Matthew Salleh is an Australian filmmaker based in Brooklyn, New York, known for making documentary films with his personal and professional partner, Rose Tucker. They are the founders and owners of Urtext Films. They are known for their documentary feature films, including We Don't Deserve Dogs (2020) and Slice of Life: The American Dream. In Former Pizza Huts (2024).
Early life and education
editMatthew Salleh is from Adelaide, South Australia, as is Rose Tucker.[1][a] Tucker is a science graduate of Flinders University (2006), who also did a diploma in tourism there.[2] Salleh did an arts degree at university, and neither has had professional training in making films. They met around 2007, and became professional and personal partners.[3][1]
Career
editSalleh and Tucker started their careers in filmmaking making short films.[3] They established the Urtext film company in Adelaide.[4] They were based in Australia until relocating to Brooklyn, New York[5] in 2016.[2] Salleh acts as director, cinematographer, and co-editor of their films, while Tucker is producer and co-editor.[3]
The short film Central Texas Barbecue (2014) is a short documentary about Texans who cook meat in pits.[6] Their first feature documentary Barbecue (2017)[2] highlights the culture of barbecuing meat and other foods in various societies.[7][8] The filmmakers travelled to 13 countries, with the resulting film including a restaurant in a Syrian refugee camp, nomads in Mongolia, Hāngī in New Zealand, braai in South Africa, yakitori in Japan, and many others.[6] It received a James Beard Award.[9]
Their 2020 documentary We Don't Deserve Dogs, that explores the relationship between men and dogs,[10][11][12][13][14] was scheduled have its world premiere at SXSW festival in the US in March 2020,[15] but owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was cancelled. We Don't Deserve Dogs was released later in 2020 at a number of film festivals, including Warsaw Film Festival, Nashville Film Festival, Gems Film Festival (Miami), and Brisbane International Film Festival.[2] Salleh wrote about how he made the film.[16]
Their documentary feature, Slice of Life: The American Dream, In Former Pizza Huts,[17] premiered at SXSW Sydney and Chicago International Film Festival.[18] It was released in Australian cinemas on 7 November 2024.[18]
Filmography
edit- Balloons for Sale (short film, 2009)
- Pablo's Villa (short film, 2013)
- Central Texas Barbecue (short film, 2014)
- Barbecue (2017)
- We Don't Deserve Dogs (2020)
- Slice of Life: The American Dream, In Former Pizza Huts (2024)
Footnotes
edit- ^ They talk in this interview about having to leave the US every 2 years to renew their visas.
References
edit- ^ a b Salleh, Matthew; Tucker, Rose (November 6, 2024). "Film-making legend James Ivory" (audio). ABC listen (Interview). The Screen Show. Interviewed by Di Rosso, Jason. Radio National. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Allen, Lynda (September 14, 2021). "Celebrating our special relationship with dogs". Alumni stories. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c Salleh, Matthew; Tucker, Rose (March 21, 2017). "A Conversation With Matthew Salleh and Rose Tucker (BARBECUE)". Hammer to Nail (Interview). Interviewed by Reed, Christopher. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ "Urtext Films: Headed for the big smoke". CityMag. November 28, 2016.
- ^ "Filmmakers Rose Tucker + Matthew Salleh". Artspeak.
- ^ a b Russell, Stephen A (May 8, 2017). "Fire on film: Around the world in many barbecues". SBS Food. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ Dexter, John (September 27, 2016). "Barbecue: "A film about much more than food."". Adelaide Review.
- ^ "Peace, love and 'Barbecue,' a global film ode to grilled meat". Reuters.
- ^ "James Beard Best Documentary Nominee 'Barbecue' Is Like Anthony Bourdain Hijacked By Terrence Malick in Decider". March 21, 2018.
- ^ Sigler, Gabriel (April 15, 2020). "SXSW 2020: WE DON'T DESERVE DOGS is a beautifully-shot, globe-trotting look at our relationship with man's best friend". Bad Feeling Magazine.
- ^ Anthony, Amelia (April 15, 2021). "Here's proof that 'We Don't Deserve Dogs'". Brooklyn Magazine.
- ^ "Review: 'We Don't Deserve Dogs' a tribute to our canine companions | Datebook". preview.houstonchronicle.com.
- ^ Aziz, Neha (February 6, 2020). "Matthew Salleh Showcases the Unique Relationship Between Dogs and Humans". SXSW.
- ^ "'We Don't Deserve Dogs' documentary shows pet ownership through a global lens".
- ^ "We Don't Deserve Dogs". SXSW 2020 Schedule.
- ^ says, Connie Asher (May 22, 2021). "How We Made Our Film We Don't Deserve Dogs — Almost Alone". MovieMaker.
- ^ Slatter, Sean (July 26, 2024). "Matthew Salleh and Rose Tucker go searching for a slice of the American Dream with new documentary".
- ^ a b Kornits, Dov (November 6, 2024). "CINEMA RELEASE THIS WEEK: Slice of Life. The American Dream. In Former Pizza Huts". FilmInk. Retrieved November 7, 2024.