John O'Shea (director)

John Dempsey O'Shea OBE (20 June 1920 – 8 July 2001) was a New Zealand independent filmmaker; he was a director, producer, writer and actor.

For other persons named John O'Shea, see John O'Shea (disambiguation).

He was active from 1940 to 1970, and in 1952 set up Pacific Films in Wellington with Roger Mirams. He produced numerous short films and the three New Zealand feature films made in that period: Broken Barrier (1952) with Roger Mirams, Runaway (1964), and Don't Let It Get You (1966) for which he is most remembered.

O'Shea was involved with the Tangata Whenua television documentary series (1974), and in the 1980s with Pictures (1981), Among the Cinders (1983), Leave All Fair (1985) and Ngati (1987). He appeared in the spoof Forgotten Silver (1995).

O'Shea was a lecturer, research historian, and assistant film censor and was a founding member of the New Zealand Film Archive in 1981.

Born in New Plymouth, O'Shea served in the New Zealand Army in the Pacific and Italy in World War II. He married (Jean) Cormie Douglas in 1946; and had three children who followed in his footsteps: Kathy, Pat and Rory.

In the 1990 New Year Honours, O'Shea was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the film industry.[1] Also in 1990 he was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal for services to the film industry.

References
  1. "No. 51982". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 30 December 1989. p. 30.
  • Don’t let it get you: memories - documents by John O’Shea (1999, Victoria University Press, Wellington) ISBN 0-86473-356-9


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