Peter O'Brian
Encyclopedia
Peter O'Brian is a Canadian
film producer
and broadcast executive. Films produced by O'Brian's company, Independent Pictures, have won nineteen Genie Award
s. His production credits include The Grey Fox
, Outrageous!
, John and the Missus
and My American Cousin
.
O'Brian was educated at the University of Toronto
and Emerson College
in Boston, graduating in 1969 with a double major in mass communications and film. He returned to Toronto and began working as an assistant director
and production manager.
In 1975, he produced his first film, the Dan Aykroyd
movie Love at First Sight. In 1977, he founded Independent Pictures.
He took a sabbatical from producing in the early 1990s to run the Canadian Film Centre
for its first three years of operation. In 1997, he became president of Mission Pictures.
On September 29, 2005, O'Brian was appointed chair of the board of TVOntario
, the province of Ontario's public television
network.
O'Brian is married to federal Member of Parliament Carolyn Bennett
.
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...
and broadcast executive. Films produced by O'Brian's company, Independent Pictures, have won nineteen Genie Award
Genie Award
Genie Awards are given out to recognize the best of Canadian cinema by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. From 1949-1979, the awards were named the Canadian Film Awards...
s. His production credits include The Grey Fox
The Grey Fox (film)
The Grey Fox is a 1982 Canadian film written by John Hunter and directed by Phillip Borsos. It is based on the true story of Bill Miner, an American stagecoach robber who staged Canada's first train robbery on September 10, 1904. The film stars Richard Farnsworth as Miner...
, Outrageous!
Outrageous!
Outrageous! is a Canadian comedy film, released in 1977. The film was directed and written by Richard Benner, and based on a short story by Margaret Gibson. The film stars Craig Russell as Robin Turner, a drag queen, and Hollis McLaren as Liza Conners, Turner's schizophrenic roommate...
, John and the Missus
John and the Missus
John and the Missus is a 1986 Canadian drama film. The film was directed by and starred Gordon Pinsent who wrote the screenplay from his 1974 novel of the same name.- Plot :...
and My American Cousin
My American Cousin
My American Cousin is a Canadian drama film, released in 1985. Written and directed by Sandy Wilson based on her own childhood, the film stars Margaret Langrick as Sandy Wilcox, a pre-teen girl growing up on a ranch in rural Penticton, British Columbia in the late 1950s...
.
O'Brian was educated at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and Emerson College
Emerson College
Emerson College is a private coeducational university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of oratory," Emerson is "the only comprehensive college or university in America dedicated exclusively to communication and the arts in a liberal arts...
in Boston, graduating in 1969 with a double major in mass communications and film. He returned to Toronto and began working as an assistant director
Assistant director
The role of an Assistant director include tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, maintaining order on the set. They also have to take care of health and safety of the crew...
and production manager.
In 1975, he produced his first film, the Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd
Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early...
movie Love at First Sight. In 1977, he founded Independent Pictures.
He took a sabbatical from producing in the early 1990s to run the Canadian Film Centre
Canadian Film Centre
The Canadian Film Centre is an advanced training institution for film, television and new media. Based in Toronto, Canada, CFC offers residents education, industry partnerships and production experience...
for its first three years of operation. In 1997, he became president of Mission Pictures.
On September 29, 2005, O'Brian was appointed chair of the board of TVOntario
TVOntario
TVOntario, often referred to only as TVO , is a publicly funded, educational English-language television station and media organization in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is operated by the Ontario Educational Communications Authority, a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Ontario...
, the province of Ontario's public television
Public broadcasting
Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...
network.
O'Brian is married to federal Member of Parliament Carolyn Bennett
Carolyn Bennett
Carolyn Ann Bennett, PC, MP is the Member of Parliament for the riding of St. Paul's, a constituency located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She is a member of the Liberal Party of Canada, and was formerly a candidate for its leadership....
.