KATHY SHARP – 2023 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN CINEMA PIONEER OF THE YEAR
Movies have always been in my blood. My Mum worked as a teen for Arthur & Rene Stiles at The Cygnet, as did my Aunty and my Uncle (in fact they met at work).
As a child I remember lining up at City cinemas with my brother in school holidays for the latest Disney animation or us going to The Cygnet with Mum for the best Choc-tops around and the latest release.
I first started in the Perth Entertainment industry in Human Resources for TVW7. I had previously been at Bunnings Head Office and during my time there had learnt the new computing practices and had taken myself to TAFE to learn coding, writing programs. I think that’s what landed me the role at Channel 7, as part of my role was as a payroll assistant and inputting all the timesheets on their new Computer system and then writing the software for the salaried staff yearly reviews. At that time City Theatres were under TVW7 and coincidentally I was administrating the salaries of the Stiles family!!
In 1984 I married Martin, and we have had a wonderful marriage ever since. 1986 after the birth of my daughter I became a casual employee at TVW and did relief work where needed in different departments.
In late 1990 after Christopher Skase had bought the station, 80+ staff were retrenched including all casuals. I was lucky enough to have one of the TVW Sales Reps put my name forward for a 10 hour a week role at Hoyts Fox Columbia TriStar Films as an admin assistant. I got the job and started work on Jan 8, 1991 working with John Papadopoulis.
The 10 hours quickly became 24 hours a week with so much to do. I learnt all the aspects of distribution on the job – sales and booking, distribution practices, getting to know all the WA exhibitors, doing triplicate accounts works. Then learning about publicity, dealing with the local media, keeping reviewers happy and of course creating and executing film promotion.
In 1994 the joint venture split and I accepted a full-time role with Columbia TriStar to become State Manager with John going to Victoria to head up the role there. Soon after that the company became branded Sony Pictures – I’ve been with them ever since.
During my time with Sony, we’ve had many great titles, inspiring leadership and an awesome team of staffers, who are my second family. And I’ve met many wonderful people through the industry – distribution, exhibiton and media – many of whom I now consider to be close friends.
Some of my favourite memories are the planning and executing the many fabulous film premieres at Hoyts Cinema City:
- Police abseilers scaling down the front façade for the release of CLIFFHANGER, including search lights that set off alarms at the airport!
- Filling the entire wire ‘space’ framing upstairs with red, white and blue balloons and a costumed themed launch of THE PATRIOT.
- Filling balloons for MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET upstairs at Cinema City and running them around the streets of the Xmas Pageant being and being mobbed by kids
- Creating a fantastic charity family day out event for 3000 people for the release of STUART LITTLE at the new Reading Belmont, all in the aid of Telethon.
In addition to my time with Sony Pictures, I was a committee member on the now defunct Cinema Industry Insurance fund. I also have the privilege of being an honorary Director with the Western Australian Motion Picture Benevolent Fund and have served in that role for 20+ years. I have also been a committee member for the Cinema Pioneers of WA, and Secretary/Treasurer for the last 8 years. Additionally, alongside good industry friends in the late 90s, I organised ‘Movie Balls’ to bring back that nostalgia to our local workers.
Away from work, I have maintained my love of giving back to communities and charities. I was Secretary and then Administration Manager for the Gosnells Cricket Club for 8 years. During this time, I was awarded the WACA Club Administrator of the Year award. I played top level Netball for many years and took on the role of secretary of our club and fitness coach of the teams. I then became a state badged umpire for the association and coached teams for 10 years on and off.
Every year for the past 26 years our family and neighbours decorate our houses with Christmas Lights in Consulate Court Thornlie. I have facilitated Charity collections for the past 15 years, running the publicity angles and the social media page to promote them. We have raised over $100,000 for many charities.
For 10 years I volunteered with Anglicare WA on the organising committee for the Op Shop Ball. I then volunteered with Brightwater WA helping launch and manage Perth’s Longest Lunch fundraiser and most recently with Asthma WA with the same program.
I have been very fortunate to have such a great career with Sony Pictures for the past 32 years and have made some life-long friends. I am very grateful for the support of my husband and children which allows me to complete my Sony role to the best of my ability.
Being a part of the WA Cinema Industry is an absolute joy and a job I enjoy every single day.