Paul Saltzman
Paul Saltzman is a two-time Canadian Emmy Award-winning film and television producer-director with more than 300 films to his credit. The 2008 documentary feature, Prom Night in Mississippi, featuring actor Morgan Freeman, was his most recent film and premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.[1]
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[edit] Early life
He was born in 1943 the son of Percy Saltzman, Canada’s first TV weatherman, and Rose Cohen.[2] After briefly studying Engineering Science, he did congressional civil rights lobbying in Washington, D.C., and in the summer of 1965 he did voter registration work in Mississippi, which would later lead him to go back to the area to explore the concept of prejudice and racism with his first documentary feature film, Prom Night in Mississippi. Paul was married to Deepa Mehta, a noted film director and screenwriter, from 1973 to 1991. He is now married to Patricia Aquino, who served as co-produceer on his Prom Night.. film. They live in the Toronto area.
[edit] The Beatles
In 1968, at the age of 23, he traveled to India for the first time as sound engineer on the National Film Board of Canada's 'Juggernaut' documentary. He studied meditation to recover after his girlfriend had broken up with him, by mail. He learned meditation at the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram in the holy city of Rishikesh, India, and was invited by The Beatles, who coincidentally were visiting and renting the ashram, to join them. While there, he spent time with and photographed the Beatles. His dozens of photos have been judged, “some of the best intimate shots” ever taken of John, Paul, George and Ringo, and have been seen in galleries worldwide.[3]
In 2000, Paul released a book of his photographs, 'The Beatles in Rishikesh,' with Penguin-Putnam; and in 2006 he and his wife, Patricia Aquino, self-published the deluxe Limited Edition box set, 'The Beatles in India'.
One of the most memorable things Saltzman heard during his conversations and life-changing stay with The Beatles, were George Harrison's revealing words: "Like we are The Beatles, after all, aren't we? We have all the money you could ever dream of, we have all the fame you could ever wish for. But it isn't love. It isn't health. It isn't peace inside, is it." [6]
Saltzman will lead a special tour of India called "The Beatles In India," arranged by Bestway Tours and Safaris, to show how India impacted and enlightened The Beatles, and led to the group's most creative musical period.[7]
[edit] Film & TV career
Saltzman began his film and television career at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a researcher, interviewer and on-air host, and then moved to the National Film Board of Canada. He assisted in the launch of a new film format as second-unit director and production manager of the first IMAX film, produced for the Osaka 1970 World's Fair. In 1972, he produced and directed his first film, a half-hour documentary on Bo Diddley.
In 1973, Paul Saltzman founded Sunrise Films Limited. He produced and directed documentaries for the next decade, including the series “Spread Your Wings.” His work included producing, directing, writing, editing, cinematography and sound recording. In 1983, he turned to drama, producing and directing the premiere of “HBO's Family Playhouse” and a special for “American Playhouse.” That year, he co-created and produced the family action-adventure television series “Danger Bay.” The hit CBC-Disney Channel series ran for 6 years and 123 episodes.
Since then he has produced television series like “My Secret Identity,” “Matrix” and “Max Glick,” as well as miniseries and movies of the week. He co-produced the feature film "Map of the Human Heart," an international epic directed by Vincent Ward, starring Jason Scott Lee, Anne Parillaud, Patrick Bergin, John Cusack and Jean Moreau. He also executive produced “Martha, Ruth & Edie” as well as “Sam & Me,” which received an Honorable Mention in competition for the Camera d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Paul is a member of the Director's Guild of Canada and the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. .[8]
[edit] External links
- Paul Saltzman at the Internet Movie Database
- The Beatles in India book website [1]
- Sundance Film festival overview of "Prom Night In Mississippi" [2]
- Academic Film Archive of North America, filmography of Paul Saltzman's work [3]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.promnightinmississippi.com Prom Night In Mississippi website
- ^ http://www.cbc.ca/arts/media/story/2007/01/16/saltzman-death.html CBC News, Jan 17 2007
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/entertainment/music/bobandbeatles.shtml BBC News story on London gallery show
- ^ http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050327/asp/look/story_4519992.asp Calcutta Telegraph, “Long and Winding Road to Rishikesh,” March 27, 2005
- ^ http://www.thebeatlesinindia.com/ Beatles in India book website
- ^ http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050327/asp/look/story_4535123.asp Calcutta Telegraph, Calcutta, India, March 27, 2005.
- ^ http://www.bestway.com/itineraries/beatles_india.php The Beatles In India Tour, Bestway Tours and Safaris website, August 14, 2009
- ^ http://www.promnightinmississippi.com “Prom Night In Mississippi” film website
