Common English Productions

 Common English productions is a local film and video company producing Promotional video, Short films and Documentaries  about the people in the area and the events which we experience.

We specialise in creating promotional photography and video for Websites, Social Media and Advertising to showcase small and medium businesses, their people, products and services. 

We are also active in creating Documentaries and Short Films about our region and what it has to offer.

David English: Director

 I’m a filmmaker and photographer based in the Central Highlands. I spent years working with steel, timber, tools, and tradespeople. That background shapes everything I create. My work is honest, grounded, and deeply connected to place — whether I’m filming a maker in their workshop, photographing a heritage home, or telling the story of a regional business. 

I have created and led a small team to produce custom products for clients for over 30 years.

He holds an Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media (Film and Television) at Swinburne university, as studied the Bachelor of Business at Victoria University.

He is committed to telling the stories of the people of our region, and exploring the events of our daily lives. 

Experience:

 For more than three decades I’ve run a custom craft business working with timber and steel — designing, fabricating, and building pieces that had to stand up to real use, real weather, and real clients. My work has ranged from architectural gates and bespoke steelwork to timber structures, restorations, and one‑off commissions. Thirty years in the workshop teaches you things no classroom or camera ever can: how materials behave, how to solve problems on the fly, how to build something that lasts, and how to listen to the person you’re making it for. It also teaches patience, precision, and the value of doing things properly the first time. That background shapes the way I approach filmmaking and photography today. I understand trades, tools, workshops, and the rhythm of making things by hand. I know how to capture the character of a maker, the beauty of a material, and the story behind a piece of work — because I’ve lived it myself.