What makes a good story? Ask Academy award-winning producer Emile Sherman

Emile Sherman is a natural storyteller. Zooming in from his chic home in Sydney, the Jewish-Australian producer is warm and laidback, as he speaks candidly about his contributions to international cinema.

His approachability, characteristic of many Aussies working in Hollywood, is refreshing considering Sherman is responsible for some of the biggest blockbusters of our time, both on the silver screen – The King’s Speech (2010), Lion (2016), One Life (2023) – and the small screen – Top of the Lake (2013), Slow Horses (2022).

It's impressive given Sherman had “no idea” what he would do after he graduated from the University of New South Wales with an arts/law degree and masters in English literature. He was introduced to film over two decades ago when a group of mates made Uncle Chatzkel – a documentary about Sherman’s great, great uncle who survived two world wars, lived through the Russian revolution and became a famous lexicographer.

“I sort of fell into film. I hadn’t studied producing at all, but found it made a lot of sense to me as I got into it. It combined a lot of elements I enjoyed doing,” Sherman told The Jewish Independent.

Those ‘elements’ are threefold: creative – understanding what makes a good narrative and how to best support storytellers; financial – managing a budget and accounts; and strategic – knowing how to push a project forward from development and funding through to production, editing and marketing.

“My background was the least strong in the physical production side, so I’ve had to learn about that. With my father being in funds management, I grew up talking about finance and found a love for it, which helped.”