James de Beaujeu Domville
Encyclopedia
James de Beaujeu Domville (born 1933) is a French
-born Canadian
theatrical producer
and administrator. In addition to his theatrical work, Domville has served in several important Canadian cultural positions, including five years as Commissioner of the National Film Board of Canada
(NFB).
Domville was born in Cannes
, France. He studied at the University of Fribourg
in Switzerland
and then at McGill University
in Montreal
, Canada, from which he gained a Bachelor of Civil Law
degree.
His first theatre work was the production of the satirical musical
My Fur Lady
. He was co-writer and producer of My Fur Lady, which was a success, being produced at the Stratford Festival and then touring Canada from 1957 to 1958. Following on from this, Domville co-founded a theatre production company, Quince Productions. He co-produced Jubilee and Spring Thaw over the following few years, and was also involved in theatre design, helping to plan the Fredericton Playhouse
and the National Theatre School of Canada
.
From 1964 until 1968, he served as the National Theatre School's Director-General. He was then the Executive Director of the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde
from 1968 until 1972. He also sat on the Advisory Arts Panel of the Canada Council
from 1968 until 1972, serving as the panel's chairman for the final three of those years.
It was in 1972 that he first became involved with the National Film Board, being appointed its Assistant Director of English Production. He became Executive Producer in charge of the NFB's drama film
output in 1974, and then in September 1975 was appointed Assistant Film Commissioner by André Lamy
. In his time at the NFB he pursued his enthusiasm for underwater diving
by directing
two films about the subject, Sub-Igloo and Arctic IV, and co-producing an evening of programming on the theme for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
, which included a live transmission from the bottom of Resolute Bay
. In 1977, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
.
In January 1979, Domville succeeded Lamy as Government Film Commissioner and Chair of the NFB. He later claimed that this was the only job he had ever really wanted. He faced a time of cutbacks and austerity at the NFB, but received praise for changing NFB policy in supporting the Canadian film industry by allowing private companies, rather than the NFB, to undertake the majority of sponsored film
production. It was also during Domville's time in charge of the NFB that its Studio D unit produced the controversial documentary features Not a Love Story
(1981) and If You Love This Planet
(1982). Following disagreements with the government, and despite feeling that it had been the most interesting phase of his career, Domville left his role at the NFB in January 1984.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
-born Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
theatrical producer
Theatrical producer
A theatrical producer is the person ultimately responsible for overseeing all aspects of mounting a theatre production. The independent producer will usually be the originator and finder of the script and starts the whole process...
and administrator. In addition to his theatrical work, Domville has served in several important Canadian cultural positions, including five years as Commissioner of the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
(NFB).
Domville was born in Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
, France. He studied at the University of Fribourg
University of Fribourg
The University of Fribourg is a university in the city of Fribourg, Switzerland.The roots of the University can be traced back to 1582, when the notable Jesuit Peter Canisius founded the Collège Saint-Michel in the City of Fribourg. In 1763, an Academy of law was founded by the state of Frobourg...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and then at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada, from which he gained a Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law is the name of various degrees in law conferred by English-language universities. Historically, it originated as a postgraduate degree in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but many universities now offer the BCL as an undergraduate degree...
degree.
His first theatre work was the production of the satirical musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
My Fur Lady
My Fur Lady
My Fur Lady is a satirical musical theatre production, first staged in Canada in the 1950s. It was premiered in Montreal on February 7th 1957, by McGill University students. A revue, it tells the story of Princess Aurora Borealis of "Mukluko" who is searching for a husband, to help keep her...
. He was co-writer and producer of My Fur Lady, which was a success, being produced at the Stratford Festival and then touring Canada from 1957 to 1958. Following on from this, Domville co-founded a theatre production company, Quince Productions. He co-produced Jubilee and Spring Thaw over the following few years, and was also involved in theatre design, helping to plan the Fredericton Playhouse
The Playhouse (Fredericton)
The Fredericton Playhouse is a non-profit organization venue for hosting local talent acts and touring performers. It was originally constructed in 1964 at the behest of Lady and Lord Beaverbrook, and between the years of 1969 and 2003, the venue was home to Theatre New Brunswick...
and the National Theatre School of Canada
National Theatre School of Canada
The National Theatre School of Canada is a private college located in Montreal, Quebec.Established in Montreal in 1960, the National Theatre School of Canada offers professional training in English and French in a setting that unites all the theatre arts: acting, playwriting, directing, set and...
.
From 1964 until 1968, he served as the National Theatre School's Director-General. He was then the Executive Director of the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde
Théâtre du Nouveau Monde
The Théâtre du Nouveau Monde is a theatre company and venue located on rue Sainte-Catherine in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in , it launched with the classic play L'Avare by Molière....
from 1968 until 1972. He also sat on the Advisory Arts Panel of the Canada Council
Canada Council
The Canada Council for the Arts, commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown Corporation established in 1957 to act as an arts council of the government of Canada, created to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts. It funds Canadian artists and...
from 1968 until 1972, serving as the panel's chairman for the final three of those years.
It was in 1972 that he first became involved with the National Film Board, being appointed its Assistant Director of English Production. He became Executive Producer in charge of the NFB's drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
output in 1974, and then in September 1975 was appointed Assistant Film Commissioner by André Lamy
André Lamy
André Lamy was a Canadian film producer, who served as Canada's Government Film Commissioner from 1975 until 1979. In this position he was the Chairman of the National Film Board of Canada ....
. In his time at the NFB he pursued his enthusiasm for underwater diving
Underwater diving
Underwater diving is the practice of going underwater, either with breathing apparatus or by breath-holding .Recreational diving is a popular activity...
by directing
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
two films about the subject, Sub-Igloo and Arctic IV, and co-producing an evening of programming on the theme 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...
, which included a live transmission from the bottom of Resolute Bay
Resolute Bay
Resolute Bay is an Arctic waterway in Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada. It is located in Parry Channel on the southern side of Cornwallis Island. The hamlet of Resolute is located on the northern shore of the bay and Resolute Bay Airport to the northwest...
. In 1977, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 1977 to mark the 25th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II...
.
In January 1979, Domville succeeded Lamy as Government Film Commissioner and Chair of the NFB. He later claimed that this was the only job he had ever really wanted. He faced a time of cutbacks and austerity at the NFB, but received praise for changing NFB policy in supporting the Canadian film industry by allowing private companies, rather than the NFB, to undertake the majority of sponsored film
Sponsored film
Sponsored film, or ephemeral film, as defined by film archivist Rick Prelinger, is film made by a particular sponsor for a specific purpose other than as a work of art: the films were designed to serve a specific pragmatic purpose for a limited time...
production. It was also during Domville's time in charge of the NFB that its Studio D unit produced the controversial documentary features Not a Love Story
Not a Love Story
Not a Love Story: A Film About Pornography is a documentary about the pornography industry. It was directed by Bonnie Sherr Klein.It remains one of the landmark works from the Studio D, the women's studio of the National Film Board of Canada...
(1981) and If You Love This Planet
If You Love This Planet
If You Love This Planet is a 1982 short documentary film recording a lecture given to SUNY Plattsburgh students by physician and anti-nuclear activist Dr. Helen Caldicott about the dangers posed by nuclear weapons. The movie was directed by Terri Nash and produced by Edward Le Lorrain for Studio...
(1982). Following disagreements with the government, and despite feeling that it had been the most interesting phase of his career, Domville left his role at the NFB in January 1984.