Danielle MacLean

Danielle MacLean is an Australian filmmaker. She is known for her writing on television series such as Little J & Big Cuz, 8MMM Aboriginal Radio and Redfern Now.

Early life MacLean is of the Luritja and Warumungu peoples of the Northern Territory of Australia.

Career MacLean started work at Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) Productions as a production assistant, later moving on to writing and directing, working under Erica Glynn. She originally wanted to be a stills photographer.

She lived in Central Australia working on a TV documentary series called Nganampa Anwernekenhe which means "ours" in the Pitjantjatjara and Arrernte languages The series started in 1987 and comprised 187 half-hour episodes. which was shot in the bush communities and broadcast on Imparja Television.

She left CAAMA in 1999, becoming a freelance writer and director. publisher and writer Sophie Cunningham, and politician (later NT Human Rights Commissioner) Dawn Lawrie.

She wrote three episodes of the Indigenous Australian comedy series, 8MMM Aboriginal Radio, which aired on ABC2 in 2014.

Collaborations MacLean collaborates frequently with Steven McGregor, and has also worked with Warwick Thornton, her cousin Beck Cole, Trisha Morton-Thomas, and sound recordist and filmmaker David Tranter. McLean also wrote for the Australian TV drama mini-series, True Colours, which was produced for SBS Television and NITV and aired in 2022.

Awards and nominations

1998–2000: My Colour Your Kind – Nominations for an AFI Award (Best Screenplay in a Short Film, 1998); an Australian Film Critics Association Award; 2004: Queen of Hearts – AFI Award for Non-Feature Screenplay (writer and director) 2008: Double Trouble – AWGIE Award for screenwriting 2014: Blown Away – Best Documentary, Capricornia Film Awards at Darwin International Film Festival; Best director (Documentary) at the ADG Awards.