Danny is a 2014 National Film Board of Canada documentary film about former Newfoundland and Labrador premier Danny Williams, co-directed by Justin Simms and William D. MacGillivray, and produced by Annette Clarke.[1]

Danny
Film poster
Directed byJustin Simms
William D. MacGillivray
Written byWilliam D. MacGillivray
Produced byAnnette Clarke
CinematographyAndrew MacCormack
Edited byJustin Simms
Music byDarren Fung
Production
company
National Film Board of Canada
Release date
  • September 13, 2014 (2014-09-13) (Atlantic Film Festival)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

The film took three years to produce, combining photos, archival footage, dramatic re-enactments and interviews with Williams, key staffers, his mother Teresita Galway Williams, and Newfoundland celebrities including Greg Malone. The film documents Williams' seven years as premier, including his clash with Prime Minister Stephen Harper over equalization payments and his subsequent Anything But Conservative campaign during the Canadian federal election. Danny also documents Williams' early years, which coincided with Newfoundland's entry into the Canadian Confederation, his career as a criminal lawyer as well as his success in business as the founder of Cable Atlantic, before entering politics. Williams also pokes fun at himself in the film, appearing in a Godfather parody with Newfoundland actor Gordon Pinsent.[1][2][3]

Co-director Simms has stated that their intention was not only to make a biographical documentary, "but to frame it within Newfoundland’s very up and down post-confederation relationship with Canada."[3]

Release

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The 84-minute film premiered in Halifax on September 13, 2014, at the Atlantic Film Festival.[3][4] It then screened at Arts and Culture Centres across Newfoundland and Labrador, starting November 10, 2014.[1] The film was selected to the 2015 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, screening as part of its Big Ideas Series, with Williams in attendance.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Hoffe, Mark (2 December 2014). "Oh, Danny Boy: Danny Doc celebrates the Life and Legend of Danny Williams". The Overcast. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  2. ^ Bailey, Sue (9 November 2014). "New film 'Danny' an intimate look at the life of Danny Williams". CTV News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  3. ^ a b c McGregor, P. (12 September 2014). "Danny Williams documentary premieres at Atlantic Film Festival". CBC News. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Documentary about former premier Danny Williams to premiere at film festival". The Telegram. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  5. ^ Braun, Liz (17 March 2015). "Hot Docs lineup unveiled". Toronto Sun. QMI News Agency. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
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