This extensive experience
helped land him a job at GWN in Bunbury where he worked for six
months as a video operator, news editor and floor manager of the
studios. Tolj believes he learnt the most in his last year of study,
his time spent freelancing and working with GWN, all of which helped
pave the way to becoming an independent and established filmmaker.
Through his friendship
with the electro-rock band Rollerskates, Tolj made his first video
clip that is also his most acclaimed. ‘The Movement’ is continually
admired and won a WAMi in 2002 for Best Local Music Video Clip.
It has been screened nationally with great reactions and responses
and remains one of his favourites. It is definitely his most talked
about video clip and has since earned him a great reputation in
the industry. His videos are unique as he treats them as an extension
of the music itself and strives to achieve something innovative
and creative. It’s no wonder that other bands have enlisted his
direction for their video clips. Two of which, for Moriarty and
Lo Key Fu, will be released in the next few months. His latest video
for Rollerskates, ‘Seventy Pie’, screened in the SPLIF component
of the Revelations Film Festival in July.
His talents also
spread to web design, which he mastered through self-teaching. He
has created highly modern and visually impressive sites not only
for bands, but he also designed the website for the Next Big Thing
Competition which he has also sponsored in the past. With a site
for Moriarty and The Panda Band on the way he’s keeping busy.
It has definitely
been a labour of love for Tolj as he worked hard to establish himself
as a creative force in film, web and graphic design. At twenty-seven
years of age Tolj has a vast list of credentials that is continually
growing. Keen to further develop his range of skills, Tolj may expand
his services to the east coast and perhaps pursue writing and journalism.
However, for the moment he is focusing on producing top quality
work and building up his name. No matter where the path leads, he
will always support local music and talent and endeavour to create
diverse and unique work that he can constantly be proud of. Contact
him at ivantolj@hotmail.com
and keep an eye out for his website which will be up soon.
