Tristan Bancks tells stories for the page and screen. His books for kids and teens include Two Wolves, The Fall, Detention, the Tom Weekly series and Nit Boy. His books have won and been shortlisted for many awards.
Tristan’s short films as writer and director have won a number of awards and have screened widely in festivals and on TV. His most recent book is My Life & Other Exploding Chickens, a fourth book of weird-funny-gross, semi-autobiographical short stories.
Tristan is excited by the future of storytelling and inspiring others to create. Read more on his official website
Where were you born?In the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. I was an ambitious, energetic kid. I loved stories, playing sport and being master of my own destiny. I was always starting a lawnmowing business, writing a book, putting on a play, running a dance party or making dodgy horror movies with my friends.
My main aims in life have been to do work that I love and to continue telling stories. I’ve acted in TV and film, presented TV in the UK, made short films, written for magazines and newspapers. My only taste of a real job was flipping a burger once on McHappy Day. It landed on the floor.
The search for identity: who am I and what do I care about? Following your bliss, doing the thing you love no matter the obstacles. Breaking through fear and self-doubt. Money and power – how much you need and what you’re willing to compromise to get them. I seem to write ‘Action-Adventure’ and ‘Weird-Funny-Gross’.
hat have been the highlights of your career?Going to the movies with the Queen. Travelling to New York for the release of the Mac Slater books. Seeing kids inspired to pick up a book after a talk or workshop. Heading to France with Soar, a short film I directed and seeing it win awards. Discovering that I can spend my life writing books and speaking about them – best thing ever.
References of Media on this Page:
Tristan Bancks (2021) https://www.tristanbancks.com/