Helen Leake AM
One of Australia’s most experienced producers with producing credits that include WOLF CREEK 2, which topped the Australian box office in its opening week and SWERVE featuring Jason Clarke. Both these films were released theatrically in the United States. Other titles include BLACK AND WHITE starring Robert Carlyle and Charles Dance, a firm festival favourite as was the cult status film HEAVEN’S BURNING with Russell Crowe. Helen has a reputation for completing projects on time and on budget and her films have been invited to over thirty prestigious film festivals, including Venice, Toronto (twice), London (twice), Sydney (opening film), Melbourne (twice) and Pusan. Helen also contributes to industry organisations, including CEO of the South Australian Film Corporation (2004-07), Chair of the Australian International Documentary Conference (2007 -2012), the Australian Film Commission Board (1998-04) and Board member of Ausfilm (2004-07). In 2020 Helen Leake was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2020 Australia Day Honours, for significant service to film and to professional organisations.
Gena Ashwell
Brings extensive strategic, planning and corporate industry knowledge to Dancing Road Productions, having worked with, and consulted for some of the world’s largest organisations. She worked in the UK for fourteen years across production, sales and financing for organisations such as the BBC, Channel 4 and Pinewood television, produced her first feature BAD DAY(2008) at age 24 followed by THE GRIDIRON, released in the USA in 2014. Gena relocated to Australia in 2014 and joined forces with Helen Leake to create dancing road productions. Gena has being mentored by one of the most prolific and successful film producers in the US, Cassian Elwes (Mudbound, Dallas Buyers Club, The Butler, Lawless) and she was selected for the Natalie Miller Brilliant Careers mentorship program with Angus Clunies Ross (Head of Sales SONY Australia) as well as being selected by Screen Australia and Creative Content Australia as one of three mid career Australian producers to attend the international movie convention and meet with all the major international film studios. Gena also steps into the chair position of Media Resource Centre, having served on the board for 8 months.