James Motluk
Encyclopedia
James Motluk is a Canadian filmmaker of Ukrainian
descent. After studying philosophy at Trent University
he travelled to Toronto
where he struggled to break into the film industry working for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
as an assistant director on a television show called Seeing Things. In 1990 he wrote and directed his first feature film called Nasty Burgers
which was released in theaters three years later to critical acclaim. Nasty Burgers gained him entry into the Canadian Screenwriters Guild. For much of the 1990s he worked as a writer for television. His credits included a season on the hit show Road to Avonlea
.
In 2000 he released a documentary funded by American film director Michael Moore
called Life Under Mike
which took a critical and biased look at then Ontario Premier Mike Harris
. In 2001 the film earned him a Media Human Rights Award from the League for Human Rights of Bnai Brith Canada. He released a second documentary to theaters in 2003 called Whose University Is It?. This work used Trent University as a case study and argued that any corporate connections with higher learning are negative - though notably ignoring that the entire Trent University campus was donated by General Electric Canada, and its library by the Bata Shoes
Corporation.
Most recently he released a documentary called Jajo's Secret which revealed the internment of Ukrainians by the Canadian government during World War One. This movie was broadcast on OMNI TV in Canada and screened in New York at Columbia University in 2011.
His movies tend to sympathize with the left, presenting an anti-capital view of the world, and encouraging grass roots social change. He has produced all three of his directorial efforts independently through his own company Guerrilla Films often raising finances through trade unions such as the Auto Workers and the Steel Workers. He is currently listed as a member of Artists Without Borders.
Ukrainian Canadian
A Ukrainian Canadian is a person of Ukrainian descent or origin who was born in or immigrated to Canada. In 2006, there were an estimated 1,209,085 persons residing in Canada of Ukrainian origin, making them Canada's ninth largest ethnic group; and giving Canada the world's third-largest...
descent. After studying philosophy at Trent University
Trent University
Trent University is a liberal arts and science-oriented institution located along the Otonabee River in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.The enabling legislation is the Trent University Act, 1962-63. The University was founded through the efforts of a citizens' committee interested in creating a...
he travelled to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
where he struggled to break into the film industry working for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
as an assistant director on a television show called Seeing Things. In 1990 he wrote and directed his first feature film called Nasty Burgers
Nasty Burgers
Nasty Burgers is a low-budget feature film made in Canada and released to theaters in 1993. Filmed in 16 mm, it was directed by Canadian filmmaker James Motluk. The movie was financed by Motluk juggling credit cards, using one to pay off the other, then increasing the spending limit and so on. It...
which was released in theaters three years later to critical acclaim. Nasty Burgers gained him entry into the Canadian Screenwriters Guild. For much of the 1990s he worked as a writer for television. His credits included a season on the hit show Road to Avonlea
Road to Avonlea
Road to Avonlea was a television series which was first broadcast in Canada and the United States between 1990 and 1996. It was created by Kevin Sullivan and produced by Sullivan Films in association with CBC and the Disney Channel, with additional funding from Telefilm Canada.It was adapted from...
.
In 2000 he released a documentary funded by American film director Michael Moore
Michael Moore
Michael Francis Moore is an American filmmaker, author, social critic and activist. He is the director and producer of Fahrenheit 9/11, which is the highest-grossing documentary of all time. His films Bowling for Columbine and Sicko also place in the top ten highest-grossing documentaries...
called Life Under Mike
Life Under Mike
Life Under Mike is a 2000 political documentary film directed and produced by Canadian filmmaker James Motluk. It was released to theaters in September 2000 to generally positive reviews. The movie takes a critical look at the government of then Ontario Premier Mike Harris. It was partially funded...
which took a critical and biased look at then Ontario Premier Mike Harris
Mike Harris
Michael Deane "Mike" Harris was the 22nd Premier of Ontario from June 26, 1995 to April 15, 2002. He is most noted for the "Common Sense Revolution", his Progressive Conservative government's program of deficit reduction in combination with lower taxes and cuts to government...
. In 2001 the film earned him a Media Human Rights Award from the League for Human Rights of Bnai Brith Canada. He released a second documentary to theaters in 2003 called Whose University Is It?. This work used Trent University as a case study and argued that any corporate connections with higher learning are negative - though notably ignoring that the entire Trent University campus was donated by General Electric Canada, and its library by the Bata Shoes
Bata Shoes
Bata Shoes is a large, family owned shoe company based in Bermuda but currently headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, operating 3 business units worldwide – Bata Metro Markets, Bata Emerging Markets and Bata Branded Business. It has a retail presence in over 50 countries and production...
Corporation.
Most recently he released a documentary called Jajo's Secret which revealed the internment of Ukrainians by the Canadian government during World War One. This movie was broadcast on OMNI TV in Canada and screened in New York at Columbia University in 2011.
His movies tend to sympathize with the left, presenting an anti-capital view of the world, and encouraging grass roots social change. He has produced all three of his directorial efforts independently through his own company Guerrilla Films often raising finances through trade unions such as the Auto Workers and the Steel Workers. He is currently listed as a member of Artists Without Borders.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Nasty Burgers Nasty Burgers Nasty Burgers is a low-budget feature film made in Canada and released to theaters in 1993. Filmed in 16 mm, it was directed by Canadian filmmaker James Motluk. The movie was financed by Motluk juggling credit cards, using one to pay off the other, then increasing the spending limit and so on. It... |
Writer,Producer,Director |
| 2000 | Life Under Mike Life Under Mike Life Under Mike is a 2000 political documentary film directed and produced by Canadian filmmaker James Motluk. It was released to theaters in September 2000 to generally positive reviews. The movie takes a critical look at the government of then Ontario Premier Mike Harris. It was partially funded... |
Producer, Director |
| 2003 | Whose University Is It? | Writer, co-Director, Producer |
| 2009 | Jajo's Secret | Producer, Director |
| 2011 | Living In The Shadow | Producer, Director |