John Kent Harrison
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John Kent Harrison is a Canadian film and television director and writer.


Early life

Harrison was born in
London, Ontario London is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. The city had a population of 422,324 according to the 2021 Canadian census. London is at the confluence of the Thames River (Ontario), Thames River and N ...
, in 1947 and attended the private school
Appleby College Appleby College is an international independent school (grades 7–12) located in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, founded in 1911 by John Guest, a former Headmaster of the Preparatory School at Upper Canada College. Guest dreamed of establishing a sma ...
in
Oakville, Ontario Oakville is a town and List of municipalities in Ontario#Lower-tier municipalities, lower-tier municipality in Regional Municipality of Halton, Halton Region, Ontario, Canada. Generally seen as a commuter suburb of Toronto, it is located on Lake ...
. After graduating in 1964, he attended
Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...
in New York, then briefly worked as a stock broker before returning to school. He earned a
Master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional prac ...
at Montreal’s
Concordia University Concordia University () is a Public university, public English-language research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1974 following the merger of Loyola College (Montreal), Loyola College and Sir George Williams Universit ...
, and stayed, becoming assistant professor of Film Studies at Concordia University. While there, he wrote and directed several films. He moved to Los Angeles in 1984.


Career

Harrison has directed 32 projects, and written 21, most of which won, or were nominated for, numerous awards in acting and craft categories. Harrison has received several nominations for writing and directing. His 1992 film '' The Sound and the Silence'', which he wrote and directed, won the 1994 CableACE Award for best International Movie or Miniseries/Comedy or Dramatic Special or Series. His 1997 adaptation of
William Faulkner William Cuthbert Faulkner (; September 25, 1897 – July 6, 1962) was an American writer. He is best known for William Faulkner bibliography, his novels and short stories set in the fictional Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi, a stand-in fo ...
’s ''Old Man'' won the 1997
Christopher Award The Christopher Award (established 1949) is presented to the producers, directors, and writers of books, films and television specials that "affirm the highest values of the human spirit". It is given by The Christophers, a Christian organizatio ...
for Best Film. ''
You Know My Name "You Know My Name" is the theme song of the 2006 James Bond film '' Casino Royale'', performed by American musician Chris Cornell, who wrote and produced it jointly with David Arnold, the film's composer. The track was leaked onto the internet on ...
'' won the
Bronze Wrangler The Bronze Wrangler is an award presented annually by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum to honor the top works in Western music, film, television and literature. The awards were first presented in 1961. The Wrangler is a bronze sculp ...
for Television Feature Film at the
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is a museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, with more than 28,000 Western and Native American art works and artifacts. The facility also has the world's most extensive collection of Amer ...
’s 2000 Western Heritage Awards. At the 2003 Toronto Sprockets International Film Festival for Children, ''
A Wrinkle in Time ''A Wrinkle in Time'' is a young adult science fantasy novel written by American author Madeleine L'Engle. First published in 1962, the book won the Newbery Medal, the Sequoyah Book Award and the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, and was runner-u ...
'' won the Audience Award for Best Feature Film. ''
L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables ''L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables'' is a Canadian television film based on Lucy Maud Montgomery's 1908 novel of the same name. It first aired on YTV on February 15, 2016 and starred Ella Ballentine, Martin Sheen and Sara Botsford. Mon ...
'' won the award for Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie at the 2017
Kidscreen Award Brunico Communications is a Canadian magazine publishing company."Desktop tabloid publishing firm sports 2 publications and a profit". ''The Globe and Mail'', October 9, 1989. The company specializes primarily in online trade magazines serving medi ...
s. Harrison won the 2018
Canadian Screen Award The Canadian Screen Awards () are awards given for artistic and technical merit in the film industry recognizing excellence in Canadian film, English-language television, and digital media ( web series) productions. Given annually by the Academy ...
for Best Direction, Children’s or Youth, for ''Anne of Green Gables: Fire and Dew''.


Personal life

In 1969, following graduation from university, Harrison and a friend paddled an 18-foot canoe from their home town of
London, Ontario London is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. The city had a population of 422,324 according to the 2021 Canadian census. London is at the confluence of the Thames River (Ontario), Thames River and N ...
, through the Canadian river systems to Lake Erie, then down the Mississippi to
New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...
, where Mayor Victor H. Schiro awarded them Honorary Citizenship and the Key to the City. Harrison is the father of Canadian author
Sabrina Ward Harrison Sabrina Ward Harrison (born December 2, 1975, Canada) is a Canadians, Canadian artist and author. Sabrina Ward Harrison is the creator of five published books based on her coming-of-age journals. The first book, 'Spilling Open; The Art of Becom ...
. He holds dual Canadian-American citizenship. In 2013, he married his second wife, American producer Gretchen Miller and has since lived in
Portland, Oregon Portland ( ) is the List of cities in Oregon, most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated close to northwest Oregon at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, ...
.


Filmography

Director *''The Way of the Willow'' - short film, Catalyst Films 1981 *''Thanks for the Ride'' - short film,
National Film Board of Canada The National Film Board of Canada (NFB; ) is a Canadian public film and digital media producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary films, animation, web documentaries, and altern ...
1983 *'' The Hitchhiker - Best Shot'' – series episode, Chester/Perlmutter/Markowitz Productions 1987 *''
Beautiful Dreamers ''Beautiful Dreamers'' is a 1990 Canadian film directed by John Kent Harrison. It stars Colm Feore and Rip Torn. It was nominated for four Genie Awards in 1991. Synopsis Rip Torn is the American poet Walt Whitman. The setting is a 19th-century C ...
'' - feature,
National Film Board of Canada The National Film Board of Canada (NFB; ) is a Canadian public film and digital media producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary films, animation, web documentaries, and altern ...
1990 *'' The Sound and the Silence'' - TV Movie,
Atlantis Films Atlantis Communications was a Canadian production company and television broadcaster that was formed in 1978 by Queen's University students Michael MacMillan, Janice L. Platt and Seaton S. MacLean. It was later merged in 1998 with Alliance Comm ...
/
South Pacific Pictures South Pacific Pictures is a New Zealand television production company. The company produces drama series, mini-series, telemovies and feature films for the domestic market and international market. SPP's largest property is ''Shortland Street' ...
1992 *''City Boy'' - TV Movie,
Western International Communications WIC Western International Communications Ltd. (or WIC) was a Canadian media company that operated from 1982 to 2000, with operations including broadcast and specialty television, radio, and satellite distribution via a majority interest in Ca ...
et al 1992 *''Whose Child Is This? The War for Baby Jessica'' - TV Movie,
Western International Communications WIC Western International Communications Ltd. (or WIC) was a Canadian media company that operated from 1982 to 2000, with operations including broadcast and specialty television, radio, and satellite distribution via a majority interest in Ca ...
et al 1993 *''
For the Love of Aaron ''For the Love of Aaron'' is a Canadian television film, directed by John Kent Harrison and released in 1994."A daring, honest look at mental illness". ''Toronto Star'', February 25, 1994. Based on the true story of Margaret Gibson, a noted Cana ...
'' - TV Movie, Patterdale Productions/The Storytellers Group 1994 *''Johnny’s Girl'' - TV Movie, Signboard Hill Productions 1995 *''The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky'' - TV Movie, Signboard Hill Productions 1995 *''Old Man'' - TV Movie,
Hallmark Hall of Fame ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'', originally called ''Hallmark Television Playhouse'', is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas Citybased greeting card company. It is the longest-ru ...
1997 *''
What the Deaf Man Heard ''What the Deaf Man Heard'' is a 1997 American comedy-drama television film directed by John Kent Harrison, written by Robert W. Lenski, and starring Matthew Modine and James Earl Jones. Based on the 1996 novel by G. D. Gearino, the film is ab ...
'' - TV Movie,
Hallmark Hall of Fame ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'', originally called ''Hallmark Television Playhouse'', is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas Citybased greeting card company. It is the longest-ru ...
1997 *''
You Know My Name "You Know My Name" is the theme song of the 2006 James Bond film '' Casino Royale'', performed by American musician Chris Cornell, who wrote and produced it jointly with David Arnold, the film's composer. The track was leaked onto the internet on ...
'' - TV Movie, Ancient Mariner Films 1999 *''A House Divided'' – TV Movie,
Paramount Television The first incarnation of Paramount Television was operated as the television production division of the American film studio Paramount Pictures, until it changed its name to CBS Paramount Television on January 17, 2006. History Desilu Pro ...
et al 2000 *'' In Love and War'' - TV Movie,
Hallmark Hall of Fame ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'', originally called ''Hallmark Television Playhouse'', is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas Citybased greeting card company. It is the longest-ru ...
2001 *''
Helen of Troy Helen (), also known as Helen of Troy, or Helen of Sparta, and in Latin as Helena, was a figure in Greek mythology said to have been the most beautiful woman in the world. She was believed to have been the daughter of Zeus and Leda (mythology), ...
'' - Mini-series,
Fireworks Entertainment Fireworks Entertainment (originally Skyvision Entertainment and Skyvision Partners), known simply as Fireworks, was a Canadian-British-American independent film and television studio and production company originally founded in 1991 by Brian K. R ...
et al 2003 *''
A Wrinkle in Time ''A Wrinkle in Time'' is a young adult science fantasy novel written by American author Madeleine L'Engle. First published in 1962, the book won the Newbery Medal, the Sequoyah Book Award and the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, and was runner-u ...
'' - TV Movie,
Fireworks Entertainment Fireworks Entertainment (originally Skyvision Entertainment and Skyvision Partners), known simply as Fireworks, was a Canadian-British-American independent film and television studio and production company originally founded in 1991 by Brian K. R ...
et al 2003 *''The Winning Season'' – TV Movie,
Viacom Productions Viacom Productions (formerly Viacom Enterprises) was a television production arm of Viacom. Viacom Enterprises was also a movie producer, and a sports producer. The division was active from 1971 until 2004, when the company was folded into Par ...
/TNT et al 2004 *''
A Bear Named Winnie ''A Bear Named Winnie'' is a 2004 made-for-television drama film directed by John Kent Harrison. It stars Michael Fassbender and David Suchet. It concerns one of the real-life inspirations behind A. A. Milne's ''Winnie-the-Pooh''. Plot At the ou ...
'' – TV Movie, Original Pictures/PowerCorp 2004 *''
Judging Amy ''Judging Amy'' is an American legal drama television series that was telecast from September 19, 1999, through May 3, 2005, on CBS. This television series starred Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly. Its main character (Brenneman) is a judge who serves ...
– Revolutions Per Minute'' – TV episode,
20th Television 20th Television, Inc. (formerly known as TCF Television Productions, Inc., 20th Century-Fox Television and 20th Century Fox Television) is the television studio arm of 20th Century Studios, owned by Disney Television Studios, a division of the Di ...
et al 2005 *''Faith: Pope John Paul II'' – Mini-series,
Rai Fiction Rai Fiction is an Italian production company founded in 1997. Owned and operated by ''Radiotelevisione Italiana'' ( RAI), the national broadcasting company of Italy, the company produces content for Rai's channels, producing animations, sitcoms, ...
et al 2005 *''The Water Is Wide'' - TV Movie,
Hallmark Hall of Fame ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'', originally called ''Hallmark Television Playhouse'', is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas Citybased greeting card company. It is the longest-ru ...
2006 *''Crossroads: A Story of Forgiveness'' - TV Movie,
Hallmark Hall of Fame ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'', originally called ''Hallmark Television Playhouse'', is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas Citybased greeting card company. It is the longest-ru ...
2007 *''
The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler ''The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler'' is a 2009 television film directed by John Kent Harrison. The teleplay by Harrison and Lawrence John Spagnola, based on the 2007 biography ''Die Mutter der Holocaust-Kinder: Irena Sendler und die gerettete ...
'' - TV Movie,
Hallmark Hall of Fame ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'', originally called ''Hallmark Television Playhouse'', is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas Citybased greeting card company. It is the longest-ru ...
2009 *'' When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story'' - TV Movie,
Hallmark Hall of Fame ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'', originally called ''Hallmark Television Playhouse'', is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas Citybased greeting card company. It is the longest-ru ...
2010 *''A Walk in My Shoes'' – TV Movie, Procter & Gamble Productions 2010 *''Change of Plans'' – TV Movie,
Muse Entertainment Muse Entertainment, commonly referred to as Muse, is an independent film and television production companies in Canada. It was founded by Michael Prupas in 1998. Background Muse's production arm, Muse Entertainment Enterprises, produces films a ...
2011 *''Game of Your Life'' – TV Movie, Procter & Gamble Productions/Rosemont Productions 2011 *'' Christmas in Conway'' - TV Movie,
Hallmark Hall of Fame ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'', originally called ''Hallmark Television Playhouse'', is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas Citybased greeting card company. It is the longest-ru ...
2013 *''Hattie’s Heist'' – short film, Ferns Productions 2014 *''
L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables ''L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables'' is a Canadian television film based on Lucy Maud Montgomery's 1908 novel of the same name. It first aired on YTV on February 15, 2016 and starred Ella Ballentine, Martin Sheen and Sara Botsford. Mon ...
'' - TV Movie,
Breakthrough Entertainment Breakthrough Entertainment (formerly Breakthrough Films & Television) was a Canadian production company founded in 1986 by Peter Williamson and Ira Levy. It produces popular Canadian TV shows such as ''Jimmy Two-Shoes'' and '' Atomic Betty''. O ...
2016 *''Anne of Green Gables: Fire and Dew'' - TV Movie,
Breakthrough Entertainment Breakthrough Entertainment (formerly Breakthrough Films & Television) was a Canadian production company founded in 1986 by Peter Williamson and Ira Levy. It produces popular Canadian TV shows such as ''Jimmy Two-Shoes'' and '' Atomic Betty''. O ...
2017 *''Anne of Green Gables: The Good Stars'' - TV Movie,
Breakthrough Entertainment Breakthrough Entertainment (formerly Breakthrough Films & Television) was a Canadian production company founded in 1986 by Peter Williamson and Ira Levy. It produces popular Canadian TV shows such as ''Jimmy Two-Shoes'' and '' Atomic Betty''. O ...
2017 Writer *''
Shock Waves In physics, a shock wave (also spelled shockwave), or shock, is a type of propagating disturbance that moves faster than the local speed of sound in the medium. Like an ordinary wave, a shock wave carries energy and can propagate through a me ...
'' - feature, Zopix Company 1977 *''Voice of the Fugitive'' – drama short,
National Film Board of Canada The National Film Board of Canada (NFB; ) is a Canadian public film and digital media producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary films, animation, web documentaries, and altern ...
1978 *''
Bravery in the Field ''Bravery in the Field'' is a 1979 Canadian short drama film, produced by the National Film Board of Canada and directed by Giles Walker. The film stars Les Rubie as Tommy, an aging World War II veteran, and Matt Craven as Lennie, a young street t ...
'' – drama short,
National Film Board of Canada The National Film Board of Canada (NFB; ) is a Canadian public film and digital media producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary films, animation, web documentaries, and altern ...
1979 *'' Coming Out Alive'' - feature,
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (), branded as CBC/Radio-Canada, is the Canadian Public broadcasting, public broadcaster for both radio and television. It is a Crown corporation that serves as the national public broadcaster, with its E ...
1980 *''The Way of the Willow'' - short film, Catalyst Films 1981 *'' Murder by Phone'' - feature,
Telefilm Canada Telefilm Canada is a Canadian Crown corporation that supports Canada's audiovisual industry. Headquartered in Montreal, Telefilm Canada provides services to the Canadian audiovisual industry with four regional offices in Vancouver, British Colu ...
1982 *'' The Hitchhiker - Best Shot'' – series episode, Chester/Perlmutter/Markowitz Productions 1987 *''
Beautiful Dreamers ''Beautiful Dreamers'' is a 1990 Canadian film directed by John Kent Harrison. It stars Colm Feore and Rip Torn. It was nominated for four Genie Awards in 1991. Synopsis Rip Torn is the American poet Walt Whitman. The setting is a 19th-century C ...
'' - feature,
National Film Board of Canada The National Film Board of Canada (NFB; ) is a Canadian public film and digital media producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary films, animation, web documentaries, and altern ...
1990 *''
Tropical Heat ''Tropical Heat'' (known as ''Sweating Bullets'' in the United States) is a Canadian action series produced in co-operation with Mexico and Israel, that aired between April 8, 1991 to October 18, 1993. The series ran for three seasons totaling ...
- She''– TV series episode,
National Film Board of Canada The National Film Board of Canada (NFB; ) is a Canadian public film and digital media producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary films, animation, web documentaries, and altern ...
1991 *'' The Sound and the Silence'' - TV Movie,
Atlantis Films Atlantis Communications was a Canadian production company and television broadcaster that was formed in 1978 by Queen's University students Michael MacMillan, Janice L. Platt and Seaton S. MacLean. It was later merged in 1998 with Alliance Comm ...
/
South Pacific Pictures South Pacific Pictures is a New Zealand television production company. The company produces drama series, mini-series, telemovies and feature films for the domestic market and international market. SPP's largest property is ''Shortland Street' ...
1992 *''City Boy'' - TV Movie,
Western International Communications WIC Western International Communications Ltd. (or WIC) was a Canadian media company that operated from 1982 to 2000, with operations including broadcast and specialty television, radio, and satellite distribution via a majority interest in Ca ...
et al 1992 *''Johnny’s Girl'' - TV Movie, Signboard Hill Productions 1995 *''Calm at Sunset'' - TV Movie,
Hallmark Hall of Fame ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'', originally called ''Hallmark Television Playhouse'', is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas Citybased greeting card company. It is the longest-ru ...
1996 *''
You Know My Name "You Know My Name" is the theme song of the 2006 James Bond film '' Casino Royale'', performed by American musician Chris Cornell, who wrote and produced it jointly with David Arnold, the film's composer. The track was leaked onto the internet on ...
'' - TV Movie, Ancient Mariner Films 1999 *''
A Bear Named Winnie ''A Bear Named Winnie'' is a 2004 made-for-television drama film directed by John Kent Harrison. It stars Michael Fassbender and David Suchet. It concerns one of the real-life inspirations behind A. A. Milne's ''Winnie-the-Pooh''. Plot At the ou ...
'' – TV Movie, Original Pictures/PowerCorp 2004 *''Faith: Pope John Paul II'' – Mini-series,
Rai Fiction Rai Fiction is an Italian production company founded in 1997. Owned and operated by ''Radiotelevisione Italiana'' ( RAI), the national broadcasting company of Italy, the company produces content for Rai's channels, producing animations, sitcoms, ...
et al 2005 *''
The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler ''The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler'' is a 2009 television film directed by John Kent Harrison. The teleplay by Harrison and Lawrence John Spagnola, based on the 2007 biography ''Die Mutter der Holocaust-Kinder: Irena Sendler und die gerettete ...
'' - TV Movie,
Hallmark Hall of Fame ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'', originally called ''Hallmark Television Playhouse'', is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas Citybased greeting card company. It is the longest-ru ...
2009 *''Change of Plans'' – TV Movie,
Muse Entertainment Muse Entertainment, commonly referred to as Muse, is an independent film and television production companies in Canada. It was founded by Michael Prupas in 1998. Background Muse's production arm, Muse Entertainment Enterprises, produces films a ...
2011 *''Game of Your Life'' – TV Movie, Procter & Gamble Productions/Rosemont Productions 2011 *''Hattie’s Heist'' – short film, Ferns Productions 2014 *''Anne of Green Gables: The Good Stars'' - TV Movie,
Breakthrough Entertainment Breakthrough Entertainment (formerly Breakthrough Films & Television) was a Canadian production company founded in 1986 by Peter Williamson and Ira Levy. It produces popular Canadian TV shows such as ''Jimmy Two-Shoes'' and '' Atomic Betty''. O ...
2017


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Harrison, John Kent Living people Appleby College alumni Columbia University alumni Film directors from Los Angeles American male screenwriters American television directors Film directors from London, Ontario Canadian male screenwriters Canadian television directors 1947 births Canadian Screen Award winning directors