Learning on ScreenMichael Clarke
Profile
- Born
- 16 May 1919
- Death
- July 2005
- Dates
- 1948-1984
- Role
- Director; Camera
- Newsreels / Cinemagazines
- Mining Review; Cinegazette
- Search
- Search for all stories where Michael Clarke is credited
Career
Michael Clarke was born on 16th May 1919 at Antrobus in Cheshire. He read Classics and English Literature at Magdalene College, Cambridge before joining up and serving as a tank gunnery instructor during World War Two.
During the war, he was offered a job by documentary film-maker Paul Rotha [qv], an offer which he accepted in place of returning to university on demobilisation. Clarke joined Rotha’s Films of Fact Ltd [qv] as an assistant film editor, later assistant director, woking on films for the government, United Nations and other agencies. When Films of Fact folded in 1948, he joined the DATA [qv] co-operative, learning the trade as film editor and trainee director. His credits during this period include ‘TURN OF THE TIDE’ in Mining Review 1st Year No.8 of April 1948, and ‘SAFETY FACTOR’ in Mining Review 3rd Year No.8 of April 1950, both early directing credits.
Clarke left Data for British Transport Films [qv] at the invitation of Edgar Anstey [qv], in 1950. There he was first film director, writing and directing such films as WORK IN PROGRESS and TRACK MAINTENANCE. He also continued his cinemagazine career, directing such stories as ‘OVERHAUL AT ACTON’ in Cinegazette No.10 and ‘SCHOOL FOR SERVICE’ in No.11, 1951. After a brief spell at Film Centre [qv] in 1952, Clarke returned to BTF where he remained until he wrote and directed ‘THE WORLD AND OURSELVES’ for the Iraq Petroleum Company between 1952 and 1955.
For the next four years, Clarke was film director for the Shell Film Unit [qv]. He was then appointed Producer of Shell Film Unit from 1960 to 1963 and concurrently, producer of the new film unit for Associated Electrical Industries. During the 1960s, he wrote and or produced films for shell, BP, ICI, Unilever, AEI and Barclay’s Bank. This period marked a high point in documentary film production, and also saw Clarke founding Viewpoint Productions Ltd., and becoming Senior tutor and head of production at the new Department of Film and Television, Royal College of Art. This appointment saw the beginning too of his association with the BUFVC (then the British Universities Film Council).
Clarke continued his career in academia through his appointment as the first Director of the University of London Audio-Visual Centre in 1968. He stayed there for the next 16 years, building up an impressive collection of audio visual materials. He served on a number of academic boards, and became a Commissioning Editor for the Times Higher Education Supplement. In 1984, Clarke retired from the University of London, but continued to work, writing and producing, giving workshops, and as Advisor to the Director General, World Health Organisation.
Michael Clarke died suddenly in July 2005, at the age of 86.
During the war, he was offered a job by documentary film-maker Paul Rotha [qv], an offer which he accepted in place of returning to university on demobilisation. Clarke joined Rotha’s Films of Fact Ltd [qv] as an assistant film editor, later assistant director, woking on films for the government, United Nations and other agencies. When Films of Fact folded in 1948, he joined the DATA [qv] co-operative, learning the trade as film editor and trainee director. His credits during this period include ‘TURN OF THE TIDE’ in Mining Review 1st Year No.8 of April 1948, and ‘SAFETY FACTOR’ in Mining Review 3rd Year No.8 of April 1950, both early directing credits.
Clarke left Data for British Transport Films [qv] at the invitation of Edgar Anstey [qv], in 1950. There he was first film director, writing and directing such films as WORK IN PROGRESS and TRACK MAINTENANCE. He also continued his cinemagazine career, directing such stories as ‘OVERHAUL AT ACTON’ in Cinegazette No.10 and ‘SCHOOL FOR SERVICE’ in No.11, 1951. After a brief spell at Film Centre [qv] in 1952, Clarke returned to BTF where he remained until he wrote and directed ‘THE WORLD AND OURSELVES’ for the Iraq Petroleum Company between 1952 and 1955.
For the next four years, Clarke was film director for the Shell Film Unit [qv]. He was then appointed Producer of Shell Film Unit from 1960 to 1963 and concurrently, producer of the new film unit for Associated Electrical Industries. During the 1960s, he wrote and or produced films for shell, BP, ICI, Unilever, AEI and Barclay’s Bank. This period marked a high point in documentary film production, and also saw Clarke founding Viewpoint Productions Ltd., and becoming Senior tutor and head of production at the new Department of Film and Television, Royal College of Art. This appointment saw the beginning too of his association with the BUFVC (then the British Universities Film Council).
Clarke continued his career in academia through his appointment as the first Director of the University of London Audio-Visual Centre in 1968. He stayed there for the next 16 years, building up an impressive collection of audio visual materials. He served on a number of academic boards, and became a Commissioning Editor for the Times Higher Education Supplement. In 1984, Clarke retired from the University of London, but continued to work, writing and producing, giving workshops, and as Advisor to the Director General, World Health Organisation.
Michael Clarke died suddenly in July 2005, at the age of 86.
Sources
Profile in Viewfinder, No.62, March 2006: NoS Number 334746; Mining Review 1st Year Number 8; Date released April 1948: NoS Number 345652; Mining Review 3rd Year Number 8; Date released April 1950: NoS Number 349273; Cinegazette Number 10; Date released 1951: NoS Number 349276; Cinegazette Number 11; Date released 1951.
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