John Spotton

John Spotton (January 1, 1927 — March 3, 1991) was a Canadian filmmaker with the National Film Board of Canada.

A versatile artist who worked as a director, producer, cinematographer and editor, Spotton was best known for his role in developing the Direct Cinema genre of documentary and in the application of those techniques in narrative fiction films, in particular Nobody Waved Good-bye (1964), in which he served as cinematographer and editor.[1][2]

An early member of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers (CSC), Spotton briefly working as a cameraman for a private company, joined the NFB in 1949 and worked there for the rest of his life with the exception of a two-year period in the 1970s when he worked with Potterton Productions. He was executive director of the NFB's Ontario Centre from 1982 until 1988.[1]

He drowned at the age of sixty-four while on vacation in Cuba. The NFB's John Spotton Theatre in Toronto was named for him.[1]

Filmography (selected)

• Circle of the Sun 1960 (cinematographer)
• Lonely Boy 1962 (editor)
• Nobody Waved Good-bye 1964 (cinematographer, editor)
• Buster Keaton Rides Again 1965 (director, cinematographer, editor)
• The Railrodder 1965 (co-director uncredited)
• Never a Backward Step 1966 (co-director)
• Memorandum 1966 (co-director, cinematographer, editor)
• High Steel 1966 (cinematographer)
• Final Offer 1985 (executive producer)

References

1. Czach, Liz. "John Spotton". Canadian Film Encyclopedia. Toronto International Film Festival. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
2. Wise, Wyndham (2015-02-01). Take One's Essential Guide to Canadian Film. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9781442656208.

External links

• John Spotton Buster Keaton Rides Again and Memorandum (films streamed online)
• John Spotton Collection National Film Board
• John Spotton on IMDb