Australian Film Legend Dies After Long Battle with Tumour

The Australian film industry is in mourning after legendary sound recordist Paul ‘Salty’ Brincat died last month, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

The beloved sound recordist died in late May in New South Wales, after a long battle with illness.

He was one of the country’s most respected film identities, and worked on many Australian-filmed Hollywood blockbusters.

Paul’s family has set up a GoFundMe page which has a target of $10,000, to help with the funeral costs, and has currently raised over half its goal.

‘It’s hard to understate the profound impact that Paul Brincat has had upon the Australian Film Industry,’ the page reads.

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The Australian film industry is in mourning after legendary sound recordist Paul ‘Salty’ Brincat. Pictured

‘For decades Salty was at the cutting edge of sound, recording dialogue for Hollywood Blockbusters and independent Australian feature films alike.

‘So it is with no surprise that so many of our extended film family are travelling from far and wide, to Murwillumbah, to pay homage to the great man himself.

‘With so many wonderful people in attendance, we have put together a small fundraiser, to help alleviate his family of some of the Behind the Scenes costs of the memorial.’

Across his career, he worked on the 2002 Steve Irwin movie Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, The Invisible Man and many other acclaimed productions.

He was nominated for an Academy Award in 1999 for his sound work on the Sean Penn film The Thin Red Line.

Paul also won an Emmy Award in 1996 for Outstanding Sound Mixing on the short-lived US series Flipper, featuring Neighbours star Alan Dale.

Heartbroken colleagues took to social media to pay tribute to Paul. 

‘I was greatly saddened to hear of the passing of one of our longstanding members. He was much loved,’ wrote industry body the Australian Screen Sound Guild.

The beloved sound recordist died in late May in New South Wales

Across his career, he worked on the 2002 Steve Irwin movie Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, The Invisible Man and many other acclaimed productions

‘Vale Paul. Despite his formidable resume, I found that Salty was an extremely humble man, devoid of ego,’ added fellow sound recordist Josh O’Donnell.

‘I can honestly say that I would not be the man I am today without Salty.’ 

‘We have lost a legend,’ Aussie cameraman Jason Binnie chipped in. 

Paul worked in the industry for four decades, from the early ’80s until last year.

His final work was on the 2024 Australian film The Nut Farm, featuring Madeleine West and Arj Barker. 

Paul’s funeral will be held on Saturday, June 14 in his home town of Murwillumbah, regional NSW.