Kimble Rendall is an Australian director, musician and writer mostly known for his Second unit direction of The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, I, Robot, Casanova and Ghost Rider. As a musician Rendall was guitarist, vocalist and co-founder of punk rockers XL Capris and of rock bandthe Hoodoo Gurus.
History
Early works
Rendall used an 8mm camera to write and direct short films while still at school, he completed a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Mass Media and then trained at Australian Broadcasting Commission as a film editor. My Survival as an Aboriginal was a documentary written and directed by Essie Coffey on her life in the township of Brewarrina produced and edited by Rendall.
XL Capris
Rendall was taking acting lessons at the Nimrod Theatre when he met Tim Gooding and Johanna Pigott, and with their mutual interest in music they formed punk rock band XL Capris in 1978. Rendall played lead guitar and sang vocals with Gooding and Pigott. Early practice sessions were held in the front room of a Birchgrove house where Gooding lived. They were joined by Julie Anderson and achieved minor notoriety for their first single "My City of Sydney", Rendall co-wrote their second single "Skylab " but he left XL Capris after their next single "World War Three". Pigott and Gooding created Sweet and Sour for ABC-TV which followed the first year of a fictional band, The Takeaways, and was based on their experiences with XL Capris.
A chance meeting on New Year's Eve with fellow guitarists Dave Faulkner and Roddy Radalj, led to the formation of the Hoodoo Gurus in January 1981. Rendall also managed the band whilst they developed the material for their first album Stoneage Romeos. The band supported Gary Glitter on his national tour. Rendall had a meeting with Joe Strummer at The Sebel Townhouse when The Clash were looking for a Sydney support act. Strummer sat at the pool bar between swims, in his swimming costume and dripping wet. The band dropped the "Le" to become Hoodoo Gurus and later, after Rendall's departure, had a #3 Australian hit with "What's My Scene?". Hoodoo Gurus iconic status on the Australian rock scene was acknowledged when they were inducted into the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame.
In 1994, Rendall set up Flat Rock Pictures to direct TV commercials and, later, film projects. He has won all the major awards in advertising including a Cannes Lion. He directed a short film Hayride to Hell featuring Kylie Minogue and Richard Roxburgh and the teen slasher flick, Cut which starred Molly Ringwald and Minogue. Cut went to number two at the box office in France and was the second most popular Australian film there behind Strictly Ballroom. It also went to number two in Asia. Rendall became the second unit director for The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions and the associated video gameEnter the Matrix. He was also second unit director for CasanovaGhost Rider., and most recently Knowing. Rendall is represented for TV commercial work by Arithmetic, a Sydney-based production and creative services company. You can view his work on their website www.arithmetic.com.au
Director
Rendall is set to direct the Australian-Chinese thriller film The Nest 3D.
Year
Film
Notes
2000
Cut
2012
Bait 3D
2018
Guardians of the Tomb
Personal life
Rendall married Basia Bonkowski on 17 December 1984 and they have two children. Bonkowski is from Adelaide, born to Polish immigrants, and was a TV presenter and journalist on SBS in the 1980s. She presented Rock Around the World on SBS from 1982. Australian band Painters and Dockers released a single "Basia" in her honour. Bonkowski has authored two books including Jesse's World on her adopted children.
