Background
Principal Paul Mullan's experience started across the Tasman with Television New Zealand in 1978. After eight years learning the many facets of television and specialising in Camera he relocated to Channel Ten in Sydney and soon moved into studio directing for news and production. In 1991 he stepped out into private enterprise, firstly in partnership with one of Sydney's most prominent production houses, before establishing Black Magic Media.
Black Magic Media has evolved into a small but strong television and corporate production company providing a raft of programs from a small corporate product DVD to fully produced multi satellite television productions for both television and corporate.
An early foray into television for Black Magic Media was the 4 x 4 Expeditions into Malaysian jungle, the island of Borneo and the Ultimate African Safari – from Cape Town to Cairo.
Paul’s personal interest in Jetboats saw him establish World Series Jetsprinting with partners Jeremy O’Driscoll and later Eryn Moore to bring about the biggest advance in the world of high powered Jetsprinting with a competition run over three countries. These events and Jetboat Marathons have also featured regularly on the Black Magic production calendar.
In 2000 Black Magic won the prestigious Sydney Olympic Torch Relay contract providing daily coverage of the torch's journey from Guam through to Sydney over 120 days. Subsequently the 2002 Manchester Games Baton Relay was also won and 50 days was spent on the road delivering daily news to the world through the BBC.
Paul's background still sees him hands on with cameras in some specialised roles combining shooting and directing, although his focus is on production and direction. In the last ten years Black Magic Media has carved out a specialised sport documentary niche in both tarmac and gravel rallies.
In 2007 Paul was commissioned by V8 Supercar television to join the new V8 Supercar Television unit as a contract producer to oversee all support programs produced at V8 Supercar rounds. The following year Black Magic was awarded the contract to revamp and produce the weekly magazine show V8Xtra which screened on the Seven network and TV 3 in NZ.
Black Magic also continues its tradition producing sports docomentaries on the popular tarmac rallies, Dunlop Targa NZ, Quit Targa West and Classic Adelaide along with its support of Variety – the children’s charity and it’s motoring events The Bash on both sides of the Tasman.
On gravel the Otago Classic Rally is a favourite gravel event as is the Silver Fern Marathon rally held every two years, 2006 and 2008.
In 2009 Black Magic was awarded production of the Australian Rally Championship and The Woodstock Bourbon Australian Superbike Championship both screening on the dedicated 24 hour sports channel OneHD.
For fifteen years Black Magic has successfully negotiated the highs and lows of television and the economy in general to maintain itself at the forefront of cost effective but high quality television and corporate production. This has been achieved by prudent crew planning and minimising of overheads – providing good client benefit in the process and all without losing that important aspect of enjoying what you do.
This objective to enjoy what you’re doing is possibly why many staff who began with Black Magic full time regularly return in freelance roles in both camera and editing.
Web Creations