Directing
IS IT TIME YOU WENT WITH A NEW DIRECTION?
As a director, I have created content across several mediums, including stage, sketches, music videos, films, and animation. Though I love all my genres equally, my golden child is comedy.
Regardless of what I’m directing, my focus is always on finding human moments that resonate with people on a primal level. That or just dumb fun & weird shit, it depends on the project.
“I love working with the creative force that is Fabian! He’s directed me on multiple productions over the years and I fully trust any direction he throws my way. He always has such a clear vision while still allowing me to play and do ‘my’ version. His comedic timing, writing and directing skills are rare, and I truly feel lucky to have worked on so many projects with him.”
- Mahalia Brown, Actor
My Approach to Directing
Though I’m always keen to see my vision through, I maintain that what we do is ultimately a collaborative process, and that everyone must work as a team to make the choices that best serve the story. As someone who used to tread the boards themselves, I love working with actors; I believe the best performances bloom from encouragement and communication rather than abrasiveness or negativity, and I believe the best comedy often blossoms from verisimilitude.
I am always happy to show clients & financiers the storyboards, animatics, and scratch tracks before production to ensure that we’re all signing off on the same creative direction.
Animation & Voice Direction
Animation is one of my favourite mediums to work within. I have recently started Big Showbag, a project designed to showcase 100% human-made animated shorts, featuring a range of great artists and VO talent. The vid below was written & directed by myself, with storyboards & final art by Kal McShortall, and VO by Mahalia Brown and myself.
Carol of the Cells
Toilet Clown
Lemon Peel Hack
Prior to this, I created Suspect Moustache, a loose unit of a sketch project that I created, wrote and directed for SBS, with Mark Sheard overseeing animation, character designs by Sacha Bryning, Ashleigh Beevers leading up the background art, and score by Asher Pope. You can scroll down to see some SusMo vids, and see more over at the Scripting & Story Development page.
I also have ample experience in, and limitless passion for, the craft of character voice over. My own experience as a voice actor very much informs my voice directing, while still wholly appreciating that every performer has their own approach. When needed, I employ a mixture of emotion based techniques & vocal exercises to help an actor find the right voice at the right level.
Live Action
This is “Carried Away”, a music video I directed for indie singer-songwriter Melody Moon. I wanted to create set pieces that complemented the beautiful beach-romance vibes of the song, while sprinkling in my predilection for dumb, fun, weird shit.
I’m still very proud of it. I made it with two of my long-term collaborators, Matt Wood ACS, who has shot an absolute bunch of my stuff over the years, and Phoenix Anna Cherry, who’s edited even more of it.
How do I get in touch with you?
You can email me at fabianlapham@gmail.com, or hit me up via this website’s contact page.
Can I hire your collaborators for stuff too?
You can and should.