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John Walsh (filmmaker)

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John Walsh
Walsh at BAFTA Film Awards
Born
London, England
EducationLondon Film School[1]
Occupation(s)Film Director
Screenwriter
Film Producer
Notable workMonarch
ToryBoy The Movie
Headhunting The Homeless
Websitewww.walshbros.co.uk

John Walsh is an English filmmaker and author. He is the founder of the film company Walsh Bros. Ltd.[2] His film work on subjects such as social mobility and social justice has received two BAFTA nominations.

Early life and education

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A filmmaker from a young age, Walsh had his first super-8 camera by the age of ten. At the age of 18 he was the youngest student accepted to the London Film School (LFS) in 1989.[3] He made a film there on stop-motion animation filmmaker Ray Harryhausen.[citation needed] Walsh graduated from the LFS in 1990 or 1991, according to its blog.[4][5] Walsh is a Trustee of the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation.[6][7]

Film

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In 2010, Walsh stood as a parliamentary candidate in the 2010 General Election and made the gonzo-style documentary feature film Tory Boy The Movie, which was released in cinemas in 2011 and 2012.[8] The film follows Walsh as he becomes a Conservative candidate after a lifetime of voting Labour motivated by reports that Sir Stuart Bell, the Labour Party's MP in Middlesbrough, was absent so often from the town that he was an unsuitable candidate.[9] The file was nominated for the Grierson Awards for "Best Documentary on a Contemporary Theme".[10]

In 2014, Walsh's remastered version of the film Monarch was released.[11] The original negative for the film had been lost. The film starred late Irish stage and screen actor T. P. McKenna and Jean Marsh.[12] This subsequently led to cinema showing starting at the Tricycle Cinema.[13][14][15]

Television

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Walsh's three-part Grierson Trust-nominated BBC series Headhunting The Homeless was part of the corporation's 120 most treasured programmes of the first half of 2003, and was included in the corporation's drive to convince its critics that the licence fee should not be abolished.[16] The Guardian described the series as "truly touching"[17] and also chose it as their Pick of the Day.[18]

The BAFTA-nominated[19] and New York Film Festival-winning[20] Channel 4 series Don't Make Me Angry (2003) was about anger management.[21] This ran for two series.[22]

In 2010, Walsh's five part BBC series on childhood homelessness, Sofa Surfers, was nominated for the Social Award at the Rose d'Or Awards.[23]

The BAFTA-nominated 2010 film My Life: Karate Kids[24] tackled issues of bullying among disabled children. It was narrated by David Tennant.[25][26]

The Monte Carlo Golden Nymph Award nominated [27] BBC film Toy Soldiers, made in 2010 and screened in 2014, presented the point of view of the bereaved children of UK service personnel. Walsh discussed this on the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme.[28] According to the blog of the private medical service Dr Mortons, the film was mentioned positively by retired psychiatrist Geraldine Walford, who said it had been shown in schools across the country.[29] It was also entered for the Foundation Prix Jeunesse in 2012.[30]

Walsh worked with charity boss Eva Hamilton on her venture Key4Life and made a five-minute publicity film for them in December 2013 about their work with former young offenders.[31]

Walsh Bros Ltd.

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Walsh founded his company in 1992.[32] Walsh Bros Ltd. was ranked 70 in the Televisual Magazine's list of the top 100 independent film companies in the UK in 2012.[33]

Ray & Diana Harryhausen Foundation

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Walsh has been a Trustee of the Ray & Diana Harryhausen Foundation since 2014.[7] He first met with Ray Harryhausen in the late 1980s as a film student of the London Film School[34] and in 1990 wrote and directed a 15-minute documentary entitled Ray Harryhausen: Movement Into Life, narrated by Tom Baker.[35]

Walsh filmed and recorded commentary tracks with Ray Harryhausen in his London home commencing 17 May 2012.[36] Since that date recordings were made for Clash of The Titans, Mysterious Island, The 3 Worlds of Gulliver, First Men in the Moon with Randy Cook, The Valley of Gwangi with his daughter Vanessa Harryhausen, One Million Years B.C. with Martine Beswick, The Golden Voyage of Sinbad with fellow Trustee Caroline Munro, Mighty Joe Young with film director John Landis and Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger with SFX artist Colin Arthur.[37][38] Walsh donated the film and sound footage to the Ray & Diana Harryhausen Foundation[39] and they contain many new revelations by Ray on how his films were created and produced.

San Diego Comic-Con announced the new Ray Harryhausen Awards which were devised by Walsh [40] and revealed at their 2021 panel at Comic Con.[41]

Writing and journalism

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In additional to his film and TV screenplays, Walsh has written for various print and online publications on film history, politics and religion in The Daily Telegraph,[42] The Independent,[43] The Catholic Herald[44] and Conservative Home.[45] He contributed to the Titan Books title, Ray Harryhausen Poster Art Book, written by sci-fi journalist and author Richard Holliss.[46]

His first book, Harryhausen: The Lost Movies, was published 10 September 2019 by Titan Books.[47]

His second book, Flash Gordon: The Official Story of the Film, was published in November 2020 by Titan Books.[48]

In 2021, Screen Rant announced the publication of Walsh’s next book, Escape from New York: The Official Story of the Film, published by Titan Books.[49]

Books

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Year Title ISBN Publisher Awards / Nominations*
2023 The Wicker Man: The Official Story of the Film 9781803365084 Titan Books Nominee, Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards* "Book of the Year" [50]
2023 Conan the Barbarian: The Official Story of the Film 9781803361765 Titan Books
2022 Dr Who and the Daleks: The Official Story of the Films 9781803360188 Titan Books Honorable mention, Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards* "Book of the Year" [50]
2021 Escape from New York: The Official Story of the Film 9781789095067 Titan Books Nominee, Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards* "Book of the Year" [51]
2020 Flash Gordon: The Official Story of the Film 9781789095067 Titan Books Honorable mention, Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards* "Book of the Year" [52]
2019 Harryhausen: The Lost Movies 9781789091106 Titan Books Runner-up, Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards* "Book of the Year" [53]

Filmography and awards

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Year Title Role Film / television Award / nomination*
2021 Escape From New York: The Official Story of the Film[citation needed] Producer, director, writer Documentary Series
2020 Flash Gordon: The Official Story of the Film[citation needed] Producer, director, writer Documentary Series
2019 Harryhausen: The Lost Movies[citation needed] Producer, director, writer Documentary Series
2016–2018 The Ray Harryhausen Podcast Originator, co-host Radio series Honorable mention, Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards* "Best Multi-Media"[54]
2016 Jupiter Pluvius at the Tate[55] Producer, director, writer Documentary
2015 ToryBoy The Movie (re-release) Producer, director, writer Feature film
2014 Monarch (re-release) Producer, director, writer, editor Feature film
2014 Monarch Restoring A King[56] Producer, director, writer, editor Documentary
2013 Key 4 Life[31] Producer, director, writer 15-minute documentary
2012 Blinding[citation needed] Producer, director, writer BBC documentary
2012 ToryBoy The Aftermath[citation needed] Producer, director, writer Documentary
2011 ToryBoy The Movie Producer, director, writer Feature film Shortlisted, Grierson Awards Best Documentary on a Contemporary Theme[57]
2010 Toy Soldiers[58] Producer, director, writer BBC documentary Nominated, Monte-Carlo Television Festival[59] Entered, Prix Jeunesse Munich*[60]
2009 The Prime Minister's Global Fellowship[citation needed] Producer, director, writer Documentary for the British Council
2009 My Life: Karate Kids[61] Producer, director, writer BBC documentary Nominated, Children's factual, BAFTA[62]
2008 Sofa Surfers[63][64][65] Producer, director, writer BBC documentary Nominated, Rose d'Or Social Award[66]
2007 Don't Make Me Angry – Series 2[67] Producer, director, writer Channel 4 documentary Bronze World Medal, New York Television Festival Best Young Adult Special Documentary Series[20]
2006 Don't Make Me Angry – Series 1[68] Producer, director, writer Channel 4 documentary Nominated, Children's learning: secondary, BAFTA[69]
2003 Headhunting The Homeless[16][70][71] Producer, director, writer BBC documentary Grierson Awards Best Documentary Series[citation needed]
2001 Nu Model Armi[citation needed] Producer, director, writer Channel 4 documentary
2001 TREX2[citation needed] Producer, director, writer Channel 5 documentary
2000 TREX[citation needed] Producer, director, writer Channel 5 documentary
2000 Monarch Producer, director, writer, editor Feature film
1999 Cowboyz & Cowgirlz[citation needed] Producer, director, writer Channel 5 documentary
1998 Boyz & Girlz : Greece[citation needed] Producer, director, writer Channel 5 documentary
1998 Boyz & Girlz[citation needed] Producer, director, writer Channel 5 documentary
1991 Masque of Draperie[citation needed] Producer, director, writer, editor Documentary
1990 The Comedy Store[citation needed] Producer, director, writer, editor Documentary
1990 The Sceptic and the Psychic[citation needed] Producer, writer Drama
1989 Ray Harryhausen: Movement Into Life[72][34] Producer, director, writer 15-minute documentary
1989 The Sleeper[citation needed] Producer, director, writer, editor Drama
1985 A State of Mind Producer, director, Writer, editor Drama Screen Test BBC Young Film Maker of the Year 1985*[citation needed]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "LFS News:".
  2. ^ "Walsh Bros". walshbros.co.uk.
  3. ^ "Greenwich Visitor August 2016". Issuu. August 2016.
  4. ^ John Walsh nominated for a BAFTA Children's Award for documentary 'My Life: Karate Kids' Today, LFS News: The London Film School News Blog, November 2010
  5. ^ John Walsh nominated for Rose D'Or Award for 'Sofa Surfers', LFS News: The London Film School News Blog, November 2010
  6. ^ "People | The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation".
  7. ^ a b "Charity Details - Ray & Diana Harryhausen Foundation, SC001419". www.oscr.org.uk. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017.
  8. ^ "ToryBoy visits the Frontline Club". Frontline Club.
  9. ^ "No surgeries for 14 years – is Sir Stuart Bell Britain's laziest MP?". The Independent. 31 October 2011. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022.
  10. ^ "The Grierson Trust :: Shortlist – 2011". griersontrust.org. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014.
  11. ^ "Lost joys: Directors reveal searches for missing movies". BBC News. 7 March 2014.
  12. ^ "News in Canary Wharf | InYourArea". InYourArea.co.uk.
  13. ^ "Monarch – Tricycle". tricycle.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  14. ^ "Critically acclaimed movie shot in Charlton set for high definition re-release". News Shopper. 29 August 2014.
  15. ^ "Rare TP McKenna film to be screened after original tapes recovered". The Irish Post. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  16. ^ a b Plunkett, John (19 September 2003). "BBC list aims to win over critics". The Guardian.
  17. ^ "Television: The road less travelled". The Guardian. 18 May 2003.
  18. ^ "Television: Pick of the day". The Guardian. 7 May 2003.
  19. ^ "2006 Children's Learning – Secondary". BAFTA Awards. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  20. ^ a b "2008 Bronze World Medal". Archived from the original on 16 December 2017.
  21. ^ "Don't Make Me Angry – Series 1 (2005)".
  22. ^ "Don't Make Me Angry – Series 2 (2007)".
  23. ^ "Rose d'Or nominations announced". realscreen.com.
  24. ^ "John Walsh nominated for a BAFTA Children's Award for documentary 'My Life: Karate Kids' | London Film School". lfs.org.uk.
  25. ^ "My Life – CBBC – BBC". www.bbc.co.uk.
  26. ^ "My Life: Karate Kids". Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  27. ^ "Unknown" (PDF).[permanent dead link]
  28. ^ "audioBoom / Father's death 'took a chunk out of my heart'". audioBoom. March 2014. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  29. ^ "Toy soldiers – childhood bereavement in the armed forces". Dr Morton's. "good to see this sensitive and crucially important topic being opened up for people to learn from."[self-published source?]
  30. ^ Tullis, Kathryn J. "A quality assessment of children's television programs from the Prix Juenesse International 2012". opensiuc.lib.siu.edu. Retrieved 23 June 2024.[better source needed]
  31. ^ a b Key4Life: the film, Key4Life.org.uk Archive 25 July 2018
  32. ^ "WALSH BROS. LIMITED – Overview (free company information from Companies House)". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk.
  33. ^ "The UK's top 100 TV production companies". 5 September 2012.
  34. ^ a b "Ray Harryhausen and Me… » The Cinema Museum, London".
  35. ^ "Ray Harryhausen: The Centenary". SciFiNow. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  36. ^ "Ray Harryhausen – The Official Website". rayharryhausen.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015.
  37. ^ "Podcasts | The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation".
  38. ^ "Colin Arthur". Visegrad Film Forum. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  39. ^ "John Walsh | The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation".
  40. ^ "Harryhausen Foundation set up inaugural Ray Harryhausen Awards". 29 June 2021.
  41. ^ "ComicCon@Home '21: Ray Harryhausen Foundation announces Animation Film Awards coming in 2022". 24 July 2021.
  42. ^ Walsh, John (15 August 2019). "From Godzilla-size chickens to a stop-motion Aeneid: the lost worlds of Ray Harryhausen". The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  43. ^ "Molly Dineen: Notes from the underground". The Independent. 23 October 2011. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022.
  44. ^ "John Walsh Archives".
  45. ^ "John Walsh". Conservative Home.
  46. ^ "Piecing together the story of Ray Harryhausen". Camden New Journal.
  47. ^ "Harryhausen: The Lost Movies". Titan Books.
  48. ^ "Flash Gordon: The Official Story of the Film by John Walsh". Penguin Random House Canada.
  49. ^ "Escape From New York: The Official Story of the Film Book Announced". ScreenRant. 27 April 2021.
  50. ^ a b "RONDO 19 RESULTS ARE HERE – the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards".
  51. ^ "The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards – Honoring the best in classic horror research, creativity and film preservation". rondoaward.com.
  52. ^ "RONDO 19 RESULTS ARE HERE – the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards".
  53. ^ "HERE ARE THE WINNERS OF THE (GASP!) 18TH ANNUAL RONDO HATTON CLASSIC HORROR AWARDS – The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards". rondoaward.com.
  54. ^ "Winners of the (Gasp!) 17th Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards – The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards". rondoaward.com.
  55. ^ "The Art of Ray Harryhausen: Until 19 November 2017 – Display at Tate Britain | Tate". Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  56. ^ "Monarch, Henry VIII, A John Walsh Film". www.monarchfilm.com.
  57. ^ "The Grierson Trust – Shortlist". griersontrust.org.
  58. ^ "My Life". RadioTimes. 20 May 2023.
  59. ^ "Festival de Télévision de Monte-Carlo". Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  60. ^ "PRIX JEUNESSE Catalogue 2011/2012 - Quality in Children's TV Worldwide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  61. ^ "My Life: Karate Kids". David Tennant News.
  62. ^ "BAFTA Awards Search | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org.
  63. ^ "LFS News:: June 2010". lfs.org.uk.
  64. ^ "Sofa Surfers". RadioTimes. 20 May 2023.
  65. ^ "Sofa Surfers – Groundbreaking BBC Documentary Series on Child Homelessness (print version)". www.whittington.nhs.uk.
  66. ^ "Rose d'Or nominations announced".
  67. ^ "Learning – Don't Make Me Angry". channel4learning.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  68. ^ "Don't Make Me Angry". ClickView.
  69. ^ "BAFTA Awards Search | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org.
  70. ^ "BBC – Press Office – Headhunting the Homeless". bbc.co.uk.
  71. ^ "Video title". OVGuide. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  72. ^ "Ray Harryhausen Movement into Life (1989)". BFI. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016.
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