ROBERT NICHOL - SHORT BIO

Having established himself as an award-winning director and cinematographer, Robert has continued in his capacity as producer and filmmaker with Genesis Communications, a British Columbia company.

Regarded as an independent visionary producer of programming that seeks to enlighten as well as entertain, he brings to the world community new ideas and concepts leading to new approaches in healthy living, new ways of being and finally to the development and evolution of human thought.

Known as a brilliant cinematographer, Robert was also a pioneer in the cinema verite movement. He cut a swath through a variety of film formats desigining by volition, an approach to filmworks that he hoped would be more spontaneous and authentic. His many workings attest to the fact that his love of cinema prevails and his desire to "bring the truth out" is everlasting. Finally he brings to his mission as a filmmaker, unbounded enthusiasm for revelation and new expressions in cinematic form.

As a mentor and teacher, he allows many new talented professionals the opportunities to develop and express through challenging subject matter and breakthrough programming, while at the same time following and encouraging them with his passion for new ways of cinematic artistry.

A veteran filmmaker with 25 productions to his credit, his present motivation in his work, is to encourage the development of a new spiritual consciousness while seeking to bring about a new awareness for humanity's purpose. To this effect, he looks for partnership in any endeavour that finds response on these levels and any broadcaster willing to brave new ideas.

FILMOGRAPHY

• FISHERMAN'S FALL - Director/Cinematographer (NFB)
Theatrical short. NFB Pacific Region
A profile of Roderick Haig Brown, West Coast, writer, magistrate, conservationist; outlining relationships between man and nature.
(800 theatrical bookings and over 9000 screenings.)
AWARDS: Special Jury Prize, Festival Novisad Yugoslavia; Best Overall Production, Canadian Tourist Film Association.

• WHEAT - Writer/Director/Cinematographer (NFB)
A 30 minute short film for The Canadian Wheat Board
An epic cine poem on the story of Canadian wheat from seeding to harvest.
(Over 4000 screenings and 20 telecasts.)
This film became a Canadian Embassy Special project, seen world-wide.
AWARD: Diploma of Merit - Berlin Agricultural Film Festival.

• WILF - Writer/Director/Cinematographer (NFB)
A lyrical documentary on the decline of the family farm.
Music by Joni Mitchell.
(A festival film with over 2000 screenings and 45 telecasts).
When shown to the federal cabinet in Ottawa, a government task force was formed to recommend legislation in aid of small farms, which was subsequently enacted into law. A CBC television special

• NOVEMBER - Director/Cinematographer (NFB)
Theatrical short. (8500 screenings; 740 theatrical bookings.)
AWARDS: Diploma of Merit - Moscow Film Festival; Special Jury Prize - Melbourne Film Festival.

• STRIKER - Co-writer/Director
30 minute film drama involving dramatic and documentary techniques on a young man's conversion. For NFB'S Drama Program.
AWARD: Accepted for Screening at the American Film Festival.

• AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL A.M. KLEIN - Director of Photography
NFB Theatrical Short exploring the poetry of A.M. Klein.
AWARD: Society of Filmmakers - Best Black & White Photography.

• AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL A.M. KLEIN - Director of Photography
NFB Theatrical Short exploring the poetry of A.M. Klein.
AWARD: Society of Filmmakers - Best Black & White Photography.

• SABRE & FOIL - DOP -
Director of Photography
Theatrical short for the NFB on the World Fencing Championships.

• A WAR STORY - Director Of Photography
90 minute docudrama for the NFB on Canadian doctor Ben Wheeler's imprisonment in a Japanese internment camp.
AWARDS: Best Overall Production, Alberta Film Awards; Blue Ribbon - American Film Festival.

• PERCEPTION/STRUCTURE OR FLOW (NFB'S Educational Studio)
Writer/Director/Cinematographer
A 30 minute experimental classroom film on the psychology of perception.

• DO YOUR THING - Writer/Director/Cinematographer/Co-Producer
A 30 minute documentary on public housing for NFB'S Challenge for Change Program

• MAC'S MILL - Writer/Director/Cinematographer (NFB)
30 minute documentary film on a private woodlot and water-powered sawmill in New Brunswick exemplifying forest management and the use of water power as an unused resource in rural areas. (Over 1500 community screenings and 106 telecasts)

• THE MASK AND THE DRUM - Producer/Director/Cinematographer
60 minute docudrama on Northwest Coast Native art and culture, showing at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in the West Coast native exhibit.

• TAIGA - Writer/Director/Cinematographer
30 minute educational film on Canadian social geography north of 60

• NORDEV - Writer/Director/Cinematographer (NFB)
30 minute documentary film exploring the impact of a zink mine on the Inuit of Artic Bay, N.W.T.

• THAT GANG OF HOODLUMS- Writer/Director/Cinematographer/Co-editor
A 30 minute documentary exploring the nature of social action
groups for NFB'S Challenge for Change Program

• VIKING VISITORS TO NORTH AMERICA - Co-Director-Cinematographer
20 minute educational film on Viking visitations in North America

• KRIPALU - Producer/Director/Cinematographer
60 minute documentary on the guru-disciple relationship

• A HAND IN NEED - Co-Producer
30 minute documentary on a senior citizens watchdog group

• ERNIE - Producer/ Supervising Editor
30 minute film on native dancer Ernie Philips

• CLAWS - Producer/Co-Cinematographer/Co-Editor
20 minute educational film on crab fishing in B.C.

• THE BIG SWIM - Producer/Supervising Editor
15 minute short on Vancouver's annual Polar Bear swim.

• CHEWERS OF WOOD - Producer/Cinematographer/Editor
30 minute film for B.C. Forest Service on the Mountain Pine Beetle

• UNDERGROUND RIVER - Producer/Director/Cinematographer
30 minute exhibition film for Parks Canada on the Nakimu Caves in Glacier National Park. Shown at Roger's Pass Interpetive Center.

• GREAT OCEAN GRAND - Producer/Director of Photography
Theatrical Short on Pacific Rim National Park for Parks Canada

• WONDERLAND - Writer/Director/Cinematographer
30 minute documentary on land use for NFB Pacific Region

• COUNTRY WINES - Producer/Director/Editor
60 minute how-to video production on wine-making.

• THE VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL -Producer/Director/Writer
90 minute TV Special for the CTV network.

• as seen on Vision TV and SCN

• STAR DREAMS - Producer/Director/Writer/DOP
Television Special on Crop Circles for Space Channel, as seen on Global TV, SCN, NTV. 

• OUR HOME IN THE STARS - 6 part documentary series on E.T. contact
(Star Dreams is the pilot)

• TOXIC TEARS - documentary pilot for 6 part anti-war series

• DANCING WITH GAIA - 13 part documentary series on the environment

• THE CHANGING FACE OF MEDICINE - series on complementary medicine

• ILLUMINATIONS - documentary series on the ‘new think’

• AES ALIENUM - a documentary series on money