Wikipedia

Damian Lee

For the American basketball player, see Damion Lee.

Damian Lee (born 1950) is a Canadian film director and producer. A former competitive skier, he transitioned to televised sports events, and later to feature films. A fixture of low-budget genre movies during much of the 1980s and 1990s, Lee re-emerged as a director of more dramatic fare in the mid-2000s.

Damian Lee
NationalityCanadian
Alma materUniversity of Guelph
Occupation(s)Film director and producer
Years active1976–present
SpouseLara Daans

Sports

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Competitive

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Lee was a competitive skier at the national and continental level. A product of the Don Valley Racers program in Toronto,[1] he won the 1968 Southern Ontario Junior Championship in the giant slalom category.[2] He later turned pro and spent the 1974–75 season on the World Pro Skiing tour, a primarily U.S.-based competition that was independent from the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup, as part of a team representing Blue Mountain.[3][4] He appeared in the 1975 World Professional Skiing Championship, but did not advance past the qualifications.[5]

Lee also discovered a love for boxing at a young age, and claims to have shared the ring with several talented fighters, most notably future world champion Trevor Berbick in his native Jamaica. He also tried his hand at bare knuckle combat. However, by his own admission, his prospects as a prize fighter were limited.[6]

Sports promotion and television

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Lee transitioned to event organizing with 1976's Great Canadian Race, a cross country challenge opened to everyone and every type of vehicles, with some of the proceeds given to charity.[7] The format that was originally developed with a film adaptation in mind. Although that did not immediately happen, Lee's sports promotions continued and he created the company Rose & Ruby Productions in 1977, under the banner of which he would produce most of his work until 1993. In 1978, he was named Canadian scout the novelty "World Walk-On Heavyweight Boxing Championship", an everyman boxing tournament inspired by Rocky, although the event's U.S. promoter later failed to come up with the requisite financial guarantees.[8][9] Also that year, Lee was named as a founding partner in the Toronto Grizzlies, a minor league gridiron football team that played in the Mid-Atlantic Football Conference.[10]

With fellow producer/director David Mitchell, who would remain his partner for much of Rose & Ruby's history, Lee quickly managed to turn his small-time sports events into a television commodity. His programming proved financially attractive to commercial network CTV thanks to its anonymous participants and aggressive integration of corporate sponsors, whose product was sometimes the centerpoint of the competition.[11] He also produced segments for Yesterday in the CFL, a half-time retrospective program hosted by Johnny Esaw that reconnected with the league's former stars. Lee claims credit for some 300 episodes of sports television programming over his career.[12] He also dabbled in radio, producing the audio documentary Zen and the Art of Skiing.[13] In 1981, Lee applied for a Canadian pay TV licence to launch a sports specialty channel under the auspices of CBR Sports Communications, a company backed by Comstock International's Charles Rathgeb.[14][15] His name was touted for another bid two years later, but the project did not materialize.[16]

Feature films

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In parallel with his early TV career, Lee briefly moonlighted in adult films.[17] He moved into mainstream fiction in 1983 with the support of Citytv boss Moses Znaimer, who pitched in some money for his first television film, Copper Mountain, best known for boasting an early Jim Carrey leading role.[18] This inconsequential effort paved the way for a career as one of Canada's main purveyors of low budget genre films. Perhaps the best regarded of these are a trilogy of underground boxing films, the second of which he directed, and which garnered a modicum of respect in some critical circles.[19] Rose & Ruby also produced two horror features outsourced from the U.S. in collaboration with Roger Corman and Carolco.[20] In the first half of the 1990s, Lee also entered a brief partnership with Menahem Golan's financially shaky 21st Century Film Corporation.[21]

Around 1993, he abandoned the Rose & Ruby imprint to focus on a newer entity called Richmond House, aligning himself with U.S.-based Indian producer Ashok Amritraj's Amritraj Entertainment.[22] Among Lee's productions with Amritraj was a series of vehicles for Canadian martial artist/actor Jeff Wincott which, while severely criticized for their lack of polish, earned some notice for tackling real world issues that foreshadowed the director's more recent efforts.[23][24] In 1996, Lee merged Richmond House with Canadian distributor United Multimedia to form the publicly traded Noble House Communications.[25] He made just one film and in 1997 left the company, which proved underfunded and soon fell into limbo.[26][27]

In 1997, Lee founded another company called Stone Canyon to promote a batch of higher budgeted films for such stars as Dolph Lundgren and Steven Seagal.[22] In 1998, he also joined the short-lived Annex Entertainment, a new Toronto company started by former Paragon Entertainment boss Richard Borchiver and real estate mogul Paul Wynn.[28] At Annex, Lee maintained his association with Amritraj and his partner Andrew Stevens, providing production services for the pair's Phoenician Entertainment label. However, that relationship was damaged when Lee lobbied to direct 2000's Agent Red, and delivered a cut that was deemed unreleasable, requiring substantial reshoots.[29] Lee seemingly rebounded when New Cinema Partners, a Nevada-based corporation with Canadian ties, announced its acquisition of Stone Canyon in 2000. He was named president of NCP but was unsuccessful in raising funding for the embattled company, and departed within the next year.[22][30][31] Further attempts to align with Ami Artzi's Milestone Media Group did not pan out either.[32]

Following a multiyear release hiatus, Lee resurfaced for good around 2005 with a new version of his old company Noble House, now called Noble House Entertainment, operated with Lowell Conn and Canadian industry veteran Julian Grant. Lee professed his willingness to stick to more prestigious and artistically oriented projects from then on.[27][33] He also formed a partnership with Paul Wynn, his former backer at Annex, and controversial American producer Julius Nasso, overseeing the construction of Nasso's Staten Island film studio while the latter was serving time for his extortion attempt on Steven Seagal.[34][35] A trio of early 2010s pictures were produced by longtime Canadian acquaintances Gary Howsam and Bill Marks, the latter of which had worked for him in the 1990s.[36][37]

Personal life

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Lee attended the University of Guelph in Ontario, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1970.[22]

The director met Canadian actress Lara Daans during the 1997 American Film Market, and the two were married later in the same year.[38] He had a daughter with Daans in 2002.[39] Zion Forrest Lee, a son from a previous relationship, has been active in experimental music and film, sometimes teaming up with his father.[40]

During his competitive skiing years, Lee was director of the Inner City Adventures program, which offered mountain sports trips for underprivileged inner city youths.[41] Lee has supported some philanthropic causes, including Kids, Cops and Computers, a computer literacy program started by the Merry Go Round Police Foundation and directed at underprivileged children of the Toronto area.[42] As of 2024, he sat on the foundation's board of directors.[43]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Credited as Notes
Director Writer Producer
1978 Hot Assets Yes Yes Yes
1979 Baby Love and Beau Yes Yes Yes
1984 Reno and the Doc No Yes No
1985 Space Rage No No Yes Associate producer
1986 Loose Ends No No Yes Also known as Screwball Academy
Busted Up No Yes Yes
1987 Circle Man Yes Yes Yes Also known as Last Man Standing
City of Shadows No Yes Yes
1988 Watchers No Yes Yes
1989 Food of the Gods II Yes No Yes Also known as Gnaw: Food of the Gods II
Thunderground No Yes Yes
1990 The Miles Ahead No Yes Yes Also known as Hot Sneakers
Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe Yes Yes Yes
Ski School Yes No Yes
1991 Deadly Descent Yes Yes Yes
1992 Baby on Board No Yes Yes
1993 Deadly Heroes No Yes Yes
Scorned No No Yes Also known as A Woman Scorned
1994 Death Wish V No No Yes
Fun No No Yes Co-producer
National Lampoon's Last Resort No Yes Yes
The Killing Machine No Yes Yes Also known as The Killing Man
Took possessory credit "a Damian Lee picture"
1995 The Donor Yes No Yes
Law of the Jungle Yes Yes Yes
No Exit Yes Yes Yes
1996 Electra No Yes Yes Executive producer
When the Bullet Hits the Bone Yes Yes Yes
Specimen No No Yes
Terminal Rush Yes No Yes
Moving Target Yes No Yes
1997 Virus No No Yes
Inner Action Yes Yes Yes
1998 Papertrail Yes Yes Yes
Jungle Boy No Yes Yes
1999 Woman Wanted No No Yes
Meet Prince Charming No No Yes
2000 Jill Rips No No Yes
Mercy No No Yes
Agent Red Yes Yes Yes
2001 One Eyed King No No Yes
2007 The Poet Yes No Yes Also known as Hearts of War
2008 Never Cry Werewolf No Script consultant No
2011 Sacrifice Yes Yes No
2012 A Dark Truth Yes Yes No
2013 Hit It Yes Yes No
Breakout Yes Yes No
2014 A Fighting Man Yes Yes No
2016 Home Invasion No No Yes

Television

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Year Title Credited as Notes
Director Writer Producer
1983 Copper Mountain No Yes Yes Also known as
Copper Mountain: A Club Med Experience
1998 Merlin: The Quest Begins No No Yes
2007 King of Sorrow Yes Yes Yes
2014–15 When Calls the Heart No No Yes Supervising producer
14 episodes
2016 Flower Shop Mysteries: Mum's The Word No No Yes Executive producer
Also known as Killer Arrangement
Ice Girls Yes Yes No

References

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  1. ^ "Area skiers named to Zone 'A' team". The Owen Sound Sun-Times. January 17, 1967. p. 12  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  2. ^ Kernaghan, Jim (January 22, 1968). "Pair find road to skiing success is painful". The Toronto Daily Star. p. 11  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  3. ^ "Monday". The Toronto Star. January 18, 1975. p. 32  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  4. ^ Coates, Len (November 27, 1975). "Skiing cutbacks confirmed". The Toronto Star. p. C5  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  5. ^ "Odermatt leads in skiing". The Expositor. Brandford. The Canadian Press. March 10, 1975. p. 13  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  6. ^ Izay, Ryan (2017). "Exclusive Interview: Damian Lee, Director of Breakout". rizayreviews.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  7. ^ McNenly, Pat (June 11, 1976). "Big money behind all the fun of the Great Canadian Race". The Toronto Star. p. E13  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  8. ^ Waters, Bob (March 16, 1978). "Making Rocky's dream come true". Newsday. p. 181  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  9. ^ Goldstein, Alan (April 25, 1978). "Another Day". The Sun. Baltimore. p. C7, C10  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  10. ^ Keller, Arlie (10 June 1978). "Grizzlies will graduate to pro loop next year". The Toronto Star. p. B4  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  11. ^ Laverty, Gene (13 June 1980). "Another 'ordinary people' event". Calgary Herald/TV Times. p. 50  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  12. ^ Offering Circular Supplement: Audition Showdown (Form 253G2), Washington: United States Securities and Exchange Commission, July 10, 2020
  13. ^ "FM: Saturday". The Montreal Star. April 24, 1976. p. C-16  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  14. ^ "Pay TV on stream, call for comment". Cinema Canada. No. 77. Montreal: Canadian Society of Cinematographers. September 1981. pp. 3, 17.
  15. ^ "Charles Rathgeb". federalcorporation.ca. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  16. ^ McKee, Ken (8 May 1983). "Sportsline hosts bids for pay TV". The Toronto Star. p. E3  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  17. ^ West, Ashley (November 13, 2016). "The Ballad of Zachary and Molly: The Untold Story of Zachary Strong/Youngblood". therialtoreport.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  18. ^ Knelman, Martin (2000). Jim Carrey : The Joker is Wild. Buffalo: Firefly Books. pp. 66–68. ISBN 1552095355.
  19. ^ Lor. (1991) [July 6, 1988]. Variety's Film Reviews 1987–1988. Vol. 20. New Providence: R.R. Bowker. p. n/a. ISBN 0835226670.
  20. ^ Brunet, Robin (January 1989). "Watchers: Universal releases northwoods monster saga by Dean R. Koontz". CineFantastique. Vol. 19, no. 1–2. Forest Park: Clarke, Frederick S. p. 30. ISSN 0145-6032.
  21. ^ Honeycutt, Kirk (14 February 1993). "'Death Wish V', fantasies in 21st Century's plans". The Hollywood Reporter. p. C-2  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) – via The Oakland Tribune.
  22. ^ a b c d General Form for Registration of Securities: New Cinema Partners (Form 10SB12G), Washington: United States Securities and Exchange Commission, July 15, 2000
  23. ^ Kermode, Mark (February 1995). "Killing Machine". Sight and Sound. Vol. 5 (new series), no. 2. London: British Film Institute. p. 59.
  24. ^ "Review: When the Bullet Hits the bone". TV Guide. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  25. ^ Armstrong, Mary Ellen (October 21, 1996). "Noble House hits the TSE". Playback. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  26. ^ Hoffman, Andy (November 3, 1997). "Independent, Noble spawn Mission". Playback. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  27. ^ a b "Reformed Noble House aims for $15M Chopin pic". Playback. March 28, 2005. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  28. ^ Hoffman, Andy (July 13, 1998). "Paragon's Borchiver opens Annex Ent". Playback. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  29. ^ "Agent Red". dolph-ultimate.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2023.
  30. ^ "New Cinema Partners Names Lee Chairman". National Post. June 13, 2000. p. C2  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  31. ^ various. "'Legion' press releases". Retrieved April 28, 2024 – via dolph-ultimate.com.
  32. ^ Tavares, Elspeth (October 2002). "MIFED Product Guide 2002". The Business of Film. London. p. 113. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  33. ^ Management Discussion and Analysis (6-K Exhibit), Washington: United States Securities and Exchange Commission, November 24, 2005
  34. ^ Humphreys, Adrian (September 26, 2008). "Producer hopes for Hollywood ending". National Post. p. A3  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  35. ^ Robertson, Campbell (August 29, 2008). "A Producer Is Back on Location and Ready to Celebrate". New York Times. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  36. ^ "A Dark Truth – Final Press Notes" (Press release). Los Angeles: Magnolia Pictures. GS Marketing Group. November 13, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  37. ^ Vlessing, Etan (February 13, 2013). "Damian Lee, Gary Howsam and Bill Marks reteam on A Fighting Man". Playback. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  38. ^ Schiff, Laura (May 1998). "Attractions Fatale". Femme Fatales. Vol. 6, no. 12. Forest Park: Clarke, Frederick S. p. 7.
  39. ^ "Births". The Toronto Star. November 8, 2002. p. B15  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  40. ^ Bielski, Zosia (August 25, 2007). "BoyTech flexing their muscles". National Post. p. A15  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  41. ^ Coates, Len (November 11, 1975). "Hotdoggers favor new skiing movie". The Toronto Star. p. C4  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  42. ^ "Inspiration Night 2014". National Post. November 8, 2014. p. A16  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  43. ^ "Board of Directors". comkids.ca. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
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