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J

John Spotton

Known for

Cinematography

Born

August 8, 1927

Birthplace

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Died

March 3, 1991 (aged 63)

Biography

John Spotton was a Canadian filmmaker, cinematographer, and editor associated with the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). He played a pivotal role in developing the Direct Cinema movement, contributing to documentaries that emphasized naturalistic and unobtrusive filming techniques. Spotton's notable works include Buster Keaton Rides Again (1965), a documentary capturing the making of Keaton's short film The Railrodder, and Memorandum (1965), which explores the Holocaust's impact on survivors. His contributions significantly influenced documentary filmmaking in Canada and beyond.

Best known work

Buster Keaton Rides Again

Buster Keaton Rides Again

1965
Lonely Boy

Lonely Boy

1962
Nobody Waved Goodbye

Nobody Waved Goodbye

1964
Memorandum

Memorandum

1967
High Steel

High Steel

1965
City Out of Time

City Out of Time

1959
Runner

Runner

1962
The Back-breaking Leaf

The Back-breaking Leaf

1959
Railroaders

Railroaders

1958
Circle of the Sun

Circle of the Sun

1961

Filmography

  1. 1988

    Peep and the Big Wide World

    Executive Producer

  2. 1987

    No Way! Not Me

    Executive Producer

  3. 1985

    Final Offer

    Executive Producer

  4. 1985

    Pitchmen

    Executive Producer

  5. 1984

  6. 1983

  7. 1983

  8. 1983

  9. 1979

  10. 1979

  11. 1974

    Circus World

    Cinematography

  12. 1973

    Kainai

    Director of Photography

  13. 1967

    Memorandum

    Director

  14. 1966

  15. 1966

  16. 1965

    Buster Keaton Rides Again

    Director, Editor, Director of Photography

  17. 1965

    High Steel

    Director of Photography

  18. 1964

    Nobody Waved Goodbye

    Editor, Director of Photography

  19. 1964

    Legault's Place

    Director of Photography

  20. 1964

    The Hutterites

    Editor, Director of Photography

  21. 1963

    Toronto Jazz

    Director of Photography

  22. 1962

  23. 1962

    Runner

    Director of Photography

  24. 1961

    Circle of the Sun

    Director of Photography

  25. 1961

    The Days of Whisky Gap

    Editor, Camera Operator

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