Mischa Scorer
Encyclopedia
Mischa Scorer is an award-winning British documentary film-maker.
from 1965 to 1979, first in the Religious Broadcasting Department where he made such documentaries as “Padre Pio” (1968) for which he won the first prize in the WACC Monte Carlo Film Festival and in 1969 “The Vatican”, the first ever major televised documentary about the Vatican.
In 1970 he moved to the prestigious BBC Documentary Department under Richard Cawston where he made a number of films in the series “One Pair of Eyes”, two films about the KGB
and its operations, and four films in the groundbreaking series “The Long Search” with Ron Eyre about the great religions of the world.
In 1981 he became one of the founders of Antelope Films in London, one of the first British independent television production companies, writing and directing four films in the classic 13-part series “The Heart of the Dragon” about China. For the opening programme in the series “Remembering” he won an International Emmy. He went on to make two films about Venice with Gore Vidal
“Vidal in Venice” (1984). From 1986 to 1988 he produced and directed a seven part series, “Testament,” for Channel Four about the history of the bible, with John Romer.
In 1989 Scorer set up his own production company, Scorer Associates. He produced and directed for the BBC a documentary, Songs of Experience, to mark the 85th birthday of the composer Sir Michael Tippett. During the 1990s he made a number of documentaries in the BBC’s “Omnibus” series, including films with Jung Chang
, Isabel Allende
, Joshua Bell
, András Schiff
, Roland Petit
and Zizi Jeanmaire
.
In 2003 he wrote and directed “Degas and the Dance” for PBS “Great Performances
” series, a film in HD about the painter Edgar Degas
and his obsession with dancers. This was co-produced with the BBC
, Arte
and NHK
and the film won him a Peabody Award
.
In 2006 Scorer established The Masterclass Media Foundation
, a non-profit organisation devoted to filming and recording the world’s great musicians giving masterclasses and teaching.
Biography
Mischa Scorer worked as producer for BBC TelevisionBBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
from 1965 to 1979, first in the Religious Broadcasting Department where he made such documentaries as “Padre Pio” (1968) for which he won the first prize in the WACC Monte Carlo Film Festival and in 1969 “The Vatican”, the first ever major televised documentary about the Vatican.
In 1970 he moved to the prestigious BBC Documentary Department under Richard Cawston where he made a number of films in the series “One Pair of Eyes”, two films about the KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
and its operations, and four films in the groundbreaking series “The Long Search” with Ron Eyre about the great religions of the world.
In 1981 he became one of the founders of Antelope Films in London, one of the first British independent television production companies, writing and directing four films in the classic 13-part series “The Heart of the Dragon” about China. For the opening programme in the series “Remembering” he won an International Emmy. He went on to make two films about Venice with Gore Vidal
Gore Vidal
Gore Vidal is an American author, playwright, essayist, screenwriter, and political activist. His third novel, The City and the Pillar , outraged mainstream critics as one of the first major American novels to feature unambiguous homosexuality...
“Vidal in Venice” (1984). From 1986 to 1988 he produced and directed a seven part series, “Testament,” for Channel Four about the history of the bible, with John Romer.
In 1989 Scorer set up his own production company, Scorer Associates. He produced and directed for the BBC a documentary, Songs of Experience, to mark the 85th birthday of the composer Sir Michael Tippett. During the 1990s he made a number of documentaries in the BBC’s “Omnibus” series, including films with Jung Chang
Jung Chang
Jung Chang is a Chinese-born British writer now living in London, best known for her family autobiography Wild Swans, selling over 10 million copies worldwide but banned in the People's Republic of China....
, Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende Llona is a Chilean writer with American citizenship. Allende, whose works sometimes contain aspects of the "magic realist" tradition, is famous for novels such as The House of the Spirits and City of the Beasts , which have been commercially successful...
, Joshua Bell
Joshua Bell
Joshua David Bell is an American Grammy Award-winning violinist.-Childhood:Bell was born in Bloomington, Indiana, United States, the son of a psychologist and a therapist. Bell's father is the late Alan P...
, András Schiff
András Schiff
András Schiff is a Hungarian-born British classical pianist, who has won a number of awards including the Grammy and made numerous recordings.- Biography :...
, Roland Petit
Roland Petit
Roland Petit was a French choreographer and dancer born in Villemomble, near Paris, France. He trained at the Paris Opéra Ballet school, and became well known for his creative ballets.-Biography:...
and Zizi Jeanmaire
Zizi Jeanmaire
Zizi Jeanmaire is a ballet dancer and widow of renowned dancer and choreographer Roland Petit. She became famous in the 1950s after playing the title role in the ballet version of Carmen, produced in London in 1949, and went on to appear in several Hollywood films.-Background:Born in Paris,...
.
In 2003 he wrote and directed “Degas and the Dance” for PBS “Great Performances
Great Performances
Great Performances, a television series devoted to the performing arts, has been telecast on Public Broadcasting Service public television since 1972...
” series, a film in HD about the painter Edgar Degas
Edgar Degas
Edgar Degas[p] , born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas, was a French artist famous for his work in painting, sculpture, printmaking and drawing. He is regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism although he rejected the term, and preferred to be called a realist...
and his obsession with dancers. This was co-produced with the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, Arte
Arte
Arte is a Franco-German TV network. It is a European culture channel and aims to promote quality programming especially in areas of culture and the arts...
and NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
and the film won him a Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
.
In 2006 Scorer established The Masterclass Media Foundation
Masterclass Media Foundation
- Aims :The Masterclass Media Foundation is a non profit organisation and UK registered charity which films and records some of the world’s great musicians teaching and giving masterclasses...
, a non-profit organisation devoted to filming and recording the world’s great musicians giving masterclasses and teaching.
Awards
- 1969 WACC/UNDA Monte Carlo Film Festival Best Documentary for “Padre Pio”
- 1984 International Emmy for “The Heart of the Dragon” Episode 1 “Remembering”
- 1992 Golden Gate Award for Best TV Arts Documentary, San Francisco Film Festival for “Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane” (Omnibus/Great Performances)
- 1996 Golden Spire Award for Best TV Arts Programme, San Francisco Film Festival for “Listen Paula”
- 1997 CableAce Award for “Omnibus – Joshua Bell”
- 2003 Peabody Award for “Degas and the Dance”
- 2004 Cine Golden Eagle Award for “Degas and the Dance”
- 2005 Grand Prix de L’Image, Fifart (Unesco) for “Degas and the Dance”
Filmography
Amongst more than 150 documentary films, Mischa Scorer’s credits include:- Searching for Peace in the Middle East (Foundation for Middle East Peace)
Documentary about possible solutions to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict presented by Dr Landrum Bolling. (2006) - Degas and the Dance (PBS; BBC; Arte; NHK)
One hour film in High Definition about Edgar Degas and his paintings of dancers. (2003)
Winner of 2003 Peabody Award; Cine Golden Eagle Award 2004; Grand Prix de L’Image, Fifart (Unesco) 2005. - Zizi Je T’Aime (BBC Omnibus/Worldwide)
A profile of Roland Petit the French choreographer and his wife Zizi Jeanmaire, the legendary singer and dancer. (1998) - The Wanderer (BBC Omnibus/Worldwide) A film about Schubert with András Schiff (1997)
- Degas – The Old Man Mad About Art (BBC Omnibus/Arts Council of England)
A film presented by Richard Kendall about the extraordinary late paintings of Degas (1996) - Messiah from Scratch (BBC) Three thousand voices sing Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall (1996)
- Listen, Paula (BBC Omnibus/AMAYA Distribution) A film about Isabel Allende and the illness and death of her daughter Paula. (1995)
Winner of Golden Spire Award for Best TV Arts Programme, San Francisco Film Festival 1996. - Joshua Bell (BBC Omnibus) (1994)
A profile of the acclaimed young American violinist.
Winner of CableAce Award 1997 - Wild Swans (BBC Omnibus/AMAYA Distribution)
A film about the writing of Jung Chang's best-selling book. (1993) - Brendel on Beethoven (BBC/Philips Classics Productions)
Alfred Brendel talking about and playing Beethoven Sonatas (1993) - Songs of Experience – Michael Tippett at 85 (BBC/RM Arts)
A 65-minute film to mark the birthday of one of Britain’s greatest composers. (1991) - A Hundred Acres (Channel Four/S4C)
Twenty six weekly wildlife films about a small area of Wales (1990) - Testament (Channel Four/PBS)
A seven part series with John Romer on the history of the bible (1988) - The Heart of the Dragon (Channel Four/PBS)
A 13 part documentary series on China (1984)
Winner of International Emmy for writing and directing - The Haunt of Man (Anglia TV)
Documentary exploring worldwide environmental problems. (1982) - The Long Search (BBC/PBS)
A 13 part documentary series about the world’s great religions (1978) - The Seven Black Years (BBC)
A documentary film about the seven years of military dictatorship in Greece (1975) - Poets in a Barren Land
A film in the series “One Pair of Eyes” with the composer Sir Michael Tippett (1974) - The Vatican (BBC) (1970)
- Padre Pio (BBC 1969)