STEPHEN HEAD – 2024 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN CINEMA PIONEERS OF THE YEAR
Stephen Head was born in Geraldton, moving to Perth at the age of 1980 to go to Curtin University (Then WAIT) studying diagnostic radiology. Whilst at WAIT, in his spare time Stephen would help the Curtin University film club, ushering and learning projection, led by Ken Gibbons. Through this time studying separately he gained his Cinemagraphic Operators Licence on the 6th July 1982. He was one of the last few to receive his licence before it was no longer a requirement. He was granted his licence from our own pioneer George Robinson. Leaving his radiology course behind to return home to Geraldton, Stephen started working with Ken Gibbons at the Geraldton Radio Cinema and then the Geraldton Drive-In doing projection.
In 1985 he joined the Royal Australia Air Force, as a cinema operator for RAAF Australia. Stephen went to Adelaide for basic training, before being posted to Point Cook in Victoria. In 1986 he was posted to Amberly base in Queensland, then Wagga Wagga in NSW in 1990. When former Pioneer Ross Winkler left RAAF Pearce, Stephen was posted to Pearce Airforce Base in Bullsbrook. Here he was responsible for the day-today operations, including projection and staffing and booking films.
Whilst working at RAAF, Stephen was also working casually at Omni Theatre under Graham Platt and Eric Crew and then, thinking of leaving the RAAF, he applied for a projection role at Grand Cinemas for their new Warwick location, which he didn’t get, however was offered a job as an usher and began there casually when the complex opened. After leaving the RAAF in 1994, looking for permanent hours, Stephen applied and was employed by Greater Union cinemas, based at their Perth CineCentre and Morley locations before being transferred to GU Whitford in 1997 as full-time head projectionist.
In 1998, Stephen was transferred to GU’s WA flagship 16-screen complex at Innaloo as its Chief Projectionist. In addition to his duties in this role, Stephen assisted with the mechanical services and projection installation at the newly opened 6-screen complex at Event Joondalup. Four of the smaller cinemas at Innaloo were subsequently converted to Gold Class when that premium concept was introduced, and Stephen oversaw all aspects of the technical installations. He also assisted with the transfer of the management rights from Greater Union to Grand Cinemas at Whitford.
When Event Cinemas made the decision to fully automate its projection operations, Stephen was appointed to the role of Area Technician for WA, SA and the NT. He oversaw the set up and running of the projection operations at Moonlight Outdoor in Perth & Melbourne. During this period, Steve travelled to Event’s cinemas in Adelaide and Darwin, as well as overseeing the projection teams at Event’s Perth locations. These responsibilities included maintenance of all projection equipment and training of staff at all these cinemas.
During this period, Stephen spent many weeks in Darwin assisting with all things projection at BCC Casuarina when it was upgraded, the building and fit out of a new 6-screen complex at Palmerston in the NT (Event Palmerston) and the closure of BCC’s Darwin City cinemas. In Adelaide, Stephen helped oversee the stripping out of GU Arndale when EVT made the decision not to renew its lease, the building and fit out of a new 6-screen complex at Glenelg (GU Film house Glenelg) and the refurbishment, fit out and subsequent closure of GU Film House Hindley St. In Perth, he was responsible for the mechanical services, projection and programming uploads at Innaloo, including one of the first of five Kodak digital installations into Cinema 4, as well as overseeing maintenance of projection equipment at Morley.
When the Whitfords location was transferred back to EVT from Grand Cinemas, Stephen was responsible for the mechanical services set up and a full upgrade and extension to include new auditoriums and the introduction of the Gold Class concept at this “new” location. When the decision was made to upgrade the cinemas and facilities at Event Innaloo, Steve played an integral role there. When Covid hit, the EVT Project Team was unable to travel to Perth. Stephen, along with Stephen Lamb, liaised directly with the builders and contractors, suppliers and local authorities, attending weekly site meetings and ensuring the refurbishment was always meeting expectations and standards. Most recently he worked on the second part of the Event Innaloo upgrade, installing the 4DX concept into cinema 1, along with a refurbishment of Gold Class, with Stephen assisting now manager George Mooney with contractors and suppliers.
During his 45+ years in the cinema industry, Stephen has developed his leadership skills and mentoring his team members across all locations in WA, SA and NT. Based on his years of experience, Stephen is always a great source of knowledge, history, “gut feel” and a good sounding board when making decisions impacting all Event cinema complexes. Stephen has built up a longstanding rapport with major film distributors in WA, SA & QLD/NT, having assisted them individually with their specific on-screen and in-complex requirements for various film premieres and preview screenings held at Event locations over the years. In doing so, he has earned the respect of distributors’ local and head office teams.
Stephen is highly regarded and respected by his colleagues and peers in WA, both within the Event team and the cinema industry generally, along with the Executive team at EVT. He is often their first point of contact when information is sought about the history of equipment, previous events, mechanical service, projection, seating, merchandising equipment, etc. He is a wealth of knowledge and always happy to share his expertise. He is an asset to not only Event Cinemas but also to the entire cinema industry.
Outside of work – kind of – Stephen met his long-time partner and wife Julie when she was an usher at Amberly Airforce base cinema and she followed Stephen in his travels to different bases, and eventually back to Perth. Their son Ryan, born in 2004, now also works at Event Innaloo and like his dad is a highly respected employee and worker.
Always making time for others and helping where they could, Stephen and Julie have managed football and cricket teams through Ryan’s junior sporting life and have served on P&C committees at schools.
Stephen says: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my cinema industry career, and I credit that to the technical teams, management and staff I have worked with – and the cinema industry in general. I am extremely honoured to be recognised as WA Cinema Pioneer of the Year for 2025.”