Formerly a film critic, Australian filmmaker Geoffrey Wright made a promising debut as writer-director of the 60-minute, 16mm "Lover Boy" (1989), a picture about a 16-year-old boy who prefers the company (and passion) of a 43-year-old woman. Rejected by the woman when her former amour returns, the teen, responding to news that this man has beaten her, attacks him and receives a fatal stab wound. Though performances were excellent, the film just scraped by technically, its minuscule budget always apparent. Too short to play as a feature, too dicey for TV, "Lover Boy" was just a few dollars shy
Early film credit assistant director on "The Club", helmed by Bruce Beresford
1986
Submitted first draft of "Romper Stomper" to Australian Film Commission (AFC)
1989
Directorial debut, "Lover Boy", a 60-minute, 16mm film which he also scripted; first association with actor Daniel Pollock
1992
Wrote and directed "Romper Stomper", nominated for nine Australian Film Institute Awards (won three); shot in Super 16 to save money; second-highest grossing Aussie film of year after "Strictly Ballroom"; starred Russell Crowe, Jacqueline McKenzie and Pollack in his last film before throwing himself in front of a train
