“I wish the film industry had as strong an advocate”

Making documentaries about real life individuals can be challenging.

Just ask Paul Goldman director of Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story who was challenged in getting people to go on the record about the larger than life music industry pioneer.

“The legacy of Michael is enormous, in Melbourne particularly. I knew that we were going to be up against people who just wouldn’t want to talk. I approached very famous members of bands who just said , ‘No,’ straight out,” he said recently at the Australian International Documentary Conference.

“For all the criticism and things that were wrong with Michael, I wish the film industry had as strong an advocate over the last five decades. I mean, I don’t think we’ve had anyone in the film industry or TV industry being such a strong single-minded, loudmouth, boisterous, brutal advocate for the industry.”

Goldman was also asked if he had any regrets in making the documentary, and referred to those who could have contributed a lot with colourful memories.

“I wish I’d interviewed Renee Geyer but a lot of things were put in my way. I wish I’d interviewed Deborah Conway, who’s gone out publicly and said she was pissed off that she wasn’t interviewed.

“I think she would have swung a bat at Michael in her own inimitable way,” he replied.

“But there’s nothing I’ve ever made where I wish I could have done it again.”

Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story screens 7:30pm tonight on Seven