Lauren Busser ’12
STAFF WRITER
BRONXVILLE—Australian artist turned filmmaker, Oliver Hensel-Brown ’11 will graduate in a few weeks and head off into the real world. Hensel-Brown had a unique journey that brought him to SLC and during his time here, he has explored many different subjects. After taking two years off from school and a brief stint in art school, Hensel-Brown eventually arrived at Sarah Lawrence, where he got involved in the film program.
Despite his original interest in visual arts, Hensel-Brown decided to expose himself to something new and quickly found a home in the Film Department, where he currently works. In fact, Hensel-Brown started off his years at SLC by studying poetry and soon switched to film after a class with Fred Strype.
“He really got me into doing film,” says Hensel-Brown.
In addition to Fred Strype, Hensel-Brown also credited Rona Mark for opening his eyes to new film and exposing him to cult classics, weird movies, and great classic films.
“I’ve just got a whole wealth of inspiration and she’s changed the pace at which I shoot films. If I screw up, it’s a lesson I have to learn,” he said.
His diverse interest also included improvisation comedy. He first joined the improv troop, SLC Lampoon, playing Obama in the 2008 Election Show. While presumably a bit intimidating for a white Australian, Hensel-Brown still had fun with the role. He even built a brace out of wire that pushed his ears out, in order to look like the Presidential candidate.
“It’s all extracurricular,” Hensel-Brown said about his time with Lampoon. “But I’ve learned so much. Improv is all about working as a team and it helps with classes and some conferences.”
In addition to his involvement with Lampoon and the film program, Hensel-Brown has been studying art history and sculpture. Hensel-Brown’s talent possibly stems in part due to his genes. He is the child of two artists, his father a sculptor and his mother draws.
While filming and acting also interest Hensel-Brown, he is keen on production design and does so with a do-it-yourself approach. Hensel-Brown makes all the costumes, props and sets for his movies. Most recently, Hensel-Brown has created a giant bazooka for a film, which he showed to his mother in Australia via Skype.
“It’s kind of hard to describe,” Hensel-Brown said. “It’s sort of sci-fi in the 70s, with vibrating pyramids that explode in people’s stomachs.”
After graduation, Hensel-Brown will work with SLC’s summer film program and helping with another film. He then hopes to return to Australia for a while before eventually coming back to the United States. Hensel-Brown was originally born in Seattle, Washington, but then moved to Australia with his parents. “So I do have an American side to me but not really,” he said.
Though Australia is his home he doesn’t regret coming to the U.S. for college.
“I do miss it a lot but it’s nice to be near the big city,” he said about his experience at SLC. He later added, “I love the West Coast though; they have good burritos.”
