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Biography
Over the course of his 30-year-long career at the NFB (1955–1987), Dennis Sawyer produced a large body of work, not only as a director (12 titles) and producer (90 titles) but also as an editor (150 titles), sound technician (4 titles) and cast member (1 title). He started out as a sound technician and film editor in 1955, and his first credit as a director came in 1970. He produced his last film in 1987. His impressive and versatile career saw Sawyer working on a range of films that dealt with a variety of topics, from the Canada Vignettes series and the Fogo Island project to films about Latin America or Africa. Sawyer also directed the timeless depictions of the first four editions of the Arctic Winter Games (from 1970 to 1976), which featured many sports typically included in Olympic competitions but with a specific focus on Indigenous sports.
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Their works
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War II: Total War
Editor
event 1965
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A film record, suitable for schools, of the war years of 1939 to 1945, showing major developments from the rise of Nazism in Germany to the first atomic bomb at Hiroshima. It does not minimize the brutality of war, but shows how this "total war," unlike wars of the past that engaged only the men of the fighting front, involved in varying degree almost every individual of every nation.
Sons of Haji Omar
Producer
event 1978
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Haji Omar and his three sons belong to the Lakankhel, a Pashtoon tribal group in northeastern Afghanistan. The film focuses on his family: Haji Omar, the patriarch; Anwar, the eldest, his father's favorite, a pastoralist and expert horseman; Jannat Gul, cultivator and ambitious rebel; and Ismail, the youngest, attending school with a view to a job as a government official.
A Wedding and Party
Editor
event 1967
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In this short film, we witness two Fogo Island festivities: a Roman Catholic wedding in Joe Batts Arm South and a party with music and dancing in Joe Batts Arm North.
The Mercer Family
Editor
event 1967
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The Mercer family discusses the pressures that force the young people to leave Fogo Island and their families.
A Woman's Place
Editor
event 1967
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Two women discuss the roles and problems of women, education, and shopping on Fogo Island.
Treasure Island
Assistant Editor
event 1950 star_border 6.6
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Enchanted by the idea of locating treasure buried by Captain Flint, Squire Trelawney, Dr. Livesey and Jim Hawkins charter a sailing voyage to a Caribbean island. Unfortunately, a large number of Flint's old pirate crew are aboard the ship, including Long John Silver.
Robert Baldwin: A Matter Of Principle
Editor
event 1961
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This film is a reconstruction of Robert Baldwin’s involvement in the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837. Though bound to the cause of constitutional reform by principle, Baldwin’s heart was with the rebels and in the midst of armed revolt, he withdrew to fight a lonely battle with himself.
Canada Vignettes: Wop May
Producer
event 1979 star_border 5
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This short animated film is about Wop May, one of Canada's leading bush pilots in the 1920s.
Sable Island
Editor
event 1956
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This short documentary profiles the uniquely cloistered wildlife of Sable Island, known as the “Atlantic graveyard” due to its inhospitable conditions. Barren sands and endless gales proved too much for human settlement on this island off the coast of Nova Scotia. Only a small group of researchers and maintenance people occupy the island; horses run wild, seals and birds multiply profusely, and the Ipswich sparrow has found a fruitful breeding ground for itself. Sable Island provides a perfect opportunity to observe nature in an untouched, organic laboratory.
When I Go - That's It!
Director
event 1972
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Ex-fisherman Billy Crane in Brampton, Ontario, at an industrial job with regular hours. Here he tells why he left Fogo Island and says he has no regrets. (See also Billy Crane Moves Away.)
Billy Crane Moves Away
Editor
event 1967
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This short documentary features Newfoundland fisherman Billy Crane, who speaks frankly on the state of the inshore fishery and how the lack of government support has contributed to the industry’s downfall. He is being forced to leave home to seek employment in Toronto. This film was made with the Challenge for Change program.
McGraths at Home and Fishing
Editor
event 1967
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A discussion about Fogo Island fishing, with some criticisms of the longliners.
The Founding of the Co-operatives
Editor
event 1967
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A record of the founding meeting of the Fogo Island Ship Building and Producer Co-operative.
Andrew Britt at Shoal Bay
Editor
event 1967
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By using film as a means of communication, the people of Fogo Island, Newfoundland, voice some of their daily concerns. This film discusses fishermen's cooperation, the need for a fish plant, and adult education.
The Merchant and the Teacher
Editor
event 1967
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This short film presents a discussion about the role of merchants on Fogo Island, and of the feasibility of cooperatives.
The Songs of Chris Cobb
Editor
event 1967
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By using film as a means of communication, the people of Fogo Island, Newfoundland, voice some of their daily concerns. In this film, Islander Chris Cobb sings his own songs and recites his poems about the old days and the recent changes on Fogo.
Jim Decker Builds a Longliner
Editor
event 1967
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By using film as a catalyst for change, the people of Fogo Island, Newfoundland, voice some of their daily concerns. This film shows how one of the Islanders built a longliner (a fishing boat using long lines) with the help of his friends, overcoming the problems of financing and the lack of tools and government support.
Citizen Discussions
Editor
event 1967
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By using film as a means of communication, the people of Fogo Island, Newfoundland, voice some of their concerns. This film discusses efforts to obtain provincial support for the United Maritimes Fisheries Co-op to run the Seldom fish plant, and comments on the subsequent decision by the Newfoundland government in favour of the Yellow Fish Company.
Thoughts on Fogo and Norway
Editor
event 1967
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A discussion on the methods of fishing, marketing, organization and welfare in Norway, with reference to the situation on Fogo Island.
The Story of the Up Top
Editor
event 1967
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The story of how one Fogo Island family managed to raise an old passenger boat from where it had been sitting for four years, and to renovate it for use as a fishing boat, despite lack of capital and government aid.
Some Problems of Fogo
Editor
event 1967
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By using film as a means of communication, the people of Fogo Island, Newfoundland, voice some of their daily concerns and thoughts about the future. Some of the problems discussed are the fishermen's unions, the fish plant, able-bodied men on welfare, the problems of education, and the issue of the consolidation of schools.
Joe Kinsella on Education
Editor
event 1967
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Joe Kinsella talks about the problem of young people leaving Fogo Island after they finish their education.
Dan Roberts on Fishing
Editor
event 1967
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Through the use of film as a means of communication, the people of Fogo Island, Newfoundland, voice some of their daily concerns. This film looks at the success of the longliner and the problems encountered in obtaining and running it.
William Wells Talks About The Island
Editor
event 1967
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William Wells defends the viability of Fogo Island and expresses his apprehension about the exodus of young people.
Fishermen's Meeting
Editor
event 1967
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By using film as a means of communication, the people of Fogo Island, Newfoundland, voice some of their daily concerns. In this film, some of the problems discussed are the lack of fish and the inability to market any species but cod.
Brian Earle on Merchants and Welfare
Editor
event 1967
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A look at the relationships among the Fogo Island merchants and fishermen, and at the demoralizing effects welfare has on them.
Tom Best on Co-operatives
Editor
event 1967
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A discussion of the problems and efficacy of a fishermen's cooperative.
The Fogo Island Improvement Committee
Editor
event 1967
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The Fogo Island Improvement Committee discusses the building of a speaking platform for the anticipated visit of the Newfoundland premier.
Discussion on Welfare
Editor
event 1967
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A discussion about the effects of welfare on Fogo Island residents.
Fogo's Expatriates
Editor
event 1967
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Individuals who have moved away from Fogo Island express their opinions on the life and problems of the Island.
Jim Decker's Party
Editor
event 1967
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A rollicking Newfoundland party on Fogo Island.
Alexander Mackenzie: The Lord of the North
Editor
event 1964
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Filmed on the great Mackenzie River, this short fiction film recreates the amazing voyage of the man who gave his name to it. Following the path outlined in Mackenzie's journal, the film depicts his arduous journey by canoe all the way to the salt water of the Arctic Ocean - one of the great epics of northern exploration.
The Last Voyage of Henry Hudson
Editor
event 1964
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This short film realistically portrays the conflict Henry Hudson experienced when he went in search of an open water route to the Orient, and no one would follow him. What he discovered instead was an inland sea, a discovery that ended in tragedy.
Selkirk of Red River
Editor
event 1964
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This film tells the story of the Red River settlement, now the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The pioneer venture of Thomas Douglas, Earl of Selkirk, to establish a colony brought opposition from the North West Company, the Hudson's Bay Company’s powerful rival. A fine cast of actors portrays the ensuing dispute.
The Second Arctic Winter Games
Director
event 1972
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The Games included many sports seen in Olympic competition, plus others--for example, pirautaqturniq, the Inuit skill of hitting an object with a ten meter-long sled dog whip. This film captures the all-out participation in the week-long events hosted by Whitehorse, capital of the Yukon, with competitors from all over the Arctic including Alaska, and with observers from the Soviet Union.
Introduction to Fogo Island
Editor
event 1968
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This film introduces the Fogo Island/Newfoundland Project series which is an experiment in how film can be a catalyst for social change by serving as a direct means of communication. It gives some basic facts about Fogo Island, Newfoundland, and explains why it was chosen for the film project.
Who Were the Ones?
Editor
event 1972
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This short film was created by a group of Indigenous filmmakers at the NFB in 1972 and is essentially a song by Willie Dunn sung by Bob Charlie and illustrated by John Fadden: "Who were the ones who bid you welcome and took you by the hand, inviting you here by our campfires, as brothers we might stand?" The song expresses bitter memories of the past, of trust repaid by treachery, and of friendship debased by exploitation upon the arrival of European colonists.
The Children of Fogo Island
Editor
event 1967 star_border 6
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The magic island of Fogo, seen from the eyes of the kids and the reason why its inhabitants will never leave it.
Where There's Smoke
Director
event 1970
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A compilation of satirical anti-smoking clips.
Haida Carver
Editor
event 1964
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On Canada's Pacific coast this film finds a young Haida artist, Robert Davidson, shaping miniature totems from argillite, a jet-like stone. The film follows the artist to the island where he finds the stone, and then shows how he carves it in the manner of his grandfather, who taught him the craft.
On Power Refuelling
Producer
event 1971
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An outstanding factor in the efficiency of the CANDU reactor employed in Canadian nuclear power stations is that its construction allows for refuelling while the plant remains in operation, with no necessity for periodic shut-downs. Filmed at the Pickering, Ontario, station, this film clearly illustrates the processes and the advantages of this Canadian feature. Cutaway models and animated drawings are used in the demonstration.
On the Critical Path
Producer
event 1971
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Nuclear power plants are not exactly sold on the same scale as wheat, but that they can be manufactured as an exportable commodity is well illustrated in this film. For those familiar with nuclear power generation, and even for the lay audience, this is a lucid exposition of how a nuclear power plant is put together. The film shows the machining and assembly of principal components, and the "on power" operation of the Canadian plant at Pickering, Ontario. Produced by the NFB for Atomic Energy of Canada Limited.
Reconstruction of the NRX Reactor 1970
Producer
event 1973
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This film shows the exacting procedures used during the 1970 replacement of the calandria in the NRX nuclear reactor at Chalk River. Produced by the NFB for Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.
U 111 Dryout Experiment
Producer
event 1971
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A new system devised by Canadians whereby the dryout process in fuel bundles for a nuclear reactor can be completely checked, thereby preventing uneconomical burnup. Produced by the NFB for Atomic Energy of Canada.
The Longer Trail
Editor
event 1956
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A young indigenous man contracts tuberculosis and is sent to the Charles Camsell Indian Hospital in Edmonton. He struggles with the aftereffects of the illness but tries to move forward and get a job.
Blades and Brass
Editor
event 1967
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This short documentary showcases the best of the 1967 National Hockey League season, set to music in the Tijuana Brass style. Filmed with an eye to grace and style of movement, the film suggests the bullring as much as the hockey arena.
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