Filmmaking debut
His debut feature was about Thunderbolt, produced by H. A. Forsyth, and its success launched his career. As one writer later put it:
With the aid of a gallant, if small, company of triers, including Mrs. Gavin as scenario writer and leading lady, and himself as leading juvenile, he turned out several films dealing with the convict and bushranging eras. There were no such things as studios then, and all scenes, exteriors and interiors, had to be shot in the open with Old Sol supplying the light. The results were considered quite satisfactory, and the pictures made money.
He followed this up with Moonlite and by February 1911 it was written that "more film has been used over Jack Gavin than over any other Australian biograph actor." He was described as "the beauteous bushranger".
A newspaper profile attributed the success of Gavin's bushranging films to two main factors: the quality of horsemanship in them, and the fact they were normally shot on the real locations where the events occurred.
Another writer stated in 1911 that "The pictures already turned out by Mr Gavin demonstrates that in bio graphic art Australian producers are in no way behind their European and American brothers. Clearness in detail and execution, with the cleverly-constructed stories by Agnes Gavin enable Mr Gavin to offer attractive films."
A newspaper wrote a ballad about Gavin:
He played as Ben Hall, Moonlight too.
He's also played with Holt.
And on the screen he's to be seen.
Dressed up as Thunderbolt.
Whilst acting he has cried,'Bail up'.
And put the tops to rout;
In fact, he knows more bail up
Than some chaps are bailed out.
He poses as a cut-throat fierce,
With pistols and a frown;
But looks a harmless sort of cuss
When strutting round the town.
Gavin's films were also often accompanied by popular lecturer Charles Woods.
His first two movies were made for H.A. Forsyth at Southern Cross Motion Pictures but he and Forsyth had a falling out and Gavin went his separate way, publicly announcing the fact in January 1911.
In July 1911 he set up his own company, the Gavin Photo Play Company, based out of Waverley.
He was involved in the formation of the Australian Photo-Play Company but then established his own production company in October 1911. Gavin later said
I did not favour the idea [for the APP] particularly, as they were introducing two more producers, and I did not think the time was quite ripe for such expansion. As it was, we were all making good money, but the extra people coming in would make the overhead absorb all this; so I pulled out and received a cash price for a parcel of shares, sold out my interest in the four films I had made, and started out on my own as the John F. Gavin Productions.
When bushranging films were banned in 1912 he turned to dramatising other true characters, such as Edith Cavell and Charles Fryatt.
In 1912 Gavin was arrested for owing money to a business associate, though he was later released.
In January 1917 he took out a lease on a studio at North Sydney and announced plans for make four feature films over a year, starting with The Murder of Captain Fryatt. He also started up a film school and spoke of offers from America.
Gavin was also credited as directing the first Australian advertising short film, a koala using a cough syrup.
