Peter Pearson (born March 13, 1938) is a Canadian film director and screenwriter.

Biography

Pearson studied

Political science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...

and

Economics Economics () is the social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Economics focuses on the behaviour and interactions of economic agents and how economies work. Microeconomics analyzes ...

at the University of Toronto and Television Production at

Ryerson Institute of Technology Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU or Toronto Met) is a public research university located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The university's core campus is situated within the Garden District, although it also operates facilities elsewhere in Toro ...

before attending film school in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

. 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 Saul David Alinsky (January 30, 1909 – June 12, 1972) was an American community activist and political theorist. His work through the Chicago-based Industrial Areas Foundation helping poor communities organize to press demands upon landlords ...

. His work received nineteen

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 a number of Quebec directors withdrew their participation and prompted a cancellation. In the 1970s ...

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'' is a 1968 Canadian drama 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'' (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 The Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) is a Canadian labour union representing more than 5,500 professionals from 48 different occupations in the Canadian film and television industry. Founded in 1962, the DGC represents directors, editors, assist ...

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.

Selected filmography

*''

'' (1968) *''The Dowry'' (1969) *''Seasons in the Mind'' (1970) *'' Paperback Hero'' (1973) *'' Along These Lines'' (1974) *''A Thousand Miles of Holidays'' (1974) *''Only God Knows'' (1974) *'' The Insurance Man from Ingersoll'' (1976) * '' Heaven on Earth'' (1987) *''Bananas from Sunny Quebec'' (1993) *''L'Or et le Papier'' (1994)

References

External links

*
Complete Peter Pearson Filmography at CITWFFilms by Peter Pearson at NFB
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pearson, Peter 1938 births Living people Canadian film producers Canadian male screenwriters Film directors from Toronto Writers from Toronto National Film Board of Canada people Canadian television directors Canadian documentary film directors Canadian film executives Best Director Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners Canadian documentary film producers 20th-century Canadian screenwriters 20th-century Canadian male writers