Al Clark (born in Huelva, Spain) is an Australian film producer.[1] He is best known for his producer role on The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and his executive producer role on the film, Chopper.[2][3] Clark is also the author of four books. Time Flies and Time Flies Too are Clark's memoirs,[4][5][6] which merge the early days of punk and new wave popular music with the truncated British film renaissance of the 1980s and the world of international film finance, and later chronicle his move to Australia and his work there.[4] Clark's first book Raymond Chandler in Hollywood[7] provides an insight into the work of the writer of detective fiction and includes interviews with many of the Hollywood figures who were associated with Raymond Chandler and his films. His second book Making Priscilla, also titled The Lavender Bus: How a Hit Movie Was Made and Sold, is a behind-the-scenes tale outlining the follies of film-making and how The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert became an international success.[8]
Clark was born in Huelva, Andalucia, in Southern Spain and grew up there during the time of Franco's dictatorship, a childhood Clark described as extreme and intense.[4] He and his sister Lesley were home schooled by their mother, a former Glasgow school teacher. Fluent in Spanish, his parents were the only people he spoke English to until the age of 9 when he was sent to a boarding school in Scotland.[9][10]
Clark first worked as a journalist at Time Out in London before becoming Publicity Director at Virgin Records. It was here that he represented the Sex Pistols, Phil Collins, Mike Oldfield and Tangerine Dream.[9][10]
His working life in London from 1971 – 1987 was dominated by Tony Elliott, founder, publisher and editor of Time Out magazine UK and Richard Branson, Founder at Virgin Group.[11][10]
Over his time with Virgin and during the early years when the company expanded into different fields, Clark worked as a Publicity Director, a Book Editor for Virgin Books, Virgin's first Head of Creative Affairs and Head of Production for Virgin Films. Oscar winner, A Shocking Accident, starring Rupert Everett and Jenny Seagrove was made in association with Virgin Films. Clark's first six films produced under the Virgin umbrella include: Nineteen Eighty-Four directed by Michael Radford and starring John Hurt and Richard Burton,[12] Absolute Beginners directed by Julien Temple and starring David Bowie and James Fox[13] and Gothic directed by Ken Russell and starring Gabriel Byrne, Natasha Richardson and Timothy Spall.[9][10][14]
Clark was the executive producer for The Crossing directed by George Ogilvie and starring Russell Crowe and Danielle Spencer.[10] He worked as a Commissioner on the AFC Board for a 3-year term 1989 - 1992. Clark served on the Screen Australia board from December 2014 - December 2017. In 1994 Clark produced the award-winning feature film, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert - Director, Stephan Elliott and starring Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce. Together with his wife, Andrena Finlay, Clark owns and operates Wildheart Films. Their credits include: Executive Producer, Thunderstruck,[15] Producer, Red Hill,[16] and Producer, Swinging Safari.[17] Clark has served as Jury Member at several film festivals including: Jury President, Adelaide Film Festival, 2013,[18] Jury Member, San Sebastian International Film Festival 2003[19] and Jury Member Valladolid International Film Festival, 1999.
Clark has married twice. His first marriage was to Yoli with whom he had two children - Jason and Louise.[5] They divorced in the early 1980s. Al met his second wife, Australian producer Andrena Finlay, at the Cannes Film Festival in 1983 and again in 1986. Following that second meeting, Clark moved to Australia and married Finlay in December 1987. Clark and Finlay have two children – Rachel and Jamie.[20]