Penny Chapman is managing director of Chapman Pictures, a Sydney-based film and television production company.
A Political Science graduate from the Australian National University, Penny worked as an associate producer for the South Australian Film Corporation in the 1970s. She set up a women’s film unit and produced some other films.
Later she headed the Project Development Branch and then the Special Production Fund of the Australian Film Commission. She helped finance the development and/or production of many feature films and series including the TV program “The True Believers” and the feature “The Navigator”.
On leaving the AFC in 1987, Penny established a production company and developed the mini series “Brides of Christ”. She was also supervising script editor on TV programs.
Penny joined the ABC as Head of Drama in 1989 where she executive produced several dramas including the multi award-winning “The Leaving of Liverpool” and “Seven Deadly Sins”.She was appointed Head of ABC Television in 1995. Her focus on youth programming saw both audience and content levels for the Network increase to the highest .
Penny returned to her production company in 1998. Its credits include the documentary series “The Track” and the feature “The Road From Coorain” etc. She is currently in post-production on the mini series “RAN” for SBS filmed in the Torres Strait Islands. Telemovies in development include “Bachelor Kisses”, based on the Nick Earls novel.
