# Clayton Jacobson (director)

Clayton Jacobson is an Australian film director, writer, producer, actor, musician, and editor. His debut feature film was Kenny, which was released in 2006 in Australia to critical acclaim, winning a number of awards. He has acted in a number of films, including Animal Kingdom (2010).

## Early life and education

Clayton Jacobson is the brother of Kenny actor Shane Jacobson.
He graduated from the Swinburne Film & TV School.

## Career

Jacobson began his career editing music videos and features films. He then directed music videos, television commercials, and short films until making his debut as a feature film director with Kenny in 2006.
Jacobson first had the idea of improving the green screen technology in use for filming special effects when filming a TV ad for detergent in 2003. Watching his son playing videogames and seeing the 3D technology used in them gave him the basic idea for developing on-set virtual production. In 2016, Jacobson and his son made one of the first prototypes for a virtual production stage in their shed, using a set of LED screens. However, he could not get anyone to take an interest in developing the technology further, so gave up on it. Other filmmakers had also caught on to the idea though, and in 2018 Australian cinematographer Greig Fraser used the technology to film the Star Wars franchise spin-off series, The Mandalorian (released 2019).

## Awards and nominations
### Kenny

Kenny received several awards and nominations, including:
* 2006: Australian Film Institute (AFI) Awards
** Nominated - Best Film (Clayton Jacobson, Rohan Timlock), Best Direction (Clayton Jacobson), Best Original Screenplay (Shane Jacobson, Clayton Jacobson), Best Editing (Clayton Jacobson, Sean Lander), Best Supporting Actor (Ronald Jacobson);
** Won - Best Lead Actor (Shane Jacobson);
* 2006: Film Critics Circle of Australia
** Won - Best Actor (Shane Jacobson), Best Original Screenplay;
** Nominated: Best Film, Best Director;
* 2006: IF Awards
** Won - Best Feature Film, Best Script (Clayton Jacobson, Shane Jacobson), Best Sound (Craig Carter, Peter Smith), Box Office Achievement;
** Nominated - Best Director (Clayton Jacobsen), Best Editing (Clayton Jacobson, Sean Lander)

### Brothers' Nest

Brothers' Nest (2020), directed by Jacobsen, was nominated for the inaugural AACTA Award for Best Indie Film in the 8th edition of the AACTA Awards.

## Personal life

Jacobson plays bass in the Appalachian folk band the Duck Downpickers.

## Filmography

Jacobson has been involved in the making of the following films:

### As director, producer, and writer

| Year | Film | Type | Credited as | Credited as | Credited as |
| Year | Film | Type | Director | Writer | Producer |
| 1994 | EnvironMental | Short Film | Yes | | |
| 2001 | Tickler | Short Film | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2002 | I Love U | Short Film | Yes | | |
| 2002 | Tanaka | Short Film | Yes | | |
| 2006 | Kenny | Feature Film | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2008 | Kenny's World | Television Series | Yes | Yes | |
| 2009 | Mordy Koots | Web Series | Yes | Yes | |
| 2018 | Brothers' Nest | Feature Film | Yes | | Yes |
| 2019 | Mr. Black | Television Series | Yes | | |

### As editor

| Year | Film | Notes |
| 1989 | Houseboat Horror | |

### As actor

| Year | Film | Role | Type |
| 1988 | Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em | | Feature film |
| 2001 | He Died with a Felafel in His Hand | Repo Man | Feature film |
| 2001 | Tickler | Man | |
| 2003 | Buried | Angus | Short film |
| 2003 | Ned Kelly | Sullivan | Feature film |
| 2003 | Roundabout | Paramedic 1 | Short film |
| 2003 | Take Away | Waster 2 | Feature film |
| 2005 | The Illustrated Family Doctor | Phil | Feature film |
| 2005 | Blacktown | Clayton | Feature film |
| 2006 | The Water Diary | Lunch Guest | Short film |
| 2006 | Kenny | David Smyth | Feature film |
| 2010 | Animal Kingdom | Gus Emery | Feature film |
| 2017 | Top of the Lake | Adrian Butler | TV series, season 2, episode: "China Girl" |
| 2018 | Upgrade | Manny | Feature film |
| 2018 | Brothers' Nest | Jeff | Feature film |
| 2019 | Metro Sexual | Bruce the Bikie |
| 2024 | Cook Serve Forever | Baz | Video game |