David Acomba
Encyclopedia
David Acomba is a television and film producer/director. His television programs have been featured on CBS, ABC, PBS, CBC, CTV, BBC, Channel 4, Showtime and HBO.
He moved to Toronto in 1969 where he quickly began to produce and direct specials for Canada’s national network. In 1970 he met his wife, Sharon Keogh, a Canadian radio and television producer. During subsequent years, using Toronto as a base, he worked in New York and Los Angeles. In 1999 David and Sharon purchased the historic Catharine Parr Traill
Mount Ararat property outside Toronto where they currently live.
and Joni Mitchell
. He then directed the first U.S. television network rock special for PBS (NET), Welcome To The Fillmore East
, with Van Morrison
, Albert King
and The Byrds
. “Fresh and innovative”- New York Times
In 1973, he won the Canadian Film Award
for best Direction for his feature film Slipstream
, about a popular disk jockey’s struggle for personal and professional integrity, with music by Eric Clapton
and Van Morrison
. In the fall of 1974, he was asked by George Harrison
to film his North American Dark Horse Tour. Because George had lost his voice prior to the tour and never fully regained it, the film was not released.
In 1976, David was selected to direct The Star Wars Holiday Special
for CBS. George Lucas, a classmate of David’s at U. S. C. film school, could not be involved with the project on a day-to-day basis. Unfortunately, CBS executive producers Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion hired television producers who proved to have little creatively in common with David, or George. David chose to leave the production, a decision supported by Lucas.
In 1980, he directed the feature-length performance film, Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave. The movie was selected for showing at the Toronto International Film Festival, the London Film Festival, FILMEX in Los Angeles and featured on HBO.
In the early eighties Acomba, who can’t skate himself, pioneered skating specials on television with the production of Strawberry Ice for the CBC. The format, which combined story with musical performances and Olympic level skating, won many awards and was shown in over 45 markets. This led to his producing and directing the Magic Skates special for ABC, executive produced by Mace Newfeld.
In 1985, he began his work in comedy with Four on the Floor
, a sketch series produced for the CBC and shown on Showtime, the BBC as well as over 20 additional markets worldwide. Other comedy programs in the late eighties included a special for Showtime with Andrea Martin and a Second City pilot for CBS late night with, among others, Mike Myers. In the early nineties David directed three seasons of the legendary Canadian comedy series CODCO
starring Andy Jones, Tommy Sexton, Mary Walsh, Cathy Jones & Greg Malone.
Interested in utilizing the television medium to promote awareness of the environment, David directed and co-produced two seasons of the documentary ecology series Down To Earth featuring remarkable Canadians and the landscapes that inspire them. “This great ecology series is the one to catch”- Toronto Star
In 2003, David directed the performance documentary A Marriage In Music featuring concert pianist Anton Kuerti
and cellist Kristine Boygo for CBC’s premier arts program, Opening Night. “Artfully told and a joy to watch”- The Globe & Mail.
In 2007, 33 years after filming the project, David revisited his original director’s cut of the feature-length documentary of George Harrison’s 1974 Dark Horse Tour with Billy Preston
, Tom Scott & Ravi Shankar
. The new cut of the footage is a revealing portrait of the first Beatle to tour North America on his own. The film captures George’s prescient world music vision as he brings together the eastern music of Ravi Shankar with western rock/jazz. Although the task of performing 49 concerts in about as many days, mostly without a full voice, is sometimes haunting, George never loses his sense of humour and the film becomes an intimate witness to his spiritual journey through music - at a very tough time in his life. The movie, which has never been screened publicly, includes cameo appearances by John Lennon
and Paul McCartney
as well as the legendary rock promoter Bill Graham. This new director’s version has been placed in the Harrison archive.
In 2008, he wrote and directed the short film ANTON & the PIANO for the National Film Board of Canada
.
Biography
David Acomba was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, attending Bishop Whelan High School in the suburb of Lachine. In the early sixties he attended Northwestern University in Evanston Illinois where he majored in Film and Television. In 1967 he attended film school at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles where he received a Masters of Performing Arts degree.He moved to Toronto in 1969 where he quickly began to produce and direct specials for Canada’s national network. In 1970 he met his wife, Sharon Keogh, a Canadian radio and television producer. During subsequent years, using Toronto as a base, he worked in New York and Los Angeles. In 1999 David and Sharon purchased the historic Catharine Parr Traill
Catharine Parr Traill
Catharine Parr Traill, born Strickland was an English-Canadian author who wrote about life as a settler in Canada.-Biography:...
Mount Ararat property outside Toronto where they currently live.
Creative history
A musically oriented director, David began in 1970 by directing a television special for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Mariposa A Folk Festival with Joan BaezJoan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
and Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
. He then directed the first U.S. television network rock special for PBS (NET), Welcome To The Fillmore East
Fillmore East
The Fillmore East was rock promoter Bill Graham's rock venue on Second Avenue near East 6th Street in the East Village neighborhood of the Manhattan borough of New York City. It was open from 1968 to 1971, and featured some of the biggest acts in rock music at the time...
, with Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
, Albert King
Albert King
Albert King was an American blues guitarist and singer, and a major influence in the world of blues guitar playing.-Career:...
and The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
. “Fresh and innovative”- New York Times
In 1973, he won the Canadian Film Award
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 Quebec directors withdrew their participation and prompted a cancellation that year....
for best Direction for his feature film Slipstream
Slipstream (1973 film)
Slipstream is a Canadian drama film, released in 1973. Directed by David Acomba and written by William Fruet, it won the Canadian Film Award for Best Feature Film in 1973.-Synopsis:...
, about a popular disk jockey’s struggle for personal and professional integrity, with music by Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
and Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
. In the fall of 1974, he was asked by George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
to film his North American Dark Horse Tour. Because George had lost his voice prior to the tour and never fully regained it, the film was not released.
In 1976, David was selected to direct The Star Wars Holiday Special
The Star Wars Holiday Special
The Star Wars Holiday Special is a 1978 American television special set in the Star Wars galaxy. It was one of the first official Star Wars spin-offs, and was directed by Steve Binder. The show was broadcast in its entirety only once, in the United States and Canada, November 17, 1978, on the U.S...
for CBS. George Lucas, a classmate of David’s at U. S. C. film school, could not be involved with the project on a day-to-day basis. Unfortunately, CBS executive producers Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion hired television producers who proved to have little creatively in common with David, or George. David chose to leave the production, a decision supported by Lucas.
In 1980, he directed the feature-length performance film, Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave. The movie was selected for showing at the Toronto International Film Festival, the London Film Festival, FILMEX in Los Angeles and featured on HBO.
In the early eighties Acomba, who can’t skate himself, pioneered skating specials on television with the production of Strawberry Ice for the CBC. The format, which combined story with musical performances and Olympic level skating, won many awards and was shown in over 45 markets. This led to his producing and directing the Magic Skates special for ABC, executive produced by Mace Newfeld.
In 1985, he began his work in comedy with Four on the Floor
Four on the Floor
Four on the Floor was a sketch comedy series which aired on CBC Television in 1986. Consisting of only 13 episodes, the series was a showcase for The Frantics, a comedy troupe consisting of Paul Chato, Rick Green, Dan Redican and Peter Wildman...
, a sketch series produced for the CBC and shown on Showtime, the BBC as well as over 20 additional markets worldwide. Other comedy programs in the late eighties included a special for Showtime with Andrea Martin and a Second City pilot for CBS late night with, among others, Mike Myers. In the early nineties David directed three seasons of the legendary Canadian comedy series CODCO
CODCO
CODCO was a Canadian comedy troupe from Newfoundland, best known for a sketch comedy series which aired on CBC Television from 1987 to 1992....
starring Andy Jones, Tommy Sexton, Mary Walsh, Cathy Jones & Greg Malone.
Interested in utilizing the television medium to promote awareness of the environment, David directed and co-produced two seasons of the documentary ecology series Down To Earth featuring remarkable Canadians and the landscapes that inspire them. “This great ecology series is the one to catch”- Toronto Star
In 2003, David directed the performance documentary A Marriage In Music featuring concert pianist Anton Kuerti
Anton Kuerti
Anton Kuerti, OC is an Austrian-born Canadian pianist, music teacher, composer, and conductor. Since his performance of the Grieg Piano Concerto with the Boston Pops Orchestra at age 11, he has developed international recognition as a solo pianist, particularly focusing on the works of Beethoven...
and cellist Kristine Boygo for CBC’s premier arts program, Opening Night. “Artfully told and a joy to watch”- The Globe & Mail.
In 2007, 33 years after filming the project, David revisited his original director’s cut of the feature-length documentary of George Harrison’s 1974 Dark Horse Tour with Billy Preston
Billy Preston
William Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
, Tom Scott & Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar , often referred to by the title Pandit, is an Indian musician and composer who plays the plucked string instrument sitar. He has been described as the best known contemporary Indian musician by Hans Neuhoff in Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart.Shankar was born in Varanasi and spent...
. The new cut of the footage is a revealing portrait of the first Beatle to tour North America on his own. The film captures George’s prescient world music vision as he brings together the eastern music of Ravi Shankar with western rock/jazz. Although the task of performing 49 concerts in about as many days, mostly without a full voice, is sometimes haunting, George never loses his sense of humour and the film becomes an intimate witness to his spiritual journey through music - at a very tough time in his life. The movie, which has never been screened publicly, includes cameo appearances by John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
and Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
as well as the legendary rock promoter Bill Graham. This new director’s version has been placed in the Harrison archive.
In 2008, he wrote and directed the short film ANTON & the PIANO for the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
.