Phillip Borsos
Encyclopedia
Phillip Borsos was Canadian film director
and film producer
.
Borsos showed an early interest in film-making while attending high school in Maple Ridge, B.C. He studied film at the Banff Centre
School for Fine Arts and at the Vancouver School of Art, now the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design
.
His early work included several shorts notable for their cinematography and pacing. Three outstanding documentaries done in his early years are Cooperage (1976), Spartree (1977) and Nails
(1979). All three won Best Theatrical Short at the Canadian Film Awards, "The Genie Award
s", and also received a nomination for an Oscar in the Documentary Short category. He began working on feature-length films and his first, "The Grey Fox", earned him a "Best Director" and "Best Film" at the Genies in 1983. It told the story of Bill Miner, Canada's first train robber and starred Richard Farnsworth
.
He followed that success with The Mean Season
(1985) and One Magic Christmas
(1985). Production problems dogged his biopic Bethune: The Making of a Hero (1990) which starred Donald Sutherland
as Dr. Norman Bethune
. His final film Far From Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog
was produced in 1994. During the same time he was diagnosed with leukemia. He died February 2, 1995 at age 41.
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:...
and 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...
.
Borsos showed an early interest in film-making while attending high school in Maple Ridge, B.C. He studied film at the Banff Centre
Banff Centre
The Banff Centre, formerly known as The Banff Centre for Continuing Education, is an arts, cultural, and educational institution and conference complex located in Banff, Alberta...
School for Fine Arts and at the Vancouver School of Art, now the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design
Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design
Emily Carr University of Art and Design is a public post-secondary University located on Granville Island in Vancouver, BC, Canada...
.
His early work included several shorts notable for their cinematography and pacing. Three outstanding documentaries done in his early years are Cooperage (1976), Spartree (1977) and Nails
Nails (film)
Nails is a 1979 Canadian short documentary film directed by Phillip Borsos. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short.The subject of the film was simply the manufacturing process used to make nails.-External links:*...
(1979). All three won Best Theatrical Short at the Canadian Film Awards, "The 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", and also received a nomination for an Oscar in the Documentary Short category. He began working on feature-length films and his first, "The Grey Fox", earned him a "Best Director" and "Best Film" at the Genies in 1983. It told the story of Bill Miner, Canada's first train robber and starred Richard Farnsworth
Richard Farnsworth
Richard W. Farnsworth was an American actor and stuntman. His film career began in 1937; however, he achieved his greatest success for his performances in The Grey Fox and The Straight Story , for which he received a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actor.- Early life :Farnsworth was born...
.
He followed that success with The Mean Season
The Mean Season
The Mean Season is a 1985 American thriller directed by Phillip Borsos. The film stars Kurt Russell, Mariel Hemingway, Richard Jordan, Richard Masur, Joe Pantoliano, and Andy García. The screenplay was written by Leon Piedmont, based on the novel In the Heat of the Summer by John Katzenbach...
(1985) and One Magic Christmas
One Magic Christmas
One Magic Christmas is a 1985 Canadian-American holiday film from Walt Disney Pictures directed by Phillip Borsos and starring Mary Steenburgen and Harry Dean Stanton.-Synopsis:...
(1985). Production problems dogged his biopic Bethune: The Making of a Hero (1990) which starred Donald Sutherland
Donald Sutherland
Donald McNichol Sutherland, OC is a Canadian actor with a film career spanning nearly 50 years. Some of Sutherland's more notable movie roles included offbeat warriors in such war movies as The Dirty Dozen, , MASH , and Kelly's Heroes , as well as in such popular films as Klute, Invasion of the...
as Dr. Norman Bethune
Norman Bethune
Henry Norman Bethune was a Canadian physician and medical innovator. Bethune is best known for his service in war time medical units during the Spanish Civil War and with the Communist Eighth Route Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War...
. His final film Far From Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog
Far from Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog
Far from Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog is a 1994 adventure film starring Jesse Bradford and directed by Phillip Borsos. Its cumulative box office earnings were $10,435,021. The film currently has a B- at Box Office Mojo.- Plot :...
was produced in 1994. During the same time he was diagnosed with leukemia. He died February 2, 1995 at age 41.
Sources
- The Canadian Encyclopedia http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0000890
- The Canadian Film Encyclopedia http://www.filmreferencelibrary.ca/index.asp?layid=46&csid1=7&navid=46