ROBERT ROONEY : Writer, producer, director.
More than 35 years experience in writing, directing and producing.
Documentaries include The Great Granny Revolution, and Condoms, Fish & Circus Tricks.
Supervising Producer for Laughing Dog Plays' BUFFALO TRACKS, the Aboriginal People's Television Network's top-rated talk show.
Since 1998 has been director of electronic production for Poirier Communications, an Aboriginal -owned advertising agency serving a wide range of government clients. All work is produced in English, French and Inuktitut.
Wrote and staged MANDELA AND THE CHILDREN AT SKYDOME which went live to air on CBC, Newsworld, RDI and SRC in Canada and via satellite to SABC1 in South Africa. Directed (3-cameras live to tape) and co-produced THE GREAT LAW, a 20-part, 1-hour TV series on the Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy, aired on Vision TV in 1996. Writer, editor and associate producer for THE WOMAN WHO LOST HER VIEW, (version français LA DAME ET SON PONT) &fract12;-hour television documentary. Directed and co-wrote SAFIKA, a 10-minute dramatic short that aired in Canada on MuchMusic and Vision TV and in South Africa on SABC.
Executive Producer of X MARKS THE SPOT, a CD for South African voter education featuring Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon, Hugh Masekela, the Neville Brothers, Youssou N'Dour and 10 others.
Co-produced and directed both the CONCERT FOR INDIGENOUS RESTORATION, featuring Graham Greene, Daniel Lanois, Murray McLaughlin, Raoul Trujillo Loreena McKennitt and Gary Farmer, and MAYIBUY' iAFRICA, a celebration for the release of Nelson Mandela with 120 artists from stage, screen and the recording industry, both at the Royal Alexandra Theatre and both aired on MuchMusic's BIG TICKET SERIES.
Co-produced THE NATIONAL ELECTION FOR THE RIGHTS OF YOUTH for UNICEF and Elections Canada. Produced THE MATTHIEU DA COSTA AWARDS and the YOUTH AGAINST RACISM VIDEO AWARDS for Dept. of Canadian Heritage.
Staged the welcoming ceremonies for Mr. Mandela's 1990 visit to Toronto. Also staged events for other notable South Africans including Walter and Albertina Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada and Albie Sachs. Staged and produced the release of THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON ABORIGINAL PEOPLES' REPORT at Museum of Civilization and co-ordinated live broadcast by RDI and CPAC.
Has written and directed numerous government and corporate videos and psas.
Completed studies in film directing with Bruce Beresford on BLACK ROBE and Allan King on ROAD TO AVONLEA with bursaries from the Canada Council and the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.
Wrote the feature film screenplay SETLHABI!.
Artistic Director of the 1994 CANSA (Canada/South Africa) Festival.
Numerous productions, as writer, director and producer, for CBC Radio Drama including IT HASN'T HIT ME YET, IT'S NOT A COUNTRY IT'S WINTER, EMERGENCY CONTINUED, SOMETHING IN THE AIR, TALK AT WILL, MOOSE MEAT AND WILD RICE, HERCULES DOWN, MOO, and MARY ANN SHADD.
Has directed in theatres across Canada and the United States. Credits include; the US Premiere of TÊTE À TÊTE, starring José Ferrer and Constance Cummings at the Berkshire Theatre Festival, THE JAIL DIARY OF ALBIE SACHS, featuring R. H. Thomson, SOMETHING IN THE AIR, by Teatro ICTUS de Santiago, GONE THE BURNING SUN, by Ken Mitchell, which toured the People's Republic of China and NIGHT OF THE IGUANA by Tennessee Williams (Perseverance Theatre, Juneau, Alaska).
Former Artistic Director of Toronto Workshop Productions. Also noted for introducing Toronto audiences to acclaimed South African productions of ASINAMALI!, WOZA ALBERT! and BOPHA!
Other stage productions include CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF by Tennessee Williams and Tomson Highway's THE REZ SISTERS (Theatre Aquarius), SURVIVAL!, featuring a cast of First Nations Canadians and South African exiles (CANSA Festival), Athol Fugard's MY CHILDREN! MY AFRICA!, featuring George Seremba (MCMA Collective and Theatre Aquarius) and the Dora Award-winning IN SEARCH OF DRAGON'S MOUNTAIN (Young People's Theatre).
Has worked on the development of numerous new stage plays and was a regular member of the Banff School of Fine Arts Playwrights' Colony, as a director/dramaturg, in the 1980s. Taught courses in acting, directing and scriptwriting at the National Screen Institute's summer film camp, Brock University and Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.
Education: The Drama Centre, London, England (1968-71)
Affiliations: DOC Canadian Actors' Equity Association
For further information see Canadian Who's Who.
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