit theatre show Shakespeare’s Villains (2002).^[3]

In Los Angeles, each year the Australian Government presents G’Day L.A to celebrate the best Australia has to offer; this week-long celebration is based on an idea by Howson and business associate John Grimaldi.

Howson has written his memoirs on the film industry^[10] A Life in the Circus. Howson wrote songs for Steve Housden's (Little River Band lead guitarist) solo album. Two former members of The Seekers have recorded Howson songs: Judith Durham (based on his poem Andre) and Keith Potger (on his album Sunday).

Protégé, Richard Wolstencroft, had formed MUFF in 2000 and upon Howson's return in 2005, Wolstencroft appointed him as President of the Jury.^[10] Boulevard Films' The Intruder (directed by Wolstencroft) and The Final Stage (directed by Howson) were both presented at the 2005 festival.^[10] The following year saw Howson's film Remembering Nigel tie with Penny by John King for MUFF's 2006 Best Short Film award.^[2] Remembering Nigel starred Bud Tingwell, Rhonda Burchmore, Bert Newton and Durham.^[1] Howson has proposed to turn it into a full-length feature.

One of Howson's life-long ambitions was to make a movie on legendary Australian boxer Les Darcy and he has spent twenty years research and touting the idea.^[10] His screenplay on Darcy called Winter in America was performed as a rehearsed reading at Federation Square, Melbourne.

Howson directed the Caryl Churchill play A Number for its Melbourne premiere in 2005, it was revived at Chapel off Chapel (2006) starring Alex Scott and Ross Ditcham.

In 2008 Rhonda Burchmore is due to perform her one-woman show Cry Me A River – The World of Julie London (written / directed by Howson). He has acted (and script editor) in a new Wolstencroft film The Beautiful And Damned (2008, in post-production).^{[32] [3]}

Howson has served as a board member of Open Channel, a non-profit organisation that supports young filmmakers.

1. Internet Movie Database: Frank Howson (I) and Frank Howson (II)
2. MySpace page: [1]