Allison Argo

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Allison Argo
Director Allison Argo with Gorilla, 1990.jpg
Argo with Gorilla in 1990
Born (1953-12-23) December 23, 1953 (age 69)
Richmond, Virginia
Occupation(s)Film producer, director, writer, editor, narrator
Awards1 duPont-Columbia
6 Emmy
4 Genesis
4 Christopher Columbus
Website www.argofilms.com

Allison Argo (born December 23, 1953) is an American film producer, director, writer, editor, and narrator. She is best known for her documentaries that focus on endangered wildlife and conservation. Her films have received awards including six National Emmy Awards. [1] and the duPont-Columbia Award for journalism.

Contents

In her early career as an actress, Argo performed on Broadway, in television, and in film. Her theatre roles included work as an original cast member in two Broadway theatre productions, and her work in television and film included roles in television movies and a major role in a TV series, along with recurring roles in two soap operas.[ citation needed ]

In 1989, while on location in the state of Washington, Argo happened upon a gorilla caged as an exhibit in a shopping mall. This experience led Argo to produce and direct her first film, The Urban Gorilla (National Geographic 1992), about the lives of captive gorillas. Argo received the duPont-Columbia award for the documentary. Since that time, Argo has dedicated her work towards advocating for the welfare and understanding of wild animals through documentary films and public speaking engagements. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

With her production company, ArgoFilms, LTD, Argo has produced eighteen films. Among others, notable award-winning films have included Keepers of the Wild (National Geographic and PBS 1992), The Last Frog (National Geographic 1996), The Secret Life of Cats (National Geographic 1999), The Urban Elephant (National Geographic and PBS NATURE 2000), Chimpanzees: An Unnatural History (PBS NATURE 2006), Crash: a Tale of Two Species (PBS NATURE 2008), and Parrot Confidential (PBS NATURE 2013), The Last Pig (2017).[ citation needed ]

Early life

Argo was raised on Cape Cod as one of two daughters of Gordon Harold Argo (06/22/1924–07/10/2003) [9] and Elizabeth "Betsy" Argo (née Brunk; 1922–2016), [10] both actors. The Argos owned and operated the Orleans Arena Theater, America's first summer stock theater-in-the-round, in the town of Orleans, Massachusetts. From childhood, she was immersed in theater and the world of drama, [11] which prepared her for a career as a professional actress in New York and Los Angeles.

Career as an actress

On Broadway, Argo played major roles as an original cast member in the revivals of Ibsen's The Lady from the Sea (1976), and Tennessee Williams’ The Night of the Iguana (1976–1977), [12] and she appeared in the musical Grease . [13] She played a leading role on the CBS television series Ladies Man and was featured on WKRP in Cincinnati , as well as on ten television movies and pilots. Argo played recurring roles on the soap operas Search for Tomorrow and The Bold and the Beautiful . She also voiced cartoon characters, including the character Andrea in the Cathy animated television specials. [14]

ArgoFilms

Allison Argo on location filming Chimpanzees, An Unnatural History in 2006 Director Allison Argo on location filming Chimpanzees, An Unatural History.jpg
Allison Argo on location filming Chimpanzees, An Unnatural History in 2006

Argo's experience seeing the gorilla, Ivan, isolated and on display in an enclosure comprising two concrete rooms in a shopping mall was the catalyst for her forming ArgoFilms, LTD. Concerned about gorillas in similar situations as Ivan's, Argo made them the subject of her first film The Urban Gorilla , which in addition to the duPont-Columbia award was the recipient of two Emmy nominations. [2] [15] [16]

Since The Urban Gorilla , ArgoFilms has gone on to advocate for, among others, frogs, snakes, cats, elephants, chimpanzees, and birds. One film has documented the effects of the September 11 attacks upon people. [17] The Story of Dao, about a street elephant named Pang Dao, has been in pre-production since 2011. A scout (research expedition) was completed in Thailand in 2012. [2]

ArgoFilms has produced eighteen documentaries for National Geographic, PBS, and the NATURE series. Allison Argo has either produced, directed, or written all films. Glenn Close narrated the first two films; and Argo has narrated since. [18] The films have garnered twelve Emmy nominations, with six Emmys having been won in various categories including two for directing. [2] Additionally, ArgoFilms has been awarded four Genesis Awards, [2] most recently in 2014 for the film Parrot Confidential ( PBS NATURE 2013), [19] and has also been recognized by the Missoula, Jackson Hole, and Japan Wildlife Film Festivals. [2] In Parrot Confidential, the circumstances of parrots in captivity who often outlive their owners and suffer as a result are explored. The subject had received little documentation until the film was produced. [20]

In an April 2014 article in a Cape Cod periodical, Argo has said that the most satisfying aspect of her work is when it makes a difference. Her goal is to open eyes; and if people are given the facts, they will do what they can to improve life. [20] The work of ArgoFilms is meant to "foster compassion for animals and to champion wildlife through film, providing a voice for those who have none." [2]

Stage acting credits (Broadway)

YearTitleRoleNotes
1975 Grease Patty Simcoxreplacement [21] [22]
1976 The Lady From the Sea (Revival)Hildaoriginal cast member [12]
1976-'77 The Night of the Iguana (Revival)Charlotte Goodalloriginal cast member [12]

Television acting credits

YearTitleProduction TypeRoleNotes
1976, '77 Search For Tomorrow TV seriesCindy French
1977 Between the Lines filmdancer
1979 The Gift TV movieKathleen
1980 WKRP in Cincinnati TV seriesCarol TravisEpisode 36 "A Family Affair"
1980 High Ice TV movieKathy
1980CasinoTV movieAngie Taylor
1980The Return of Frank CannonTV movieJessica Bingham
1980, '81 Ladies' Man TV seriesSusanMajor role, appeared in all 16 episodes [23]
1983An Uncommon LoveTV movieArvetta
1984LegmenTV seriesLinda"I Shall be Re-Released"
1984 The Paper Chase TV seriesUnnamedSeason 2, Episode 8 "Mrs. Hart"
1985Cry From the MountainFeature filmLaurie MatthewsArgo's first feature film
1986 Club Med TV movieAllison
1987 The Bronx Zoo TV seriesMrs. McKaren“Conspicuous by Their Abstinence”, “Changes”
1987 Cathy TV movieAndrea (voice)Argo's first animated film
1987 The Bold and the Beautiful TV seriesRobin West“Episode #1.153”, “Episode #1.151”, “Episode #1.144”
1988Family Medical CenterTV seriesUnnamed
1988Cathy’s Last ResortTV movieAndrea (voice)
1989 Vytor: The Starfire Champion TV movieBaboose (voice)
1989Cathy’s ValentineTV movieAndrea (voice)
1991 Star Street: The Adventures of the Star Kids TV seriesMoon (voice)Major role

Filmography, awards, and nominations

As producer, director, writer, or editor

YearFilm TitleInvolvementNotes
1990 The Urban Gorilla producer, director, writer, editorNominated – 1990 Emmy Award
Nominated – 1990 Emmy Award [16]
DuPont-Columbia Award [24]
Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival – First recipient of the Best Newcomer award [25]
Christopher Columbus Award
WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival Award
Genesis Award [20]
Narrator – Glenn Close
1992Keepers of the Wildproducer, director, writerWon – 1992 National Emmy Award for directing[ citation needed ]
Christopher Columbus Award
Narrator – Glenn Close
1996The Last Frogproducer, director, writer, narratorWon – 1996 National Emmy Award [25]
Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival Award [25]
Japan international Wildlife Film Festival Award [25]
Missoula International Wildlife Film Festival Best of Festival [25]
Earthwatch Award
1997Stolen Treasuresproducer, director, writer, narrator
King Cobra writerWon - 1997 Emmy Award News and Documentary [26]
Lords of the Evergladeswriter
Extraordinary Dogsproducer, directorFinalist - Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival
Snake Invasionproducer, director, writer, narrator
1999The Secret Life of Catsproducer, director, writer, narratorWon – 1999 National Emmy Award [25]
Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival [25]
Japan international Wildlife Film Festival [25]
International Wildlife Film Festival [25]
ITVA Peer Awards
Christopher Columbus Award
Wisdom of the Wildproducer, director, writer, narrator
2000The Urban Elephantproducer, director, writer, narratorWon – 2001 Emmy Award for Outstanding Cultural & Informational Documentary – Best Director [27]
The New York Festivals World Medal
Genesis Award [20]
2003 Inca Mummies: Secrets of a Lost World producer, director, writer, narratorITVA Peer Awards
2004Return to Freedomproducer, director, writer, narrator, editorA short film for the American Wild Horse Sanctuary [28]
2006Chimpanzees: An Unnatural Historyproducer, director, writer, narratorWon - 2007 National Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Research [29]
Genesis Award [20]
Best Editing, Best Television Program $250,000-$500,000 Budget, Merit for Powerful Storytelling, and Merit for Advocacy at the International Wildlife Film Festival [30]
Christopher Columbus Award [31]
Explorer's Club [32]
2008Crash: A Tale of Two Speciesproducer, director, writer, editor, narrator31st International Wildlife Film Festival: Sapphire Award-Second Place, Best Conservation & Environmental Issue, Best Script [33]
Nominated - National Emmy Award [34]
2009Frogs: The Thin Green Lineproducer, director, writer, editor, narratorSelection for DC Environmental Film Fest [35]
20119/11: Where Were You?producer, director, writer, editorThis film is about immediate responses to the attack on the World Trade Center. [36]
2013Parrot Confidentialproducer, writer, editor, narratorGenesis Award [19]
Special Jury Award, New York Wild Film Festival [37]
2015The Sagebrush Seaco-producer, writer, narrator
2017The Last Pigdirector, co-producer

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References

  1. ↑ Scrizzy Driscoll, Kathi (November 10, 2013). "PBS Debuts Brewster Filmmaker's Look at Parrots in Trouble". Cape Cod Times. Archived from the original on September 4, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bates, Mary (January 28, 2013). "Allison Argo: Filmmaker, Conservationist". Izilwane: Voices for Biodiversity. Archived from the original on July 27, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Top international, national, and state water leaders to speak at annual lakes convention". Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. March 26, 2013. Archived from the original on December 10, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Filmmaker Allison Argo on the State of the Birds Report - This is why I make films". PBS NATURE. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  5. ↑ Sentenac, Hannah (February 20, 2014). ""Be Friends with Animals" Miami New Times" . Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  6. ↑ Minow, Nell (March 17, 2014). ""Environmental Film Festival:Family and Children's Program" beliefnet". Archived from the original on May 24, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  7. ↑ Embassy of the United States, Bratislava, Slovakia (October 27, 2008). "Embassy Events". Archived from the original on October 26, 2014.
  8. ↑ Visegrad Film Forum (October 19, 2011). ""Guest Speakers" The Academy of the Performing Arts, Bratislava, Slovakia" . Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Gordon Harold Argo, 79".
  10. ↑ Obituary for Elizabeth "Betsy" Argo, legacy.com; accessed August 18, 2017.
  11. ↑ ""Cape Cod Performing Arts, Stagestruck wins best documentary at WHAT Film Festival" CapeCodToday". March 25, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 ""Allison Argo: Performer," Playbill Vault". 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  13. ↑ Scheuer, Stephen H. (June 5, 1977). ""Allison Loves Challenge of Her Soap Role", Boca Raton News" . Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  14. ↑ "IMDb profile". IMDb . Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  15. ↑ Boss, Kit (March 9, 1991). ""The Urban Gorilla: An 'Unnatural History' Film", The Seattle Times" . Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  16. 1 2 K. Connor, Mark (September 30, 2011). ""Portrait of an Artist", East Side Monthly". Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  17. ↑ Eldred, Rich (September 9, 2011). "Brewster filmmaker commemorates 9/11". Wicked Local. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  18. ↑ ""Allison Argo (II)" IMDb". IMDb . 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  19. 1 2 ""Genesis Awards", Humane Society of the United States". 2014. Archived from the original on July 8, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 Eldred, Rich (April 25, 2014). "Humane Society Honors Cape Filmmaker", Wicked Local" . Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  21. ↑ Scheuer. ""Allison Loves Challenge of Her Soap Role", Boca Raton News".
  22. ↑ "The Night of the Iguana "Who's Who in the Cast"". Playbill. Archived from the original on October 26, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Ladies' Man (1980) Cast & Crew". tv.com. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  24. ↑ ""All duPont-Columbia Award Winners" Columbia Journalism School". Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ""2013 Speakers". Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival". 2013. Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  26. ↑ ""News and Documentary Emmy Awards", IMDb". IMDb . 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  27. ↑ ""The 22nd Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards", Emmy Online" (PDF). 2001. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  28. ↑ ""Video Gallery", American Wild Horse Sanctuary". 2014. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  29. ↑ “OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN A CRAFT: RESEARCH” Archived November 22, 2010, at the Wayback Machine NATIONAL TELEVISION ACADEMY 28TH ANNUAL NEWS AND DOCUMENTARY EMMY AWARDS - WINNERS p15
  30. ↑ ""International Wildlife Film Festival", FFW". 2008. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  31. ↑ ""The 58th Annual Christopher Award Winners," The Christophers, Inc". Archived from the original on July 4, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  32. ↑ ""Weekend Picks: Bubbles, Comic Books, and Documentaries", About.com". 2007. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  33. ↑ "31st International Wildlife Film Festival Winners" (PDF). April 7, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2014.[ dead link ]
  34. ↑ ""The 30th Annual Emmy® Awards for News & Documentary The Nominations", The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences" (PDF). 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 13, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  35. ↑ ""Frogs: The Thin Green Line", DC Environmental Film Fest". PBS . 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  36. ↑ ""Episode: 9/11: Where Were You?" National Geographic". 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  37. ↑ ""Parrot Confidential Celebrates 'Special Jury' Award at the NY Wild Film Festival", Foster Parrots". 2014. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
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