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Sydney-based Anthony Gordon originally studied to be a forensic psychologist, but took a career-changing sidestep into the world of television production. His award-winning production company Nothin’ But Shorts International has now helped produce documentaries, commercials and even made a difference to the Sherpas of Nepal.
You started off studying forensic psychology, what prompted you to move into the creative industry?
I had to learn about criminals to work in TV, didn’t I? I studied psychology, but I realised they don’t really teach you anything concrete, so I left to become a photographer. There were no courses at the time, so I literally walked into Westpac Bank in Bondi Beach, Sydney, for a loan to get started. The bank manager said, “I’ll make you a deal: stay with Westpac for the rest of your life and I’ll lend you the money”. I’m still with the same bank because of that one day.
When did your switch from photography to video and TV happen?
With the start of the whole desktop publishing revolution, I sold all my camera gear, learned how to do graphic design and got a job with a newspaper, which taught me how to tell a professional story.
Then one day I had a phone call from West End producer Cameron Mackintosh’s agency in Australia – they had been told I knew how to edit film. I had no idea how to do that, but agreed to have a go and winged it. Six months later I was editing the film for all these London stage shows.
How did Nothin’ But Shorts International come about?
I’d never thought about having my own business, but then at lunch one day the accountant at my agency said: “You’re wasting your time working for a company, you should run your own business. They’re going to offer you redundancy. Take it and I’ll show you how to do it”. So I did.
Where did the name come from?
I was walking through the city, thinking about what I was going to call my new business, and two guys walked past me wearing those old Hawaiian shorts. I thought “I hate wearing suits, wouldn’t it be great to wear nothing but shorts forever?” I decided just to call it that, thinking we’d be out of business in three months anyway. Nearly twenty years later it’s still the business name.
You’ve managed to grow NBSI through partnerships, how did that happen?
I just really enjoyed meeting people, hearing their stories and what they had to say. I used to do volunteer work in the trauma team for Red Cross at Motocross events. Through that, I met a guy who asked if I wanted to come film the motocross. I filmed one motocross guy, then the next, then Valentino Rossi – who’s now MotoGP World Champion – went across to do his first rally and asked if I wanted to film it. From there, Subaru asked me to stay with them. It’s all about not sitting still. That way you find people who want you to tell their story.
Has finding a space to work in been challenging?
The hard part is security, because you’ve got a lot of expensive gear. Every office I’ve had before was broken into. I also need a dark room with no windows because I don’t want any reflection or glare. As a photo editor, I live in the dark. Regus was the first place that listened, and showed me what I wanted.
What’s been your toughest time in business?
When I hadn’t sold my first big TV series I remember that all I had left was 18 cents and AUD 200,000 of debt. What you learn when you have nothing is that no one can really touch you, because what are they going to get? Then when the series sold and I cleared my debt, I realised the whole risk/reward cycle you learn growing up is all wrong. Risk is actually fantastic because, until you’ve had nothing, everything’s hard.
What achievement are you most proud of?
On the way back from a job in the Himalayas, I was sitting with one of the Sherpas and I said: “What are you going to do next year?” He replied: “I think I might die on the mountain”. I decided to try and get a TV network to fund the world’s first Sherpa rescue team on Everest.
In the three years after there was an earthquake and the mountain was closed, yet I still pushed to make the documentary – last year we sold it to The Travel Channel and I spent three months this year on the mountain filming it. So anything’s possible – I’m just from a guy who grew up in Bondi and wanted to tell stories.
Anthony works in Regus offices in Sydney, you can watch some of his award-winning material on the Nothin’ But Shorts website.
Top tips from Anthony:
- Never say no. Because you never know what you’re going to get.
- Just when you think things are as bad as they can get, that’s when you’re closest to succeeding.
- Don’t listen to people’s criticisms. Unless I hear the same criticism three times I ignore it.
