John Grierson
About
Biography
Filmography
Bibliography
Biography
A pioneering figure in nonfiction filmmaking, Grierson was the first to use the term "documentary," in a review of Robert Flaherty's "Moana" (1926). Returing to Britain in 1927 after a stint in the US, he petitioned the Empire Marketing Board to investigate the propaganda potential of film and was commissioned to form a unit within the organization. Inspired by the success of his first effort, "Drifters" (1929), a study of North Sea fishermen, he amassed a talented group of proteges whose work he encouraged and supervised.
When the EMB was dissolved in 1933 Grierson's unit moved to the General Post Office (GPO), where their work included the outstanding "Night Mail" (1936). In 1937 Grierson established the Film Centre consultancy, serving as an advisor on, among other projects, the European editions of the US series, "The March of Time." He also set up supervisory film panels in Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Scotland.
Although Grierson would only direct one more film, "The Fishing Banks of Skye" (1935), he remained a driving force behind documentary movements worldwide. He also continued writing influential essays on documentary cinema, which were later collected in the volume "Grierson on Documentary" (1946).
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Title Design (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (Short)
Producer (Short)
Life Events
1924
Received a Rockefeller Research Fellowship to study effects of communication media on public opinion in USA
1926
First to use the term "documentary" in film review of "Moana"
1928
Returned to Great Britain
1928
Founded film unit at the Empire Marketing Board (EMB)
1929
Film directing debut, "Drifters"
1933
Moved film unit to General Post Office (GPO)
1937
Founded Film Centre Advisory Organization for documentary filmmakers
1939
Founded National Film Board of Canada
1945
Formed The World Today Inc. production company in USA
1946
Appointed director of Mass Media at UNESCO
1948
Became Controller of Films at the Central Office of Information in London
1957
Host of weekly British television show "This Wonderful World"
1968
Taught at McGill University in Canada
Family
