Kathleen Shannon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kathleen Shannon
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| Born | November 11, 1935 |
| Died | January 9, 1998 (aged 62) |
| Occupation | Film director Film producer |
Kathleen Shannon (born November 11, 1935 – died January 9, 1998) was a talented Canadian film director and producer. She is famous for creating Studio D at the National Film Board of Canada. This was the world's first film studio funded by the government that focused entirely on films made by and for women.
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Kathleen Shannon's Film Career
Starting Out in Film
Kathleen Shannon began her film journey when she was just 16 years old. She left high school and started working at Crawley Films in Ottawa. Her first job was organizing music for films.
In 1956, at age 21, Shannon joined the National Film Board (NFB). She worked as an editor, handling sound, music, and pictures. She helped create about 200 films as an editor.
Shannon directed her first film, Goldwood, in 1970. This film was inspired by her own childhood memories. It showed life in the mining towns of northern British Columbia, where her father worked as a mining engineer.
Films About Working Mothers
From 1974 to 1975, Shannon produced and directed a special series of eleven short films. This series was called Working Mothers. The films explored the lives of working mothers across Canada.
Some films in the series focused on one woman's story. One example is Our Dear Sisters, which featured Indigenous filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin. The series was part of the NFB's Challenge for Change Program. This program aimed to use filmmaking to help communities and inspire social change.
Originally, the NFB planned to make only one film. But Shannon and consultant Doris Mae Oulton suggested making several short films instead. They showed these short films to small groups in different communities. This helped convince the NFB that the new format would be a big success. The Working Mothers series became a very important part of the Challenge for Change program. Its success also helped Shannon propose her idea for a women's film studio within the NFB.
Creating Studio D for Women
Kathleen Shannon was the main person behind the idea of Studio D. She worked hard to convince the NFB to create a film unit just for women. This unit would make documentaries from a feminist point of view. These films would be made by women, for women.
Studio D officially opened in 1974. It started in the basement of the NFB building in Montreal. It had a budget of $100,000 and a small team of three women: Shannon, Margaret Pettigrew, and Yuki Yoshida. Shannon became the first executive producer of Studio D. She led the studio for 12 years, stepping down in June 1986.
Shannon explained the five main goals of Studio D in an interview:
- To create job chances for women.
- To offer training for women in filmmaking.
- To provide information that women needed.
- To create a space where women could explore their creativity freely.
- To bring women's perspectives to all social issues.
While she was executive producer, Shannon helped create and produce over 80 films. Some of these films even won Academy Awards! These included I'll Find a Way (1977) and If You Love This Planet (1982).
Kathleen Shannon's Lasting Impact
Studio D closed in 1996 because of less government funding. One of the last films made by Studio D was a documentary about Kathleen Shannon herself. It was called Kathleen Shannon: On Film, Feminism, and Other Dreams. Gerry Rogers directed this film.
The film included interviews with Shannon, along with old footage and photos. In it, Shannon talked about her childhood, getting older, and balancing work and life. She also shared her experiences at the NFB and Studio D.
The NFB also created an award in Shannon's honor. The "Kathleen Shannon Award" is given out every year at the Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival.
Personal Life and Awards
Kathleen Shannon was married twice and had one son. After she retired from filmmaking, she moved to the Kootenays region. There, she opened a guest house for women and worked as a therapist.
In 1986, Shannon received the Order of Canada. This is a very high honor in Canada. She was recognized because Studio D, under her leadership, made many award-winning films. These films were important for society and culture. They made Canada and Studio D famous around the world for their excellent work.
Shannon also received three honorary degrees from universities:
- A Doctor of Laws from Queen's University in 1984.
- A Doctor of Letters from York University in 1996.
- A Doctor of Humane Letters from Mount Saint Vincent University in 1997.
Kathleen Shannon passed away on January 9, 1998, at the age of 62. She had been diagnosed with lung cancer just two weeks before. She died during surgery in Kelowna, British Columbia.
