John Terry (film financier)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Elliott Terry was a British
film financier and lawyer who helped to found the National Film School and served as manager of the National Film Finance Corporation
(NFFC) for over 20 years.
He worked as a solicitor for the National Film Finance Corporation
from 1949 to 1956, served as its secretary from 1956 to 1958, and was managing director from 1958 to 1978. During his time with the NNFC he supported hundreds of films and helped launch the careers of many well known directors, including Karel Reisz
, Ken Loach
, Ridley Scott
and David Puttnam
.
In 1970 he was one of several people who helped to establish the National Film School and served as its governor until 1981. He was governor of the London International Film School from 1982 to 1990, and a governor of the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford
between 1980 and 1985.
In 1975 he chaired Harold Wilson
's Working Party on the Future of the British Film Industry, and later became Deputy Chairman of the Interim Action Committee on the Film Industry
which was set up as a result of the report he had helped to compile. When the Government disbanded that committee, Terry, together with John Chittock and Michael Deeley
, established the British Screen Advisory Council
, of which he was made honorary vice-president in 1993.
He was knighted for his services to the film industry in 1976.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
film financier and lawyer who helped to found the National Film School and served as manager of the National Film Finance Corporation
National Film Finance Corporation
The National Film Finance Corporation was a film funding agency in the United Kingdom which operated from 1949 until it was wound up in 1985...
(NFFC) for over 20 years.
He worked as a solicitor for the National Film Finance Corporation
National Film Finance Corporation
The National Film Finance Corporation was a film funding agency in the United Kingdom which operated from 1949 until it was wound up in 1985...
from 1949 to 1956, served as its secretary from 1956 to 1958, and was managing director from 1958 to 1978. During his time with the NNFC he supported hundreds of films and helped launch the careers of many well known directors, including Karel Reisz
Karel Reisz
Karel Reisz was a Czech-born British filmmaker who was active in post–war Britain, and one of the pioneers of the new realist strain in 1950s and 1960s British cinema.-Early life:...
, Ken Loach
Ken Loach
Kenneth "Ken" Loach is a Palme D'Or winning English film and television director.He is known for his naturalistic, social realist directing style and for his socialist beliefs, which are evident in his film treatment of social issues such as homelessness , labour rights and child abuse at the...
, Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott
Sir Ridley Scott is an English film director and producer. His most famous films include The Duellists , Alien , Blade Runner , Legend , Thelma & Louise , G. I...
and David Puttnam
David Puttnam
David Terence Puttnam, Baron Puttnam, CBE, FRSA is a British film producer. He sits on the Labour benches in the House of Lords, although he is not principally a politician.-Early life:...
.
In 1970 he was one of several people who helped to establish the National Film School and served as its governor until 1981. He was governor of the London International Film School from 1982 to 1990, and a governor of the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
between 1980 and 1985.
In 1975 he chaired Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
's Working Party on the Future of the British Film Industry, and later became Deputy Chairman of the Interim Action Committee on the Film Industry
Interim Action Committee on the Film Industry
British prime minister Harold Wilson set up a working party in August 1975 to report on 'the requirements of a viable and prosperous British film industry over the next decade'...
which was set up as a result of the report he had helped to compile. When the Government disbanded that committee, Terry, together with John Chittock and Michael Deeley
Michael Deeley
Michael Deeley is a British film producer who has helped create notable films such as The Italian Job, Blade Runner and The Deer Hunter. He is also a founding member and Deputy Chairman of The British Screen Advisory Council....
, established the British Screen Advisory Council
The British Screen Advisory Council
The British Screen Advisory Council was established in 1985 to succeed the Interim Action Committee on the Film Industry.-Aim:Its principal objective was to 'foster good relations between Government and Parliament on the one hand and the film, television and video industries in UK on the...
, of which he was made honorary vice-president in 1993.
He was knighted for his services to the film industry in 1976.