Mischa Scorer
Mischa Scorer was a British documentary film-maker.
Biography
Mischa Scorer was educated at Westminster School and Jesus College, Oxford. He worked as producer for BBC Television from 1965 to 1979, first in the Religious Broadcasting Department where he made such documentaries as "Padre Pio" for which he won the first prize in the WACC Monte Carlo Film Festival and in 1969 "The Vatican", the first ever major televised documentary about the Vatican.In 1970 he moved to the celebrated BBC Documentary Department under Richard Cawston where he made a number of films in the series "One Pair of Eyes", two films about the KGB and its operations, and four films in the groundbreaking series "The Long Search" with Ron Eyre about the great religions of the world.
In 1981 he became one of the founders of Antelope Films in London, one of the first British independent television production companies, writing and directing four films in the classic 13-part series "Heart of the Dragon" about China. For the opening programme in the series "Remembering" he won an International Emmy. He went on to make two films about Venice with Gore Vidal "Vidal in Venice". From 1986 to 1988 he produced and directed a seven-part series, "Testament", for Channel Four about the history of the Bible, with John Romer.
In 1989 Scorer set up his own production company, Scorer Associates. He produced and directed for the BBC a documentary, Songs of Experience, to mark the 85th birthday of the composer Sir Michael Tippett. During the 1990s he made a number of documentaries in the BBC's "Omnibus" series, including films with Jung Chang, Isabel Allende, Joshua Bell, András Schiff, Roland Petit and Zizi Jeanmaire.
In 2003 he wrote and directed "Degas and the Dance" for PBS “Great Performances” series, a film in HD about the painter Edgar Degas and his obsession with dancers. This was co-produced with the BBC, Arte and NHK and the film won him a Peabody Award.
In 2006 Scorer established The Masterclass Media Foundation, a non-profit organisation devoted to filming and recording the world's great musicians giving masterclasses and teaching.
Filmography
Amongst more than 150 documentary films, Mischa Scorer's credits include:- Searching for Peace in the Middle East
One hour film in High Definition about Edgar Degas and his paintings of dancers.
Winner of 2003 Peabody Award; Cine Golden Eagle Award 2004; Grand Prix de L’Image, Fifart 2005.Zizi Je T’Aime
A profile of Roland Petit the French choreographer and his wife Zizi Jeanmaire, the legendary singer and dancer. The Wanderer A film about Schubert with András Schiff Degas – The Old Man Mad About Art
A film presented by Richard Kendall about the extraordinary late paintings of Degas Messiah from Scratch Three thousand voices sing Handel's Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall Listen, Paula A film about Isabel Allende and the illness and death of her daughter Paula.
Winner of Golden Spire Award for Best TV Arts Programme, San Francisco Film Festival 1996.Joshua Bell
A profile of the acclaimed young American violinist.
Winner of CableAce Award 1997Wild Swans
A film about the writing of Jung Chang's best-selling book. Brendel on Beethoven
Alfred Brendel talking about and playing Beethoven Sonatas Songs of Experience – Michael Tippett at 85
A 65-minute film to mark the birthday of one of Britain's greatest composers. A Hundred Acres
Twenty-six weekly wildlife films about a small area of Wales Testament
A seven-part series with John Romer on the history of the bible The Heart of the Dragon
A 13-part documentary series on China
Winner of International Emmy for writing and directing the opening episode "Remembering"The Haunt of Man
Documentary exploring worldwide environmental problems. The Long Search
A 13-part documentary series about the world's great religions
- The Seven Black Years
A film in the series "One Pair of Eyes" with the composer Sir Michael Tippett The Vatican
- ''Padre Pio''