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MOVIE REVIEW

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In 1993 Michael Gudinski founded Mushroom Pictures, an offshoot film production company focused on music documentaries. The company would later become Mushroom Studios, which released Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story . The company cast its sights on Gudinski’s big picture

The powers of music and film collide in a remarkable documentary that will feel relatable for every Australian. Words Glenn Cochrane A t one point in Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story , radio personality and former Skyhooks guitarist Red Symons EGO: THE MICHAEL GUDINKSKI STORY

feature films in the late ‘90s, going on to produce some of Australia’s most iconic cinema. Films that Gudinski

produced include Chopper (2000), Cut (2000), Gettin’ Square (2003) and Wolf Creek (2005). “Bringing Chopper to the screen was one of dad’s proudest achievements,” Matt Gudinski, CEO of Mushroom Group, has said.

there Gudinski's story is a kaleidoscopic tale of incoming and outgoing artists, business management, takeovers, and reinvention. Some people will know the tale well, others moderately, and some won't know it at all. But director Paul Goldman ( Suburban Mayhem , 2006) has pitched his film with all groups in mind; with input from Gudinski's family, he scratches beneath the surface to highlight the

describes Mushroom Records founder Michael Gudinski as a man who “borrowed energy from the future.” It's an apt characterisation that sums up Gudinski's own attitude and philosophy as a leading figure in the Australian music industry – he was always seeking the next big act. Gudinski died suddenly in March 2021, mere hours after attending a Midnight Oil concert, and the news sent a wave of shock and sadness around the world. The outpouring of grief and respect from friends, artists, colleagues and fans was a testament to the icon's character, which – despite his reputation for being temperamental – was, above all else, loyal. Most Aussies know his face, and anyone invested in music knows his personality. He was the billboard of Australian music, always on the frontline promoting local acts, creating historical events, and nurturing new artists. Ego takes the audience right back to where it all began, telling the story of Gudinski’s parents’ emigration from Russia, his teenage years promoting dance hall events, and founding his first music talent agency. The film then explodes into a celebration of rock, with the creation of Mushroom Records and the label’s release of a live recording of 1972’s Sunbury Rock Festival. Not long afterwards, Skyhooks were signed to the fledgling company, and from

repeated detail of commentary revolves around how loyal Gudinski was to his artists; he gave them autonomy over their creativity, and not only supported their decisions, but also invested in them at great risk to himself and his company. And, of course, Ego boasts a killer soundtrack – a fact of which Gudinski would be immensely proud. It's loaded with iconic songs which inform every moment of the story, from early hits by Daddy Cool, Hunters & Collectors, and Models, to modern bangers from The Temper Trap, Bliss N Eso, and more. Two of Gudinski's crowning moments from his long and illustrious career are the 2LP live recording of Sunbury 1973 and the 3LP Music from the Home Front live album (2020), which bookend his career brilliantly. And now the Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story 3CD soundtrack serves as his beautiful epilogue and a fitting tribute. So much more could be said about this brilliant documentary, but revealing more would spoil the journey. Instead, as Gudinski's old mate Molly Meldrum might say, do yourself a favour and see this film. The Australian music landscape wouldn't be the same without Michael Gudinski, and no one is ever again likely to have the cultural impact that the big man made on Aussie music.

Michael Gudinski in the early days of Mushroom Records

inner workings and the colossal scope of all that this ‘titan of industry’ achieved. Artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Barnes, Dave Grohl, Neil and Tim Finn, and Kylie Minogue are just some of the stars who share their stories, along with Ed Sheeran,

Billy Joel, Shirley Manson of Garbage, and Mark Seymour. These participants recount memories of Gudinski's tenacity, creativity and most of all his generosity. The most commonly

• Ego: The Michael Gudinksi Story is available on BD and DVD on October 18

28 OCTOBER 2023

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