Paul Fenech (born 21 November 1972) is an Australian filmmaker, film and television actor, director, producer and writer. He is best known for writing, directing, producing and starring in the television series Pizza, Swift and Shift Couriers, Housos, Bogan Hunters, Fat Pizza: Back in Business, Housos vs. Virus: The Lockdown and Darradong Local Council as well as the motion pictures Fat Pizza (2003), Housos vs. Authority (2012), Fat Pizza vs. Housos (2014) and Dumb Criminals: The Movie (2015).

Career Early in his career, Fenech directed More Than Legends, a documentary highlighting Aboriginal culture through the eyes of elders from the Nyungar (W.A.), Arrernte (N.T.) and Tiwi (N.T.) groups.

He first achieved prominence by winning third place in Sydney's annual Tropfest short film festival in 1995 for a biographical short entitled Pizza Man based on his experiences as a pizza delivery driver. He won the Tropfest award for best film in 1998 for Intolerance written by and starring Acclaimed Australian Comedy Superstar Austen Tayshus, although he had submitted the film under the pseudonym Laura Feinstein to appeal to the sensitivities of the judges, particularly Tropfest founder John Polson, who hoped that a female director would win the award.Bookallil, Simon, Gone Troppo (documentary), 2004

His first feature film was Somewhere in the Darkness, a surreal tale about an old Irish man, a young boy and a third, cynical man who attempt to pass time whilst trapped underneath rubble when a shopping complex is destroyed.

Fenech was then able to secure a deal with Australian community broadcaster SBS to produce a sitcom based on Pizza Man. Entitled Pizza, and premiering in 2000, it ran for five seasons, with the final season airing in 2007. A full-length motion picture based on the series entitled Fat Pizza was released in 2003. Over a decade later, Fenech combined the storyline of Pizza with that of his third SBS Series Housos to create the feature film Fat Pizza vs. Housos.

Following the success of Pizza, he created the sitcom series Swift and Shift Couriers. Series 1 began airing on SBS on 27 October 2008 and Series 2 premiered on 15 August 2011.

His third television show for SBS, Housos, first aired on 24 October 2011. To date, two series have been produced, in addition to two full-length, cinematically-released motion pictures, Housos vs. Authority (2012) and Fat Pizza vs. Housos (2014). Housos won the award for Most Outstanding Light Entertainment Program at the 2014 Logie Awards.

Fenech's program Bogan Hunters, a combination of comedy and reality television, began airing on 13 May 2014 on 7mate and was the channel's highest-rating entertainment program and second highest rating show to date.

Fenech has recently re-started his shows Fat Pizza and Housos on the 7 Network, after his deal with SBS was not renewed. These shows are under variations of the original name, both called, Housos Vs. Virus: The Lockdown and Fat Pizza: Back in Business. These spin-off shows star Fenech playing the same characters as he did in the original shows and most of the original cast, however the shows are far less lewd than their SBS filmed counterparts, with far more reference to touchy social issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic and a lot more nudity and swearing. These shows, airing on 5 November 2019 for Fat Pizza: Back in Business and the 26 October 2020 for Housos Vs Virus: The Lockdown have proven successful with consistently high ratings online.

Filmography Feature films Year Title Credit Role Notes 2020 The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee Emilio (Gardener) 2018 That's Not My Dog! Himself 2015 Dumb Criminals: The Movie Director, writer, producer and executive producer Rabbit 2014 Fat Pizza vs. Housos Director, writer, producer and executive producer Franky Falzoni/Pauly Falzoni 2012 Housos vs. Authority Director, writer, producer and editor Franky Falzoni 2003 Fat PizzaDirector, writer and producer Pauly Falzoni/Alfredo Falzoni 1999 Somewhere in the Darkness Lawnmower Man Television Year Title Credit Role Notes 2023 Darradong Local Council Creator, director, writer and producer Sam 'Fox' Foxitini 9 episodes 2022 SAS Australia: Who Dares Wins Contestant Himself 9 episodes2018 Deadly Down Under Presenter, Creator Pauly 10 episodes Drunk History Australia Jesse Dowson Pilot2015 Dumb Criminals Motorcycle Club Creator, director, writer and producer Rabbit Summernats and the Hunt for the Great Aussie Hoon Pauly TV movie 2014 Bogan Hunters Creator, director, writer and producer Host 10 episodes 2013 Celebrity Splash! Contestant Himself 2011–2013; 2020–2022 Housos / Housos vs Virus: The Lockdown / Housos: The Thong WarriorCreator, director, writer and producer Franky Falzoni 23 episodes 2008–2011 Swift and Shift Couriers Paul 'Mario' Gauci 19 episodes 2006 World Record PizzaPauly Falzoni 6 episodes 2006 The Da Vinci Cup 3 episodes 2004 Pizza: Special Deliveries 10 episodes 2004 Pizza Live 5 episodes 2000–2007; 2019–2021 Pizza / Fat Pizza / Fat Pizza: Back in Business 56 episodes 1999 The 50 Foot Show Director 1998 Heartland Title Design Mini-series Short films Year Title Credit Role Notes 1998 Intolerance Director and producer 1997 Dangerous PizzaDirector, writer and producer 1996 Space Pizza 1995 Pizza Man 1994 More Than Legends Director and writer

Charity work In 2014, Fenech broke the Guinness World Record for 'Most Self Portrait (selfie) Photographs Taken in 24 hours’, taking a total of 2408. In order to qualify, each 'selfie' photograph had to be taken with a different participant. The event was held to raise money and awareness for Barnardo's Australia.

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards are a set of annual ceremonies presented by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia. They commenced in 1987.

! |- | 2013 | Pauly's Shorts | Best Comedy Release

Tropfest 1998: Best Film (Intolerance, won)

Slamdance Film Festival 1999: Grand Jury Prize (Somewhere in the Darkness, nominated)

Logie Awards 2001: Most Outstanding Comedy Program (Pizza, nominated) 2002: Most Outstanding Comedy Program (Pizza, nominated) 2004: Most Outstanding Comedy Program (Pizza, nominated) 2005: Most Outstanding Comedy Program (Pizza, nominated) 2014: Most Outstanding Light Entertainment Program (Housos, won)

Australian Comedy Awards 2003: Outstanding Australian TV Comedy – character based (Pizza, nominated)

Australian Writers' Guild 2011: Comedy – Situation or Narrative (Housos, nominated)

References

External links