John Walsh (filmmaker)

John Walsh

Walsh at BAFTA Film Awards [1]
Born London, England
Nationality British, Irish
Education London Film School
Occupation Director, Producer, Writer
Notable work Monarch
ToryBoy The Movie
Headhunting The Homeless
Website www.walshbros.co.uk

Film Maker John Walsh was born in London and is founder of film company Walsh Bros Ltd.[2] His film work on subjects such as social mobility and social justice have brought him many awards including two BAFTA nominations. His company Walsh Bros Ltd. was ranked in the Production 100, a ranking of the top 100 independent film companies in the UK, by Televisual in 2010, 2011 and 2012.[3][4][5]

A film maker from a young age, John had his first super-8 camera by the age of ten. At the age of 18 he was the youngest student accepted to the London Film School in 1989 [6] where his documentary work got him was noticed with his film on stop-motion animation filmmaker Ray Harryhausen. Today John Walsh is a Trustee of the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation.[7]

Film

In 2010 John Walsh stood as a Parliamentary candidate in the 2010 General Election and made the gonzo-style documentary feature film Tory Boy The Movie which was released in cinemas in 2011 and 2012. The film follows Walsh as he becomes a Conservative candidate after a lifetime of voting Labour. In the film, he claims that Sir Stuart Bell, the Labour Party's MP in Middlesbrough, is absent so often from Middlesbrough that he is an unsuitable candidate. According to Richard Moss, a BBC film critic, "some silliness aside, it is a thought-provoking insight into the way our political system works or doesn't work on the ground." [8] It was subsequently nominated for the Grieson Documentary award for "Best Documentary on a Contemporary Theme".[9] The film received a re-release in cinemas in 2015 in the lead up to the 2015 UK General Election.[10][11] It was controversially banned in Middlesbrough where the film was set.[12]

In 2014 John Walsh's remastered version of the film Monarch was released.[13] The original negative for the film had been lost and was the subject of various newspaper reports. The film starred late Irish stage and screen actor T. P. McKenna and Jean Marsh.[14] This subsequently led to cinema showing starting at the Tricycle Cinema [15] in London.[16][17] He discussed the issues around finding the lost negatives for Monarch and other lost projects with BBC Radio 2 Janice Long [18]

Television

In 2010 Rose d'Or nominated Walsh's five part BBC series on childhood homeless Sofa Surfers [19] was nominated for the Social Award at the Rose d'Or Awards.[20]

The BAFTA nominated film My Life: Karate Kids [21] for the first time tackled issues of bullying among disabled children. It was narrated by Doctor Who actor David Tennant

The Monte Carlo TV Nominated BBC film Toy Soldiers presented the point of view of the bereaved children of UK service personnel. John discusses this on the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme.[22] The film was praised by Dr Geraldine Walford for challenging perceptions around the topic of childhood grief. "good to see this sensitive and crucially important topic being opened up for people to learn from.".[23] Also nominated for Prix Jeunesse International Munich.[24]

John Walsh's three part Grierson Trusts Nominated BBC series Headhunting The Homeless [25] was part of the BBC’s 120 most treasured programmes in the corporation’s drive to convince its critics that the licence fee should not be abolished.[26] John worked again with charity boss Eva Hamilton MBE again on her latest venture Key 4 Life and made a documentary in December 2013 about their work with former young offenders.[27]

The BAFTA nominated and New York Festival winning Channel 4 Series Don't Make Me Angry was television's first anger management series. This ran for two series.[28]

Walsh Bros Ltd.

John Walsh founded Walsh Bros Ltd. production company in April 1992 . Its film work on subjects such as social mobility and social justice have brought many awards including two BAFTA nominations. Walsh Bros Ltd. was ranked in the Production 100, a ranking of the top 100 independent film companies in the UK, by Televisual in 2010, 2011 and 2012.[3][4][5]

Ray Harryhausen Foundation

John Walsh was made a Trustee of the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation in 2014.[29] He first met with Ray Harryhausen in 1988 as a film student of the London Film School and made documentary entitled Ray Harryhausen: Movement Into Life [30] narrated by Doctor Who actor Tom Baker.

John Walsh filmed and recorded commentary tracks with Ray Harryhausen in his London home commencing 17 May 2012.[31] Since that date recordings were made for Clash of The Titans, Mysterious Island, The 3 Worlds of Gulliver, First Men in the Moon with Academy Awards winner Randy Cook, The Valley of Gwangi with his daughter Vanessa Harryhausen, One Million Years B.C. with Martine Beswick, The Golden Voyage of Sinbad with fellow Trustee Caroline Munro, Mighty Joe Young with film director John Landis and Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger with SFX artist Colin Arthur. This last was recorded in January 2013. John Walsh donated the film and sound footage recorded entirely to the Ray Harryhausen Foundation and they contain many new revelations by Ray on how his films were created and produced.

In February 2016 The Foundation launched the The Ray Harryhausen Podcast. This included never before heard audio from Ray Harryhausen. Hosted by Collections Manager Connor Heaney and John Walsh, these were made available and broadcast via iTunes.[32]

Public Speaking

John has spoken on many occasions about his film work with broadcasters and recently with Today BBC Radio 4 discussing his war documentary Toy Soldiers.[33] and Monarch [34] and ToryBoy The Movie.[35] for BBC Radio 2 Spoken Word Session with Janice Long.[18]

John was a keynote speaker at the Society for Animation Studies at Canterbury Christ Church University in July 2015 [36] discussing the work of the Ray Harryhausen Foundation and plans for the centenary in 2020. The Scotsman reported on the centenary plans for the Foundation with a tour of items from the collection quoting John Walsh “As 2020 will be Ray’s centenary, we want to do a series of events counting down to this date.”.[37]

In 2016 John gave a talk commemorating Ray Harryhausen's birthday at the Cinema Museum.[38][39] This included a screening of his documentary Ray Harryhausen: Movement Into Life and in August 2016 at the Starburst Magazine Film Festival.[40]

In September 2016, John appeared at the fifth annual Cinestrange Festival in Braunschweig, Germany, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Earth vs the Flying Saucers.[41] The film was shown in colour for the first time.

On the 2nd October 2016 John gave a keynote talk at Canterbury Christ Church University at their animation festival, Anifest [42]

On the 17th November John spoke at the Manchester Animation Festival [43]

Filmography / Awards

Year Title Role Film / Television Award / Nomination*
2016 Jupiter Pluvius at The Tate [44] [45] Director, Writer, Producer Documentary
2015 ToryBoy The Movie (re-release) Director, Writer, Producer Feature Film Grierson Awards Best Documentary on a Contemporary Theme*
2014 Monarch (re-release) Director, Writer, Producer, Editor Feature Film Mill Valley Film Festival
2014 Monarch Restoring A King [46] Director, Writer, Producer, Editor Documentary
2013 Key 4 Life [27] Director, Writer, Producer Documentary A film showcasing the work of charity Key4Life supporting young offenders after release from prison.
2012 Blinding [47] [48] Director, Writer, Producer Documentary
2012 ToryBoy The Aftermath [49] [50] Director, Writer, Producer Documentary
2011 ToryBoy The Movie Director, Writer, Producer Feature Film Grierson Awards Best Documentary on a Contemporary Theme*
2010 Toy Soldiers [51] Director, Writer, Producer BBC Documentary Monte-Carlo Television Festival* & Prix Jeunesse Munich* [24]
2009 Prime Ministers Global Fellowship [52] Director, Writer, Producer Documentary British Council
2009 My Life: Karate Kids [53] Director, Writer, Producer BBC Documentary BAFTA*
2008 Sofa Surfers [54][55] Director, Writer, Producer BBC Documentary Rose d'Or*
2007 Don't Make Me Angry - series 2 [28] Director, Writer, Producer Channel 4 Documentary New York Festival
2006 Don't Make Me Angry - series 1 [28] Director, Writer, Producer Channel 4 Documentary BAFTA*
2003 Headhunting The Homeless [26][56][57] Director, Writer, Producer BBC Documentary Grierson Awards Best Documentary Series*
2001 Nu Model Armi Director, Writer, Producer Channel 4 Documentary
2001 TREX2 Director, Writer, Producer Channel 5 Documentary
2000 TREX Director, Writer, Producer Channel 5 Documentary
2000 Monarch Director, Writer, Producer, Editor Feature Film Mill Valley Film Festival
1999 Cowboyz & Cowgirlz Director, Writer, Producer Channel 5 Documentary
1998 Boyz & Girlz : Greece Director, Writer, Producer Channel 5 Documentary
1998 Boyz & Girlz Director, Writer, Producer Channel 5 Documentary
1991 Masque of Draperie Director, Writer, Producer Documentary
1989 Ray Harryhausen: Movement Into Life [58] [59] [60] Director, Writer, Producer Documentary

Professional Memberships

References

  1. ↑ http://celebrityimages.org/celebrity/909707/603710
  2. ↑ "Walsh Bros.". walshbros.co.uk.
  3. 1 2 Televisual Media Ltd UK. "Televisual - REPORTS & SURVEYS". televisual.com.
  4. 1 2 Televisual Media Ltd UK. "Televisual - REPORTS & SURVEYS". televisual.com.
  5. 1 2 Televisual Media Ltd UK. "Televisual - REPORTS & SURVEYS". televisual.com.
  6. ↑ http://content.yudu.com/Library/A40kbi/TheGreenwichVisitorA/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffree.yudu.com%2Fitem%2Fdetails%2F3795547%2FThe-Greenwich-Visitor-August-2016%3Frefid%3D55960
  7. ↑ "About The Foundation". harryhausenfoundation.com.
  8. ↑ "Tory Boy takes on Sir Stuart Bell in documentary film". BBC News.
  9. ↑ "The Grierson Trust :: Shortlist - 2011". griersontrust.org.
  10. ↑ "Satirical film ToryBoy The Movie returns to big screen". The Irish Post.
  11. ↑ "BAFTA-nominated Greenwich filmmaker's controversial ToryBoy returns to cinemas before election". News Shopper.
  12. ↑ "Student Union involved in row over planned screening of controversial Toryboy the Movie". The North Crowd.
  13. ↑ "Lost joys: Directors reveal searches for missing movies". BBC News.
  14. ↑ http://www.wharf.co.uk/2014/06/tudor-whodunnit-filmed-in-gree.html
  15. ↑ "Monarch - Tricycle". tricycle.co.uk.
  16. ↑ http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/leisure/oldcinema/movies_news_reviews/11441818.Critically_acclaimed_movie_shot_in_Charlton_set_for_high_definition_re_release/?ref=mac
  17. ↑ "Rare TP McKenna film to be screened after original tapes recovered". The Irish Post.
  18. 1 2 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01xn3p1
  19. ↑ "Sofa Surfers". bbc.co.uk.
  20. ↑ "Rose d'Or nominations announced". realscreen.com.
  21. ↑ "My Life". RadioTimes.
  22. ↑ "audioBoom / Father's death 'took a chunk out of my heart'". audioBoom.
  23. ↑ "Toy soldiers - childhood bereavement in the armed forces". Dr Morton's.
  24. 1 2 http://www.prixjeunesse.de/themen/festival/2012/catalog/catalog_2012_web.pdf
  25. ↑ "Headhunting the Homeless". bbc.co.uk.
  26. 1 2 John Plunkett. "BBC list aims to win over critics". the Guardian.
  27. 1 2 http://www.key4life.org.uk/news/60/key4life_film.html
  28. 1 2 3 "Learning - Don't Make Me Angry". channel4learning.com.
  29. ↑ "John Walsh". harryhausenfoundation.com.
  30. ↑ "Ray Harryhausen: Movement Into Life (1990)". IMDb. 18 March 1990.
  31. ↑ "Ray Harryhausen - The Official Website". rayharryhausen.com.
  32. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ray-harryhausen-podcast/id1076346591?mt=2
  33. ↑ https://audioboom.com/boos/2017122-father-s-death-took-a-chunk-out-of-my-heart
  34. ↑ http://www.tricycle.co.uk/home/about-the-tricycle-pages/about-us-tab-menu/archive/archived-cinema-production/monarch/
  35. ↑ http://www.frontlineclub.com/toryboy_visits_the_frontline_club/
  36. ↑ "Speakers - SAS Beyond the Frame". sasbeyondtheframe.com.
  37. ↑ http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/film/ray-harryhausen-film-memorabilia-to-tour-scotland-1-4009746
  38. ↑ http://www.cinemamuseum.org.uk/2016/ray-harryhausen-and-me/?platform=hootsuite
  39. ↑ http://www.cinemaretro.com/index.php?/archives/9241-TRIBUTE-TO-RAY-HARRYHAUSEN,-CINEMA-MUSEUM,-LONDON-1-JULY,-2016.html
  40. ↑ http://www.starburstfilmfest.co.uk/festival-guests/john-walsh
  41. ↑ http://cinestrange-filmfestival.de/news/
  42. ↑ http://www.canterburyanifest.com/speakers
  43. ↑ http://www.manchesteranimationfestival.co.uk/events/harryhausens-lost-treasures/
  44. ↑ https://vimeo.com/171819503
  45. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6295760/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_1
  46. ↑ http://www.monarchfilm.com/restoration.html
  47. ↑ https://vimeo.com/192957376
  48. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6278634/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_2
  49. ↑ https://vimeo.com/86981668
  50. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5846496/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_3
  51. ↑ "My Life". RadioTimes.
  52. ↑ The Prime Minister's Global Fellowship. Vimeo.
  53. ↑ "My Life: Karate Kids". David Tennant News.
  54. ↑ "LFS News:: June 2010". lfs.org.uk.
  55. ↑ "Sofa Surfers". RadioTimes.
  56. ↑ "BBC - Press Office - Headhunting the Homeless". bbc.co.uk.
  57. ↑ "Video title". OVGuide.
  58. ↑ "Ray Harryhausen: Movement Into Life (1990)". IMDb. 18 March 1990.
  59. ↑ http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8120e60d
  60. ↑ http://www.cinemamuseum.org.uk/2016/ray-harryhausen-and-me/
  61. ↑ http://www.dggb.org/files/SIR%20ALAN%20PARKER%20LAA%201998.pdf
  62. ↑ http://www.dggb.org/files/Stanley%20Kubrick%201999.pdf
  63. ↑ https://www.directors.uk.com/users/3154
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