John Spotton

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.

Known For

Acting

Production

1985

Pitchmen

as

1984

Abortion: Stories from North and South

as

1958

Pilgrimage

as

1979

Viking Visitors to North America

as

1988

Peep and the Big Wide World

as

1983

Home Feeling: Struggle for a Community

as

1983

Prisoners of Debt: Inside the Global Banking Crisis

as

1985

Final Offer

as

1983

Thanks for the Ride

as

Crew

Directing

1965

Buster Keaton Rides Again

as

1967

Memorandum

as

1966

Never a Backward Step

as

1979

A Pinto for the Prince

as