Richard Jasek

Richard Jasek
Born	1964/1965 (age 51–52) Prague, Czechoslovakia
Occupation	Producer, director, writer
Years active	1990–present
Partner(s)	Bernice
Relatives	Ladislav Jasek (father) Anthea Hamilton (mother)

Richard Jasek (born 1964/1965) is a Czechoslovakia-born Australian television producer, writer and director. Jasek was born and raised Prague until his family fled the communist regime and settled in Brisbane. Jasek chose to become a filmmaker after he discovered his father's camera. He would later enrol at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School. Jasek made a short production for SBS Television and travelled to the United Kingdom to work for The National Film School as a guest lecturer. Upon his return to Australia, Jasek began working in television and he is best known for his work with dramas A Country Practice, City Homicide and McLeod's Daughters. In October 2011, it was announced that Jasek had taken over the role of executive producer of Neighbours.

Jasek was born in the 1960s in Prague to Ladislav Jasek and Anthea Hamilton. He has a sister called Nicola. Jasek's father was a concert violinist who often played for The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, while his mother was a jeweller, from a winemaking family from Adelaide. Jasek's father travelled a lot and the secret police coerced him into becoming a spy for the communist regime. Of this, Jasek said "There was huge emotional pressure to report on conversations with friends and acquaintances, if you did not, then the consequences were dire! It was possible for the regime to close down your career, you could lose your home and also affect other family members. In extreme cases, they would throw you in prison."

When Ladislav could no longer bear working for the regime, he got himself posted to Brisbane and the family were accepted as asylum seekers. Ladislav was granted Australian citizenship in 1966. The family then moved to New Zealand, Britain and eight years later, returned to Australia. During this period, Jasek decided to become a filmmaker having found his father's movie camera. From the age of eleven, he began making short films with his friends. Jasek later enrolled at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) in Sydney.

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