Paul Donovan (writer)
Encyclopedia
Paul Donovan is a Canadian
television and film writer, director and producer best known as the creator of the science-fiction TV series, LEXX
. He co-founded Salter Street Films
(SSF) with his brother Michael Donovan.
Donovan was born in Canada
on June 26, 1954. He grew up interested in science and film, and earned a B.Sc. in Physics
from Dalhousie University
, and graduated from London Film School. The IMDb
credits South Pacific 1942 as the first film he directed, and in 1983 the Donovan brothers founded Salter Street Films, a television and film production company
based in Halifax
, Nova Scotia
. Salter Street Films was named after the street in Halifax where Michael had been living.
The company began life with early problems. Its first major feature film was Def-Con 4
(1985) which eventually became profitable, but other pictures such as George's Island (1989), Buried on Sunday
(1992) and Paint Cans (1994), though critically acclaimed, were money-losers. They also produced A Switch in Time, but the distributor's title change to Norman's Awesome Experience
made the unique time travel comedy, in which language barrier
is fundamental to the story, sound like a knockoff of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
, as both films were released in 1989. The company's salvation turned out to be the science fiction
series Lexx
, which was a hit in Germany
, Russia
and Eastern Europe
. This Canadian-German co-production went on to become a lucrative money-maker through international sales and was one of the first shows to develop a cult
following almost exclusively through the Internet
. Fans of Lexx nicknamed Donovan and the show's other main writers, Lex Gigeroff
and Jeffrey Hirschfield
, "The Supreme Beans".
Concurrently, the Donovan brothers found success with the satirical
This Hour Has 22 Minutes
becoming a hit on CBC
as well as other series such as CODCO
, Emily of New Moon
, Made in Canada
, Blackfly
, the children's series Pirates and the special Rick Mercer's Talking To Americans. These shows found homes on the CBC as well as other Canadian networks and cable channels. Salter Street also created the Stop motion
children's show Poko
.
Based on their reputation for political satire, American documentary film
-maker Michael Moore
approached Salter Street to produce his Bowling for Columbine
project. Michael Donovan agreed, and arranged financing in Canada
and Germany
. The documentary won both the Anniversary Prize at Cannes
and the Oscar
for Best Documentary Feature.
In 2000, a year after the Donovan brothers had taken the company public, Salter Street Films was awarded the broadcast licence for the Independent Film Channel Canada by the CRTC. This potentially lucrative award, combined with SSF’s reputation as a content-provider, attracted interest from the powerful media corporation Alliance Atlantis
. Alliance Atlantis bought Salter Street from the majority shareholders the following year. Paul and Michael Donovan remained on as producers.
In 2003, two years after the purchase, Alliance Atlantis closed the operation, transferring Salter Street's ongoing television productions to Alliance.
Michael Donovan has formed the Halifax Film Company with many of the former Salter Street employees. Paul Donovan has continued as an independent producer and director. In 2006, he created a new Canadian minseries, a period political drama called The Conclave
set in the 15th century. The show stars Brian Blessed
and features former Lexx star Brian Downey
as a scheming monk
. Downey has been a regular in Donovan's work since the '80s, dating back at least to George's Island in 1989.
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...
television and film writer, director and producer best known as the creator of the science-fiction TV series, LEXX
LEXX
Lexx is a science fantasy television series that follows the adventures of a group of mismatched individuals aboard the organic space craft Lexx. They travel through two universes and encounter planets including a parody of the Earth....
. He co-founded Salter Street Films
Salter Street Films
Salter Street Films was a Canadian television and film production company based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.- History :The company was founded by brothers Paul and Michael Donovan in 1983. Paul Donovan was trained as a director at the London Film School; Michael graduated from Dalhousie University’s...
(SSF) with his brother Michael Donovan.
Donovan was born in Canada
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...
on June 26, 1954. He grew up interested in science and film, and earned a B.Sc. in Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
, and graduated from London Film School. The IMDb
Internet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
credits South Pacific 1942 as the first film he directed, and in 1983 the Donovan brothers founded Salter Street Films, a television and film production company
Production company
A production company provides the physical basis for works in the realms of the performing arts, new media art, film, television, radio, and video.- Tasks and functions :...
based in Halifax
Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
Halifax Regional Municipality is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The Regional Municipality had a 2006 census population of 372,679, while the metropolitan area had a 2010 estimated population of 403,188, and the urban area of Halifax had a population of 282,924...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. Salter Street Films was named after the street in Halifax where Michael had been living.
The company began life with early problems. Its first major feature film was Def-Con 4
Def-Con 4
Def-Con 4 is a 1985 post-apocalyptic film, portraying three astronauts who survive World War III aboard a space station and return to earth to find greatly changed circumstances.-Synopsis:...
(1985) which eventually became profitable, but other pictures such as George's Island (1989), Buried on Sunday
Buried on Sunday
Buried on Sunday is a Canadian comedy film, released in 1992. It was directed by Paul Donovan, and written by Donovan and Bill Fleming.The film stars Paul Gross as Augustus Knickel, the mayor of Solomon Gundy, a fictional island off the coast of Nova Scotia...
(1992) and Paint Cans (1994), though critically acclaimed, were money-losers. They also produced A Switch in Time, but the distributor's title change to Norman's Awesome Experience
Norman's Awesome Experience
Norman's Awesome Experience is a 1989 Canadian time-travel adventure comedy written and directed by Paul Donovan. Shot under the title A Switch in Time, the film was retitled to capitalize on the success of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure...
made the unique time travel comedy, in which language barrier
Language barrier
Language barrier is a figurative phrase used primarily to indicate the difficulties faced when people who have no language in common attempt to communicate with each other...
is fundamental to the story, sound like a knockoff of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure is a 1989 American science fiction–comedy buddy film and the first film in the Bill & Ted franchise in which two metalhead slackers travel through time to assemble a menagerie of historical figures for their high school history presentation.The film was written by...
, as both films were released in 1989. The company's salvation turned out to be the science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
series Lexx
Lexx
Lexx is a science fantasy television series that follows the adventures of a group of mismatched individuals aboard the organic space craft Lexx. They travel through two universes and encounter planets including a parody of the Earth....
, which was a hit in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
. This Canadian-German co-production went on to become a lucrative money-maker through international sales and was one of the first shows to develop a cult
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
following almost exclusively through the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. Fans of Lexx nicknamed Donovan and the show's other main writers, Lex Gigeroff
Lex Gigeroff
Lex Gigeroff is a Canadian television writer and actor, best known as co-creator of the science fiction series Lexx. He also appeared in the comedy series Liocracy.- External links :*...
and Jeffrey Hirschfield
Jeffrey Hirschfield
Jeffrey Hirschfield is co-developer of the international cult science fiction series Lexx. He wrote for three of its four seasons and voiced the character of the robot head 790....
, "The Supreme Beans".
Concurrently, the Donovan brothers found success with the satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
This Hour Has 22 Minutes
This Hour Has 22 Minutes
This Hour Has 22 Minutes is a weekly Canadian television comedy that airs on CBC Television. Launched in 1993 during Canada's 35th general election, the show focuses on Canadian politics, combining news parody, sketch comedy and satirical editorials...
becoming a hit on CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
as well as other series such as 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....
, Emily of New Moon
Emily of New Moon
Emily of New Moon is the first in a series of novels by Lucy Maud Montgomery about the development of a writer. It was first published in 1923.-Plot summary:...
, Made in Canada
Made in Canada
Made in Canada is a Canadian television situation comedy which aired on CBC Television from 1998 to 2003. Rick Mercer co-created the program and starred as mercenary TV producer Richard Strong....
, Blackfly
Blackfly (TV series)
Blackfly is a Canadian sitcom which ran on the Global Television Network for two seasons in 2001 and 2002. Although shot single-camera like most Canadian comedies, this series was shot on film rather than videotape and contains a laugh track rather than making use of the usual live audience because...
, the children's series Pirates and the special Rick Mercer's Talking To Americans. These shows found homes on the CBC as well as other Canadian networks and cable channels. Salter Street also created the Stop motion
Stop motion
Stop motion is an animation technique to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own. The object is moved in small increments between individually photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when the series of frames is played as a continuous sequence...
children's show Poko
Poko
Poko is a stop motion TV series about a young boy, his pet dog, and his toy monkey. Produced in Canada by , a DHX Media Company, Poko began production in 2003 and is now in its third season. Poko is broadcast in Canada on CBC Television in the Kids' CBC programming block, and in Australia by ABC...
.
Based on their reputation for political satire, American documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
-maker Michael Moore
Michael Moore
Michael Francis Moore is an American filmmaker, author, social critic and activist. He is the director and producer of Fahrenheit 9/11, which is the highest-grossing documentary of all time. His films Bowling for Columbine and Sicko also place in the top ten highest-grossing documentaries...
approached Salter Street to produce his Bowling for Columbine
Bowling for Columbine
Bowling for Columbine is a 2002 documentary film written, directed, produced, and narrated by Michael Moore. The film explores what Michael Moore suggests are the causes for the Columbine High School massacre and other acts of violence with guns...
project. Michael Donovan agreed, and arranged financing in Canada
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...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The documentary won both the Anniversary Prize at Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
and the Oscar
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
for Best Documentary Feature.
In 2000, a year after the Donovan brothers had taken the company public, Salter Street Films was awarded the broadcast licence for the Independent Film Channel Canada by the CRTC. This potentially lucrative award, combined with SSF’s reputation as a content-provider, attracted interest from the powerful media corporation Alliance Atlantis
Alliance Atlantis
Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. was a Toronto-based media company that operated primarily as a specialty service operator in Canada. Alliance Atlantis also had offices in Halifax, Los Angeles, London, Dublin, Madrid, Barcelona, Shannon and Sydney.Alliance Atlantis was acquired by Canwest...
. Alliance Atlantis bought Salter Street from the majority shareholders the following year. Paul and Michael Donovan remained on as producers.
In 2003, two years after the purchase, Alliance Atlantis closed the operation, transferring Salter Street's ongoing television productions to Alliance.
Michael Donovan has formed the Halifax Film Company with many of the former Salter Street employees. Paul Donovan has continued as an independent producer and director. In 2006, he created a new Canadian minseries, a period political drama called The Conclave
The Conclave
The Conclave is a 2006 Canadian/German film production directed by Christoph Schrewe. The script was written by Paul Donovan.-Plot:The plot centers around the conclave of 1458...
set in the 15th century. The show stars Brian Blessed
Brian Blessed
Brian Blessed is an English actor, known for his sonorous voice and "hearty, king-sized portrayals".-Early life:The son of William Blessed, a socialist miner, and Hilda Wall, Blessed was born in the town of Goldthorpe, West Riding of Yorkshire, England...
and features former Lexx star Brian Downey
Brian Downey (actor)
Brian Downey is a Canadian actor perhaps best-known for his portrayal of Stanley Tweedle, in the science-fiction television series Lexx....
as a scheming monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
. Downey has been a regular in Donovan's work since the '80s, dating back at least to George's Island in 1989.