WRITING/DIRECTING
WRITING/DIRECTING

Sally also runs a career in writing and directing alongside her acting work, and has successfully managed to do both in Australia and the UK.
She began her work behind the camera as a producer at the first community television station in Victoria, MPTV (Mornington Peninsula Television), producing (and presenting) a weekly magazine lifestyle show for teenagers, as a teen herself, before moving onto professional work as a boom swinger & makeup assistant among other varied roles in film and television. Her work as backstage crew in theatre began in the Lighting department on follow spot, where she could be found when not on stage herself for nearly three years.
In the mid-1990’s, Sally left for the UK to audition for drama school and instead ended up working at the BBC for a few years in production and research roles. Eventually she accepted a place at The Actors’ Institute, where she graduated with a Degree in Drama, then promptly returned to the BBC for just over a year before returning to Australia.
It was during her last stint at the BBC that Sally first began writing for the stage and screen, as well as producing and directing her own work – usually also appearing as an actor. She has to date written, directed and/or produced a collection of short films, short features, plays, TV pilots, short documentaries, a feature length documentary and now two web series.
Sally has also worked as the General Manager of Melbourne WebFest (one of the original five web fests globally and the largest web fest in the Southern Hemisphere) and was the Founder and Festival Director of Shorts Relief: Flicks For The Fires founded in 2020 – a charity short film and web fest initially founded to raise money for Bushfire relief.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
“… polished, beautifully made series from director/producer Sally McLean … A fine use of the platform and, more importantly, a very fine adaptation of the Bard … Shakespeare Republic is put together with grace and wit. An assortment of actors do terrific work making the (non-dumbed down) dialogue accessible, prying it open with great care and skill.”
The Guardian
about “Shakespeare Republic: #LoveTheBard”
"… immensely enjoyable … wonderfully realistic … refreshing … The cast played their well defined characters superbly without exception … (the dramatic events in the film) were handled both by the cast and writers with skill and sensitivity."
BBC
about “A Little Rain Must Fall"
"McLean's combined expertise is on full display in Shakespeare Republic, which features both a critical eye and ear to Shakespeare's text, and high production values ... The vignettes are themselves a metaphorical gauntlet thrown down to the viewer, daring them to imagine what a full production in this world might look like ... Perhaps the highest compliment I can pay any artist is that they left me wanting more, and Shakespeare Republic has done exactly that."
Borrowers and Lenders: The Journal of Shakespeare and Appropriation
about “Shakespeare Republic” (Seasons One & Two)
"Shakespeare’s place in modern life is often questioned, so it’s lucky film and theatre aficionado Sally Mclean has a passion for the Bard’s work. Speaking Daggers shows the best of Shakespeare."
Be Melbourne
about “Speaking Daggers"
“… strong performances from a cast containing many familiar faces from Australian television … engaging … insightful … if you’re in the mood for some dramatic theatre with interesting characters, inspiring stories and a feel-good, uplifting message, Chasing Pegasus provides an ultimately engaging hour of theatre.”
3RRR FM
about “Chasing Pegasus (a play in ten chords)"
"Sally McLean creates, adapts, directs and is even an ensemble member of the award-winning web series Shakespeare Republic, now in its second season. Taking the world by storm ... done in an inventive, captivating way ... the entire series is astonishingly smart."
Stareable.com
about “Shakespeare Republic" (Season Two)
“… a tightly written and superbly acted piece that explored the difficulties of being a twenty-something living in London in the last throes of the 20th Century. Very similar to the Australian television series “The Secret Life of Us” (which aired here on Channel 4 in 2001), this film is funny, touching, absorbing and confronting. The relationships between the characters are raw and realistic – sometimes disturbingly so.”
IMDB
about “A Little Rain Must Fall"
"For many decades key research has shown that the arts are a medium which has linked disparate fields naturally, since day one of its evolutionary practice ... Speaking Daggers is one shining example."
The Plus Ones
about “Speaking Daggers"
"These are beautifully produced soliloquies from Shakespeare’s most famous characters, interpreted by a wide range of talented actors."
Shakespeare Twenty Score
about “Shakespeare Republic"
"(Cate) Blanchett’s recital of old speeches in modern environments evokes the fine web series Shakespeare Republic. Except Manifesto is less about contemptorarising material than altering frame of reference; the film explores the relationship between art and context."
Flicks.com.au
about “Shakespeare Republic" (Season Two)
"Although each episode is just a glimpse into each character, the series does a wonderful job of creating an entire world to bring context to the monologue. This is a wonderful series, that is perfect to just dip in and out of ... It is funny, emotional, and thought-provoking, providing a unique take on words that many would write off as irrelevant or old‑fashioned ... definitely worth a watch."
Books by the Window
about “Shakespeare Republic" (Seasons One & Two)
SERIES

Dark Arcadia
Creator/ Writer/ Director
As Incognita Enterprises
Format: 4k
Length: 3 x 7 mins/1 x 21 mins
Genre: Drama
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Status: In Pre-Production
Website:
www.darkarcadia.com

Shakespeare Republic: #GodsAndMonsters (Season Four)
Creator/Writer/Director/Producer
As Incognita Enterprises
Format: 4k
Length: 18 x 5 mins/3 x 30 mins/1 x 90 mins
Genre: Drama/Fantasy
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Status: In Development
Website:
www.shakespearerepublic.com

Walking Shadows Vol. 1 (2022)
Creator/Writer/Director/Producer
As Incognita Enterprises
Format: Smartphone
Length: 22 x 5 mins
Genre: Drama
Location: Melbourne (Australia)
Status: Completed
Website:
www.walkingshadows.com.au

Shakespeare Republic: #AllTheWebsAStage (The Lockdown Chronicles) (Season Three) (2020)
Creator/Writer/Director/Producer
As Incognita Enterprises
Format: Smartphone
Length: 24 x 5 mins
Genre: Drama
Location: Melbourne (Australia), London (UK), Glasgow (UK), Edinburgh (UK), Los Angeles (USA), New York (USA)
Status: Completed
Website:
www.shakespearerepublic.com

Shakespeare Republic: #LoveTheBard (Season Two) (2017)
Creator/Writer/Director/Producer
As Incognita Enterprises
Format: 4k
Length: 13 x 5 mins
Genre: Drama
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Status: Completed
Website:
www.shakespearerepublic.com

Shakespeare Republic (Season One) (2015)
Creator/Writer/Director/Producer
As Incognita Enterprises
Format: 2k
Length: 6 x 5 mins
Genre: Drama
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Status: Completed
Website:
www.shakespearerepublic.com

D.A.T.E. Me (2009) (Pilot)
Creator/Writer/Director/ Producer/Camera
For NeON Films, Sydney, Australia
Format: MiniDV
Length: 6 x 3mins
Genre: Comedy
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Status: Completed
FILM

Champion
Writer/Director/Co-Producer
As Incognita Enterprises
Format: 4k
Length: 110mins
Genre: Documentary
Location: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane & Gold Coast (Australia), London & Oxford (UK), Vienna (Austria)
Status: In Production
Website:
www.thechampiondocumentary.com

Dalny
Writer
As Incognita Enterprises
Format: 4k
Length: 110mins
Genre: Drama/Action/Fantasy
Location: TBA
Status: In Development

Speaking Daggers (2017)
Writer/Director/Producer
As Incognita Enterprises with Independent Schools Victoria
Format: 4k
Length: 11.35 mins
Genre: Drama
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Status: Completed
Website:
www.speakingdaggers.com

Why Must The Show Go On? (2010)
Co-Writer/ Executive Producer As Incognita Enterprises with Cinema Viscera
Director: Paul Anthony Nelson
Format: HD
Length: 25 mins
Genre: Comedy
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Status: Completed
More info: Incognita Enterprises

Brigit & Benny (A Modern Faerietale) (2005)
Writer/Producer/Director As Incognita Enterprises
Format: miniDV
Length: 8 mins
Genre: Fantasy
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Status: Completed
Screened: Aurora TV
More info: Incognita Enterprises

fixNATION (2004)
Writer/Producer/DirectorAs Incognita Enterprises
Format: miniDV
Length: 7 mins
Genre: Silent
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Status: Completed
Screened: Foxtel Australia
More info: Incognita Enterprises

The Giant, The Witch & The Waterhorse (2001)
Writer/Director/Producer/Camera
For Ross Of Mull Historical Society, Scotland
Format: MiniDV
Length: 25 mins
Genre: Documentary
Location: Scotland, UK
Status: Completed
More Info: Incognita Enterprises

Gyuto Monks: An Australian Awakening (2000)
Writer/Director/Camera
For Gyuto House Australia
Format: miniDV
Length: 20 mins
Genre: Documentary
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Status: Completed
More Info: Incognita Enterprises

A Little Rain Must Fall (1997)
Co-Writer/Co-Producer
As Incognita Enterprises
Director: Dennis Morrison
Format: miniDV
Length: 43 mins
Genre: Drama
Location: London, UK
Status: Completed
Selected (non-competition): Cannes Film Festival
Website:
www.alittlerainmustfall.com
THEATRE

This Wooden ‘O’
Writer/Director/Producer
As Incognita Enterprises
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Length: 75 mins
Status: In Development

Bayonets & Bully Beef
Writer/Producer
As Incognita Enterprises
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Length: 90 mins
Status: Early Script Development

Love Letters To My Gran
Writer/Performer
As Incognita Enterprises
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Length: 60 mins
Status Early Script Development

Chasing Pegasus (2006)
Writer/Director/Producer
As Incognita Enterprises
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Length: 75 mins
Status: Competed & Performed
Venue/s: Gasworks Arts Park & Mt Martha House
Festival/s: Melbourne Fringe Festival/Victorian Seniors Festival
Website:
www.chasingpegasus.net

PS I Love You (2004) (workshop performance)
Writer/Director/Producer
As Incognita Enterprises
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Length: 90 mins
Status: Completed & Performed
Venue: Mt Martha House

Till The Boys Come Home
Creator/Writer/Producer
As Incognita Enterprises
Format: 4k
Length: 20 x 10 mins/4 x 50 mins
Genre: Drama
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Status: In Development
Website:
www.tilltheboyscomehome.com
MUSIC VIDEO

O, Mistress Mine (2017)
Writer/Director/Producer
As Incognita Enterprises
Music by Jaron Natoli
Format: 4k
Length: 3.42 mins
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Status: Completed
Website: http://speakingdaggers.com/
music-video/
PRODUCTION COMPANY INFORMATION
INCOGNITA ENTERPRISES
Owner/Director
Hon. Patron: Sir Nigel Hawthorne KB, CBE (1929-2001)
Website: www.incognitaenterprises.com
MEMBER: Actors Equity (MEAA), AACTA (Actor Chapter) & ADG (Associate Member)