Paul Saltzman
Encyclopedia
Paul Saltzman is a two-time Canadian Emmy Award
-winning film and television producer
-director
with more than 300 films to his credit. The 2008 documentary feature, Prom Night in Mississippi
, featuring actor Morgan Freeman
, was his most recent film and premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival
.
, Canada’s first TV weatherman, and Rose Cohen.
After briefly studying Engineering Science, he did congressional civil rights lobbying in Washington, D.C., and in the summer of 1965 he did voter registration work in Mississippi, which would later lead him to go back to the area to explore the concept of prejudice and racism with his first documentary feature film, Prom Night in Mississippi. Paul was married to Deepa Mehta
, a noted film director and screenwriter, from 1973 to 1991. He is now married to Patricia Aquino, who served as co-produceer on his Prom Night.. film. They live in the Toronto
area.
, and was invited by The Beatles
, who coincidentally were visiting and renting the ashram, to join them. While there, he spent time with and photographed the Beatles. His dozens of photos have been judged, “some of the best intimate shots” ever taken of John, Paul, George and Ringo, and have been seen in galleries worldwide.
In 2000, Paul released a book of his photographs, 'The Beatles in Rishikesh,' with Penguin-Putnam; and in 2006 he and his wife, Patricia Aquino, self-published the deluxe Limited Edition box set, 'The Beatles in India'.
.
One of the most memorable things Saltzman heard during his conversations and life-changing stay with The Beatles, were George Harrison's revealing words: "Like we are The Beatles, after all, aren't we? We have all the money you could ever dream of, we have all the fame you could ever wish for. But it isn't love. It isn't health. It isn't peace inside, is it."
Saltzman will lead a special tour of India called "The Beatles In India," arranged by Bestway Tours and Safaris, to show how India impacted and enlightened The Beatles, and led to the group's most creative musical period.
as a researcher, interviewer and on-air host, and then moved to the National Film Board of Canada
. He assisted in the launch of a new film format as second-unit director and production manager of the first IMAX
film, produced for the Osaka 1970 World's Fair. In 1972, he produced and directed his first film, a half-hour documentary on Bo Diddley
.
In 1973, Paul Saltzman founded Sunrise Films Limited. He produced and directed documentaries for the next decade, including the series “Spread Your Wings.” His work included producing, directing, writing, editing, cinematography and sound recording. In 1983, he turned to drama, producing and directing the premiere of “HBO's Family Playhouse” and a special for “American Playhouse.” That year, he co-created and produced the family action-adventure television series “Danger Bay
.” The hit CBC-Disney Channel series ran for 6 years and 123 episodes.
Since then he has produced television series like “My Secret Identity
,” “Matrix” and “Max Glick,” as well as miniseries and movies of the week. He co-produced the feature film "Map of the Human Heart
," an international epic directed by Vincent Ward, starring Jason Scott Lee, Anne Parillaud, Patrick Bergin, John Cusack
and Jean Moreau
. He also executive produced “Martha, Ruth & Edie” as well as “Sam & Me,” which received an Honorable Mention in competition for the Camera d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival
.
Paul is a member of the Director's Guild of Canada and the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television
. .
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
-winning film and television 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...
-director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
with more than 300 films to his credit. The 2008 documentary feature, Prom Night in Mississippi
Prom Night in Mississippi
Prom Night in Mississippi is a 2009 Canadian documentary film written and directed by Paul Saltzman. The documentary follows a group of 2008 Charleston High School high school seniors in Charleston, Mississippi as they prepare for their senior prom, the first racially integrated prom in Charleston...
, featuring actor Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is an American actor, film director, aviator and narrator. He is noted for his reserved demeanor and authoritative speaking voice. Freeman has received Academy Award nominations for his performances in Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and Invictus and won...
, was his most recent film and premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
.
Early life
He was born in 1943 the son of Percy SaltzmanPercy Saltzman
Percy Saltzman, was a meteorologist and television personality best remembered for being the first weatherman in Canadian television history....
, Canada’s first TV weatherman, and Rose Cohen.
After briefly studying Engineering Science, he did congressional civil rights lobbying in Washington, D.C., and in the summer of 1965 he did voter registration work in Mississippi, which would later lead him to go back to the area to explore the concept of prejudice and racism with his first documentary feature film, Prom Night in Mississippi. Paul was married to Deepa Mehta
Deepa Mehta
Deepa Mehta, LLD is a Genie Award-winning Indian-born Canadian film director and screenwriter, most known for her Elements Trilogy, Fire , Earth , and Water , among which Earth was submitted by Indian government for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film...
, a noted film director and screenwriter, from 1973 to 1991. He is now married to Patricia Aquino, who served as co-produceer on his Prom Night.. film. They live in the Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
area.
The Beatles
In 1968, at the age of 23, he traveled to India for the first time as sound engineer on the National Film Board of Canada's 'Juggernaut' documentary. He studied meditation to recover after his girlfriend had broken up with him, by mail. He learned meditation at the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram in the holy city of Rishikesh, IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and was invited by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, who coincidentally were visiting and renting the ashram, to join them. While there, he spent time with and photographed the Beatles. His dozens of photos have been judged, “some of the best intimate shots” ever taken of John, Paul, George and Ringo, and have been seen in galleries worldwide.
In 2000, Paul released a book of his photographs, 'The Beatles in Rishikesh,' with Penguin-Putnam; and in 2006 he and his wife, Patricia Aquino, self-published the deluxe Limited Edition box set, 'The Beatles in India'.
.
One of the most memorable things Saltzman heard during his conversations and life-changing stay with The Beatles, were George Harrison's revealing words: "Like we are The Beatles, after all, aren't we? We have all the money you could ever dream of, we have all the fame you could ever wish for. But it isn't love. It isn't health. It isn't peace inside, is it."
Saltzman will lead a special tour of India called "The Beatles In India," arranged by Bestway Tours and Safaris, to show how India impacted and enlightened The Beatles, and led to the group's most creative musical period.
Film & TV career
Saltzman began his film and television career at the Canadian Broadcasting CorporationCanadian 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 a researcher, interviewer and on-air host, and then moved to 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...
. He assisted in the launch of a new film format as second-unit director and production manager of the first IMAX
IMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
film, produced for the Osaka 1970 World's Fair. In 1972, he produced and directed his first film, a half-hour documentary on Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
Ellas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...
.
In 1973, Paul Saltzman founded Sunrise Films Limited. He produced and directed documentaries for the next decade, including the series “Spread Your Wings.” His work included producing, directing, writing, editing, cinematography and sound recording. In 1983, he turned to drama, producing and directing the premiere of “HBO's Family Playhouse” and a special for “American Playhouse.” That year, he co-created and produced the family action-adventure television series “Danger Bay
Danger Bay
Danger Bay is a Canadian television series, produced in Vancouver, with first-run episodes broadcast on CBC Television starting October 18, 1984 and the Disney Channel starting October 7, 1985...
.” The hit CBC-Disney Channel series ran for 6 years and 123 episodes.
Since then he has produced television series like “My Secret Identity
My Secret Identity
My Secret Identity is a Canadian television series starring Jerry O'Connell and Derek McGrath. Originally broadcast from September 1, 1988 to May 1, 1991 on CTV in Canada, the series also aired in syndication in the United States.-Synopsis:...
,” “Matrix” and “Max Glick,” as well as miniseries and movies of the week. He co-produced the feature film "Map of the Human Heart
Map of the Human Heart
Map of the Human Heart is the title of a 1993 film by New Zealand director Vincent Ward. It was screened out of competition at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival....
," an international epic directed by Vincent Ward, starring Jason Scott Lee, Anne Parillaud, Patrick Bergin, John Cusack
John Cusack
John Paul Cusack is an American film actor and screenwriter. He has appeared in more than 50 films, including The Journey of Natty Gann, Say Anything..., Grosse Point Blank, The Thin Red Line, Stand by Me, Con Air, Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity, Serendipity, Runaway Jury, The Ice Harvest,...
and Jean Moreau
Jean Moreau
Jean Moreau was a French politician.He belonged first to the Republican Party of Liberty , then to the Independent Republicans and then to the National Centre of Independents and Peasants . During 1953, he was France minister of Budget for a few months....
. He also executive produced “Martha, Ruth & Edie” as well as “Sam & Me,” which received an Honorable Mention in competition for the Camera d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
.
Paul is a member of the Director's Guild of Canada and the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television
Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television
The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is a Canadian non-profit organization created in 1979 to recognize over 4,000 Canadian film industry and television industry professionals...
. .
External links
- The Beatles in India book website http://www.thebeatlesinindia.com/
- Sundance Film festival overview of "Prom Night In Mississippi" http://festival.sundance.org/2009/film_events/films/prom_night_in_mississippi/
- Academic Film Archive of North America, filmography of Paul Saltzman's work http://www.afana.org/saltzmanfilmog.htm/