Peter Pearson (director)
Encyclopedia
Peter Pearson is a Canadian film director
and screenwriter
.
and Economics
at the University of Toronto
and Television Production at Ryerson University
before attending film school in Rome
. Upon his return to Canada his first job was as a journalist for the Timmins Daily Press
. In 1964 he was hired by the CBC
and worked there for two years as a director-producer-writer. He joined the NFB
in 1966 where he began making documentaries, including three with American social activist Saul Alinsky
. His work received nineteen Canadian Film Award
s – more than any other Canadian director. His two most notable features – The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar
and Paperback Hero
(1973) – are landmarks in English-Canadian cinema. From 1975 to 1981 he served as a director on the TV series For The Record and was responsible for the innovative and controversial episodes The Insurance Man from Ingersoll (1976), Nest of Shadows (1976), Kathy Karuks is a Grizzly Bear (1976), The Tar Sands (1977), and Snowbirds (1981).
Pearson, like many of his contemporary filmmakers, was continually frustrated by the lack of opportunity in the Canadian film industry and remained a persistent lifelong activist and champion in the cause of Canadian cinema. From 1972 to 1975 he served as president of the Directors Guild of Canada
and as chairman of the fifteen thousand-member Council of Canadian Filmmakers. After teaching film for one year at Queen’s University (1982–83), he headed the Canadian Film Development Corporation's newly-created Broadcast Program Development Fund from 1983 to 1985. The corporation became Telefilm Canada
and he served as its Executive Director from 1985 to 1987.
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:...
and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
.
Biography
Pearson studied Political sciencePolitical science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and Television Production at Ryerson University
Ryerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
before attending film school in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Upon his return to Canada his first job was as a journalist for the Timmins Daily Press
Timmins Daily Press
The Timmins Daily Press is a newspaper in Timmins, Ontario, which publishes six days a week. It is notable as the first paper bought by press baron Roy Thomson, who would eventually own more than 200 newspapers including The Times...
. In 1964 he was hired by the CBC
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...
and worked there for two years as a director-producer-writer. He joined the NFB
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...
in 1966 where he began making documentaries, including three with American social activist Saul Alinsky
Saul Alinsky
Saul David Alinsky was a Jewish American community organizer and writer. He is generally considered to be the founder of modern community organizing, and has been compared in Playboy magazine to Thomas Paine as being "one of the great American leaders of the nonsocialist left." He is often noted...
. His work received nineteen Canadian Film Award
Canadian Film Award
The Canadian Film Awards were the leading Canadian cinema awards from 1949 until 1978. These honours were conducted annually except in 1974 when Quebec directors withdrew their participation and prompted a cancellation that year....
s – more than any other Canadian director. His two most notable features – The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar
The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar
The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar is a 1968 Canadian dramatic film directed by Peter Pearson and written by Joan Finnigan. The 49 minute drama stars Chris Wiggins and Kate Reid, along with Margot Kidder in her first feature role....
and Paperback Hero
Paperback Hero (1973 film)
Paperback Hero is a 1973 Canadian movie, directed by Peter Pearson, which starred Keir Dullea and Elizabeth Ashley. It is set in Saskatchewan and portrays the life of a big-fish minor-league hockey player in a little-pond town...
(1973) – are landmarks in English-Canadian cinema. From 1975 to 1981 he served as a director on the TV series For The Record and was responsible for the innovative and controversial episodes The Insurance Man from Ingersoll (1976), Nest of Shadows (1976), Kathy Karuks is a Grizzly Bear (1976), The Tar Sands (1977), and Snowbirds (1981).
Pearson, like many of his contemporary filmmakers, was continually frustrated by the lack of opportunity in the Canadian film industry and remained a persistent lifelong activist and champion in the cause of Canadian cinema. From 1972 to 1975 he served as president of the Directors Guild of Canada
Directors Guild of Canada
The Directors Guild of Canada is a Canadian labour union, founded in 1962, which represents more than 3,700 professionals from 48 different occupations in the Canadian film and television industry. The DGC represents directors, assistant directors, location managers, production assistants and...
and as chairman of the fifteen thousand-member Council of Canadian Filmmakers. After teaching film for one year at Queen’s University (1982–83), he headed the Canadian Film Development Corporation's newly-created Broadcast Program Development Fund from 1983 to 1985. The corporation became Telefilm Canada
Telefilm Canada
Telefilm Canada or Téléfilm Canada is a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Canada.It is the primary federal cultural agency dedicated to the development and promotion of the Canadian audiovisual industry....
and he served as its Executive Director from 1985 to 1987.
Selected filmography
- L'Or et le Papier (1994)
- Bananas from Sunny Quebec (1993)
- Along These Lines (1974)
- A Thousand Miles of Holidays (1974)
- Only God Knows (1974)
- Paperback HeroPaperback Hero (1973 film)Paperback Hero is a 1973 Canadian movie, directed by Peter Pearson, which starred Keir Dullea and Elizabeth Ashley. It is set in Saskatchewan and portrays the life of a big-fish minor-league hockey player in a little-pond town...
(1973) (aka Last of the Big Guns) - Seasons in the Mind (1970)
- The Dowry (1969)
- The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to KaladarThe Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to KaladarThe Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar is a 1968 Canadian dramatic film directed by Peter Pearson and written by Joan Finnigan. The 49 minute drama stars Chris Wiggins and Kate Reid, along with Margot Kidder in her first feature role....
(1968)