Top TVC director Wayne Maule killed in Thailand

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Wayne-Maule-web.jpgUPDATE: Thank you for all of the wonderful messages that have been left for Belle and the family.There will be a ceremony this Saturday 31st October at Cherng Talay Temple, at 12pm followed by a wake at Taste on Surin Beach. Please join us to celebrate Wayne’s life,There will also be a service on Thursday week in Sydney, details will follow – Kathy Davies

Well known and loved Australian TVC director, Wayne Maule has been tragically killed in Thailand.

The director of major TVCs such as the second worldwide ‘I still callAustralia home’ TVC for Qantas and the ‘Where the bloody hell are you?”spot for Australian Tourism, Maule was quoting on scripts right upuntil the end. As of yesterday and in addition to his recent work inthe Middle East, he was in the midst of quoting a big Ford campaign outof JWT Shanghai and had just received some scripts for Sharp out ofVietnam.

According to reports, his motorbike collided with a six-wheel truckin Cherng Talay in Phuket yesterday afternoon. He was riding a HondaClick down Srisoonthorn Road towards Surin when the tragedy happened atabout 1:15pm.

Maule said at the time: “Apart from having done some ofmy best work with Australian agencies, I have a lot of family andfriends here and I miss that. After all this is where mychildren are.”

Most recently, best known in Australia for hisdirecting of the beautiful but controversial ‘Where The Bloody Hell AreYou?’ campaign for Australian Tourism and agency M&C Saatchi, Maulehas travelled the world working in Asia, The Middle East, Europe andAfrica since completing the second iconic Qantas’ I Still CallAustralia Home in 2004.

Arithmetic Executive Producer, AndrewMcPhail said of Maule at the time: “I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity representsuch an accomplished visual stylist like Wayne. Having worked with someof the best visual directors in the business. I am gobsmacked by howconsistently brilliant his TVCs are.”

Adds McPhail this morning: “Obviously we are deeply shocked at Wayne’s tragic passing. Wayne was a true journeyman. A man who always – after so many years being at the top of his game – continued to astound with the childlike enthusiasm combined with the consummate professionalism he brought to his directing.  The loss of such a great artist is a profound loss to our industry and he shall be sorely missed. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife Bella and his family.”

 

Maule began his advertisingcareer in the UK with one of London’s most creative agencies BMP SJIPworking his way up to Art Director and Head Copywriter for a number ofagencies before being appointed Group Head of Leo Burnetts in Sydneythen Creative Director of J. Walter Thompson.

Being an accomplishedphotographer he quickly found himself directing what have since becomeiconic campaigns for Coca-Cola,  Shell, Optus, Qantas and AustralianTourism to name but a few.