John B. Frizzell

After several years writing, directing and co-producing the controversial prime-time documentary series A Different Understanding for TVOntario, John Frizzell joined partners Niv Fichman, Barbara Willis Sweete and Larry Weinstein to found the Canadian production company Rhombus Media, (32 Short Films About Glenn Gould, Red Violin). He left Rhombus in the mid-eighties to pursue a career in writing.

His first script was the Gemini-nominated drama I Love A Man In A Uniform for the CBC's For The Record series. This was followed by several award-winning scripts for Atlantis Film’s Sons And Daughters and a two-year stint as Creator/Head Writer for their first TV series Airwaves. In 1987, Frizzell, (and John B. Frizzell Inc.), acted as Co-Producer and Co-Director of the ground-breaking Canadian film, A Winter Tan, which was nominated for seven Genie Awards, and won for Best Actress (Jackie Burroughs).

"One of Canada's most successful and respected writers for the big and little screens." SCREENTALK Magazine

Frizzell's other writing credits include Getting Married In Buffalo Jump, the final season of the CBC series Material World and the feature films On My Own, (script nominated for an Australian Academy Award, and winner of Best Actress for Judy Davis), and Memory, starring John Hurt and Marthe Keller. He co-wrote, with noted playwright Judith Thompson, the critically-acclaimed and Gemini Award-winning made-for-TV movie Life With Billy, and with Bruce Macdonald and Don McKellar, the theatrical feature Dance Me Outside. He followed this up by acting as Supervising Producer/Head Writer of the first season of The Rez. In 2000, Frizzell's credits include Twitch City, and Lucky Girl. He is currently adapting Susan Swann’s Biggest Modern Woman Of The World for Tryptich Media, and the series Perils for Davis Panzer Productions, (The Highlander).

Although dividing his time between Los Angeles, Toronto and Vancouver, one can still frequently find him at either the Praxis Screenwriting Workshops or the Canadian Film Centre - Frizzell is happy to say that his commitment to first-time and emerging independent Canadian filmmakers is stronger than ever.