Harold Greenberg
Encyclopedia
Harold Greenberg, OC
, CQ
(January 11, 1930 – July 1, 1996) was a Canadian
film producer
.
Harold was born in Montreal
, Quebec in 1930. Harold was born into a family of three brothers: Ian, Sydney and Harvey (died in 1997). Greenberg began working in a second-hand camera store when he was thirteen. He set up his own film and photography company and made a fortune by obtaining the exclusive rights to footage from Expo 67
in Montreal. In 1973 he acquired Astral Communications and subsequently combined it with his then company Ann Green Photos and it became one of the leading film production companies in Canada, producing such films as Porky's
, the most successful Canadian film ever and the critically acclaimed The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz. In the 1980s Greenberg became heavily involved in pay TV
and started The Movie Network
and other pay per view channels. Astral communications also distribute many international programs in Canada.
Greenberg died in 1996 and his brother Ian Greenberg took Harold's place as head of Astral.
He was also a noted philanthropist and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
. In 1992 he was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec
.
Harold Greenberg identified that there was a demand for well-written Canadian scripts, but not enough resources to fund them into production. So in April 1986, he established The FUND (Foundation to Underwrite New Drama). In 1996, upon his passing, it was renamed The Harold Greenberg Fund. The French-language program, Le Fonds Harold Greenberg, was also established.
Since 1986, The Harold Greenberg Fund/Le Fonds Harold Greenberg has invested almost $73 million in the Canadian film and television industry. That’s over 3,250 projects.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, CQ
National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
(January 11, 1930 – July 1, 1996) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
.
Harold was born in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec in 1930. Harold was born into a family of three brothers: Ian, Sydney and Harvey (died in 1997). Greenberg began working in a second-hand camera store when he was thirteen. He set up his own film and photography company and made a fortune by obtaining the exclusive rights to footage from Expo 67
Expo 67
The 1967 International and Universal Exposition or Expo 67, as it was commonly known, was the general exhibition, Category One World's Fair held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from April 27 to October 29, 1967. It is considered to be the most successful World's Fair of the 20th century, with the...
in Montreal. In 1973 he acquired Astral Communications and subsequently combined it with his then company Ann Green Photos and it became one of the leading film production companies in Canada, producing such films as Porky's
Porky's
Porky's is a 1982 comedy film about the escapades of teenagers at the fictional Angel Beach High School in Florida in 1954. It was released in the United States in 1982, and spawned two sequels: Porky's II: The Next Day and Porky's Revenge! and influenced many writers in the teen film genre...
, the most successful Canadian film ever and the critically acclaimed The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz. In the 1980s Greenberg became heavily involved in pay TV
Pay TV
Pay television, premium television, or premium channels refers to subscription-based television services, usually provided by both analog and digital cable and satellite, but also increasingly via digital terrestrial and internet television...
and started The Movie Network
The Movie Network
The Movie Network is a Canadian English language Category A premium television service, owned by Astral Media. The service is licensed to operate east of the Ontario-Manitoba border, excluding the territories...
and other pay per view channels. Astral communications also distribute many international programs in Canada.
Greenberg died in 1996 and his brother Ian Greenberg took Harold's place as head of Astral.
He was also a noted philanthropist and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. In 1992 he was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec
National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
.
Harold Greenberg identified that there was a demand for well-written Canadian scripts, but not enough resources to fund them into production. So in April 1986, he established The FUND (Foundation to Underwrite New Drama). In 1996, upon his passing, it was renamed The Harold Greenberg Fund. The French-language program, Le Fonds Harold Greenberg, was also established.
Since 1986, The Harold Greenberg Fund/Le Fonds Harold Greenberg has invested almost $73 million in the Canadian film and television industry. That’s over 3,250 projects.
External links
- Harold Greenberg at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...