Michael McNamara (filmmaker)
Michael McNamara (born December 6, 1953) is a Canadian film and television director and producer from Windsor, Ontario,[1] who was cofounder with Judy Holm of the Markham Street Films studio.[2]
The son of poet Eugene McNamara,[3] McNamara directed episodes of children's television series such as The Elephant Show, Eric's World and Polka Dot Shorts, as well as music videos and television specials for Holly Cole Trio, Jane Siberry and Prairie Oyster,[4] in his early career, before releasing his debut feature film The Cockroach that Ate Cincinnati, an adaptation of theatrical plays by Alan Williams, in 1996.[5] In 1998 he directed In Thru the Out Door, a television special billed as "network television's first-ever all-queer, all-star sketch comedy show".[6]
With his wife, Judy Holm, he launched Markham Street Films in the early 2000s.[7] With that firm, he has directed documentary films rather than narrative features, although he has been a producer of narrative features by other filmmakers.[8]
His credits as a documentary director have included Radio Revolution: The Rise and Fall of the Big 8 (2004),[9] 100 Films and a Funeral (2007),[10] Acquainted with the Night (2010),[11] and episodes of the television documentary series The Nature of Things[12] and CBC Docs POV.[13]
His credits as a producer have included Victoria Day and Big News from Grand Rock.
Awards
[edit]| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Work | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini Awards | 1988 | Best Picture Editing in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series | Jane Siberry: I Muse Aloud | Won | [14] |
| 1994 | Best Direction in a Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series | The Holly Cole Trio: My Foolish Heart | Nominated | [3] | |
| Best Picture Editing in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series | Nominated | ||||
| 1999 | Best Direction in a Variety, or Performing Arts Program or Series | In Thru the Out Door | Nominated | [15] | |
| 2001 | Best Direction in a Documentary Program | Wrinkle | Nominated | [16] | |
| 2004 | Best History Documentary Program | Radio Revolution: The Rise and Fall of the Big 8 | Won | [17] | |
| Best Writing in a Documentary Program or Series | Nominated | [18] | |||
| 2006 | Best Direction in a Documentary Series | Shrines and Homemade Holy Places: "Highways to Heaven" | Nominated | [19] | |
| 2008 | Best History Documentary Program | 100 Films and a Funeral | Nominated | [20] | |
| 2009 | Best Direction in a Documentary Series | Driven by Vision: "Of Castles, Kings and Jesters" | Won | [21] | |
| 2011 | Best Science, Technology, Nature, Environment or Adventure Documentary Program | Acquainted with the Night | Nominated | [22] | |
| Best Direction in a Documentary Program | Won | [23] | |||
| Canadian Screen Awards | 2014 | Rob Stewart Award | The Nature of Things: "Lights Out!" | Nominated | |
| Best Documentary Program | Ice, Sweat and Tears | Nominated | |||
| 2016 | Rob Stewart Award | The Nature of Things: "The Cholesterol Question" | Nominated | ||
| 2021 | The Nature of Things: "Pass the Salt" | Nominated | [24] | ||
| Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival | 2014 | Don Haig Award | Won | [25] | |
| Writers Guild of Canada | 2015 | WGC Screenwriting Awards: Documentary | The Nature of Things: "The Cholesterol Question" | Won | [26] |
| 2019 | CBC Docs POV: "Catwalk: Tales from the Cat Show Circuit" | Won | [27] | ||
| 2020 | CBC Docs POV: "Pugly: A Pug's Life" | Nominated | [28] |
References
[edit]- ^ Gail Robertson, "Artcetera: Director that ate traditional film-making". Windsor Star, April 24, 1997.
- ^ Gayle McDonald, "A movie only a Canadian could make". The Globe and Mail, October 1, 2008.
- ^ a b Owen Jones, "Playbill". Windsor Star, January 29, 1994.
- ^ Ted Shaw, "Portrait brings out best in Cole". Windsor Star, January 5, 1993.
- ^ "Review: ‘The Cockroach That Ate Cincinnati’". Variety, October 14, 1996.
- ^ Nelson Wyatt, "CBC gay special is comedy pure and simple". Canadian Press, June 18, 1998.
- ^ Noelle Elia, "At Home With Markham Street Films". Point of View, April 1, 2004.
- ^ Ted Shaw, "Little film house that could; Markham Street Productions celebrates 10 years of on-the-job training, patience, and a cockroach that ate a city". Windsor Star, February 4, 2012.
- ^ "Documentary film recalls heyday of border-blaster radio". North Bay Nugget, April 1, 2004.
- ^ Ted Shaw, "WIFF opener details demise of Polygram". Windsor Star, November 6, 2007.
- ^ Ted Shaw, "Documentary seeks answers after dark". Windsor Star, September 18, 2010.
- ^ Paul Cluff, "Stratford connections abound in 'The Nature of Things' premier tonight on CBC". Stratford Today, January 4, 2024.
- ^ Maggie Parkhill, "Pugs Can Be 'Busy Little Lunatics'". Calgary Herald, January 7, 2019.
- ^ John Haslett Cuff, "CBC offerings dominate first half of Gemini awards". The Globe and Mail, November 30, 1988.
- ^ "Major Gemini Awards nominations". Toronto Star, September 22, 1999.
- ^ Craig Pearson, "Documentaries have more hope, Gemini nominee says". Windsor Star, September 21, 2001.
- ^ "Big 8 documentary wins Gemini for best history". Windsor Star, December 15, 2004.
- ^ "The 2004 Gemini nominees". Playback, November 8, 2004.
- ^ "The '06 nominees: Who will march up to the podium?". Playback, October 2, 2006.
- ^ "The Gemini nominees are . . .". Playback, September 29, 2008.
- ^ Ted Shaw, "McNamara gets Gemini nod". Windsor Star, October 22, 2009.
- ^ Ted Shaw, "Local connection to Gemini nominations". Windsor Star, August 4, 2011.
- ^ "26th Annual Gemini Awards". Tribute, September 7, 2011.
- ^ Brent Furdyk, "Television Nominees Announced For 2021 Canadian Screen Awards, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Leads The Pack With 21 Nominations". ET Canada, March 30, 2021.
- ^ Liam Lacey, "Belgian-Romanian, Canadian films take top prizes at Hot Docs". The Globe and Mail, May 2, 2024.
- ^ Filipe Dos Santos, "Tony Elliot, Jason Leaver among WGC Award winners". Playback, April 28, 2015.
- ^ Connie Thiessen, "Writers behind Schitt’s Creek, Cardinal, among winners at WGC Screenwriting Awards". Broadcast Dialogue, April 30, 2019.
- ^ Kelly Townsend, "JANN, Coroner, Schitt’s Creek top WGC Award’s drama, comedy noms". Playback, March 6, 2020.