Christopher T. Donahue

John Christopher Donahue is an American film and television producer. He began his career as a producer in television news and documentaries, then transitioned to narrative film and television at the American Film Institute. He has won numerous awards, including an Academy Award for Live Action Short Film for producing Visas and Virtue, and an Emmy for his documentary Be Good, Smile Pretty (2003).

Donahue founded West Main Street Productions, He did undergraduate studies at Loyola University New Orleans, where he received a bachelor's degree in Communications. He holds graduate degrees from the American Film Institute (MFA) and the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley (M.Div. and Th.M.).

One of the films he cited as early influences that he grew up watching include Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The first film he ever watched in a theater was Robert Wise's film The Sound of Music.

Career Donahue's first professional job was at WWL-TV in New Orleans. Donahue received two consecutive New Orleans Press Club Awards, for the documentaries Russia: A Prison of Nations and Nicaragua: A Land Divided. Through PBS affiliate work he was selected as a Corporation for Public Broadcasting Fellow at WGBH in Boston. He produced hundreds of hours of local news, documentary, and children's television in New Orleans before moving to Los Angeles in 1991 to attend the American Film Institute (AFI). In 1998 he produced the short Visas and Virtue (1997), a narrative depiction of Holocaust rescuer Chiune Sugihara. For this he received an Academy Award for Live Action Short Film (shared with director Chris Tashima). He co-founded Cedar Grove Productions in 1996 with Tashima and playwright Tim Toyama to produce the short film. Donahue was also the Executive Producer of the drama Day of Independence (2003) with Cedar Grove Productions.

From 2000 to 2006, Donahue served as the first full-time Executive Director for the Humanitas Prize, an annual writer's award that celebrates films and television shows that not only entertain, but also enrich the viewing public.

From 2006 to 2010, Donahue served as executive vice-president at the Shephard/Robin Company, creators of the TNT television drama, The Closer and FX's Nip/Tuck. Donahue served as producer on the Lifetime Television series, State of Mind starring Lili Taylor as well as the TNT drama, Trust Me starring Eric McCormack, Tom Cavanagh, and Monica Potter.

In 2011, Donahue produced the award-winning A&E series Longmire for Warner Brothers Television, producing every episode of season 1 through 3. starring Robert Taylor, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Katee Sackhoff. Longmire won several awards including a Key Art Award in 2013, a Red Nation Film Award of Excellence in 2013, and a Prism Award in 2014. The pilot was also nominated for Best Television Episode Teleplay in 2013 at the Edgar Allan Poe Awards.

Donahue was president of Paulist Productions from July 2014 to 2018, where he sourced, negotiated, and established a multi-million dollar, three picture co-financing and co-production arrangement with MarVista Entertainment. speaking with Northern Rockers and Ace Cafe patrons. Filmmaker Steven 'Fenix' Maes and his crew spent two years documenting vintage bike enthusiasts, custom bike builders, and cafe racer clubs around the United States, searching for what it means to be an American Rocker.

Donahue works as a consultant and coach, and has worked with filmmakers and investors at every stage of production.

Donahue is a member of numerous boards, organizations, and committees within the entertainment industry, such as:

Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences: Member, Grants & Scholars Committee, Student Academy Awards Judge Nicholls Fellowship, Judge The HUMANITAS Prize, board member Producers Guild of America, Member Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Member University Film & Video Association, Member Society of Human Resource Managers, Member

In addition to his producing credits, Donahue has taught film courses at the American Film Institute, Chapman University, Loyola Marymount University, and UCLA. He has spoken on numerous panels at film festivals, and conducted workshops at leading universities and colleges. His teaching competencies include: The Business of Media, Directing, Documentaries, Film and Television Production, and Screenwriting.

His love for documentaries has him returning to the form often, and his current interests have him exploring themes in Artificial Intelligence, Creativity, Immersive Storytelling (VR, AR, 360), and Social Impact Entertainment.

Filmography (producer)

Honors and awards Donahue has won one Academy Award and one Emmy Award. He has also received the Crystal Heart award Heartland Film Festival, and an Alumni Service Award from the Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas.

Donahue received two consecutive New Orleans Press Club Awards, for the documentaries Russia: A Prison of Nations and Nicaragua: A Land Divided. Through PBS affiliate work he was selected as a Corporation for Public Broadcasting Fellow at WGBH in Boston.