John Greyson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Greyson
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Greyson in 2014
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John Greyson
March 13, 1960 Nelson, British Columbia, Canada
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| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Film director, film producer, screenwriter, video artist |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Partner(s) | Stephen Andrews |
John Greyson (born March 13, 1960) is a Canadian artist. He is a director, writer, video artist, and producer. He is also known for his work as a political activist. His films often tell stories about diverse characters and experiences. Greyson was part of a group of filmmakers from Toronto in the 1980s. This group was called the Toronto New Wave.
John Greyson has won many awards for his films. Two of his most famous films are Zero Patience (1993) and Lilies (1996). He is also known for speaking his mind and for his activism. This has brought him attention from around the world.
Greyson is also a professor at York University's film school. He teaches about film and video there. He also teaches how to make films and how to edit them.
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Early Life and Beginnings
John Greyson was born in Nelson, British Columbia. His parents were Dorothy F. and Richard I. Greyson. He grew up in London, Ontario. In 1980, he moved to Toronto.
In Toronto, he started writing for magazines. These included The Body Politic and other local arts magazines. He also began working as a video and performance artist.
His Creative Work
Films and TV Shows
John Greyson directed several short films early in his career. These include The Perils of Pedagogy and Kipling Meets the Cowboy. His first full-length movie was Pissoir, released in 1988.
He is most famous for his feature films Zero Patience and Lilies. Other films he directed include Un©ut (1997) and Proteus (2003). Greyson has also directed episodes for TV shows. Some of these are Queer as Folk and Made in Canada.
In 2013, Greyson released Murder in Passing. This was a murder mystery series. It was shown in short 30-second episodes. You could watch it on video screens in the Toronto Transit Commission subway. It was also available as a web series online.
In 2020, he made the short film Prurient. This was part of the Greetings from Isolation project. In 2021, his experimental short film International Dawn Chorus Day was shown for the first time. It won an award for best LGBTQ-themed short film.
Unique Projects
In 2003, Greyson worked with composer David Wall. They created Fig Trees. This was a video opera made for art galleries. It told the story of South African health activist Zackie Achmat.
In 2009, a film version of Fig Trees was released. This film was a full-length documentary opera. It premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival. There, it won an award for Best Documentary.
Awards and Recognition
In 2007, John Greyson received the Bell Award in Video Art. The award committee praised his work. They noted that he often uses video techniques in his films. This blends the look of video with the world of cinema.
The committee also called him a sharp social and political critic. They said he was a leader in the movement for health awareness through video. They also mentioned that he supports and influences many new artists.
A book about his work, The Perils of Pedagogy: The Works of John Greyson, was published in 2013. It includes some of his writings. It also has essays from experts about his career. One expert said Greyson's work shows a special mix of humor and teaching.
Life Outside Work
John Greyson lives with his partner, Stephen Andrews. Stephen Andrews is a Canadian visual artist. They have lived together since the 1990s. They are known as an important couple in Canada's art world. The Art Gallery of Ontario recently showed a collection of Andrews' artwork. His art explores topics like health, observation, and memory.
