John Binder

Professional biography

John Binder studied literature at Kenyon College from which he graduated in 1962. He wrote for the college literary journal, directed theater and acted the lead role in several classic plays there.

He studied acting at H.B. Studios in New York and did graduate work in film at New York University, where he wrote screenplays, directed student films, and later taught a film production workshop.

He formed Paradigm Films with Michael Wadleigh (dir. “Woodstock”). As a cinema verite team they shot dozens of social documentaries for Public Television, CBS and film segments for the Merv Griffin TV show, as well as commercials and public service spots. At Paradigm he was a producer, co-director, editor and soundman. Co-workers at Paradigm were filmmakers Thelma Schoonmaker, Marty Scorsese, Jim McBride (Kenyon), cameraman David Myers, producers L.A. Johnson, Dale Bell and now wife, Jeanne Field.

He worked on two Academy Award Winning Documentaries, “Woodstock”, and “Marjoe”. He co-producer and edited then award winning anti-war documentary “No Vietnamese Ever Called Me Nigger”, and co-directed “Four Children”, winner of the White House Film prize for government-funded documentaries. He edited the documentary “Thirty Days To Survival”. He was a soundman on the rock film “Mad Dogs And Englishmen”.

In Hollywood, he wrote a script for Robert Altman of “North Dallas Forty”. He was also Altman’s Script Supervisor on “Buffalo Bill And The Indians”. He wrote “Endangered Species” for Alan Rudolph, and “Honeysuckle Rose” for producer Sidney Pollack. He won the American Heritage award for scripting a CBS movie “Sam Houston”. He wrote “Assault and Matrimony” a TV movie for NBC, plus many pilots and rewrites including the mini-series “Return To Lonesome Dove”.

He wrote and directed the feature film “UFOria” with Fred Ward, Cindy Williams, and Harry Dean Stanton, which Jeanne also produced. “UFOria” made the top ten film lists (1986) of The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, LA Weekly and others. He was co-head writer, producer and he directed several episodes of the western TV series “The Lazarus Man” starring Robert Urich.

He wrote and co-directed a full-length play “Dreams Die Hard”. Recently he’s been writing short plays, fiction and personal reminiscences. He has some feature scripts ready for production, among them a country western Cinderella story, “Hey Good Lookin'”, a teenage detective story “Slate’s Kid”, a romantic adventure, “The High Sierras” and a romantic comedy, “The Worst Best Man”.

He is hoping to direct a feature film he’s written called “Just Another Dead Man”, produced by his son, John Henry Binder and wife Jeanne Field. He also has a series of dramatic short digital films entitled “The Price Of Free Advice” which he will be directing. Two shorts have already been completed: “New Listing” and “Where’s My Sandwich?” and he is preparing two more.

 

John Binder as Alceste in The Misanthrope

THE MISANTHROPE

The final production of the 1959-60 season at the Hill Theatre was Moliere’s brilliant comedy The Misanthrope. The role of Alceste, the embittered young man, was splendidly played by John Binder, ’62, of Hellam PA (at left). Supporting Mr. Binder were Mrs. Stanley Johnson, Jr., of Mount Vernon OH, as the troublemaking Arsinoe (center), and Mrs. Edwin L. Bigelow of Gambier as Celimene, Alceste’s unfaithful lady. The Misanthrope was directed by James E. Michael of the department of drama, who will spend the next year studying Moliere on the playwright’s native ground.

The following article was written by John Binder for the Winter 1983 edition of the Kenyon College Alumni Bulletin.