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| Eddie McConnell obituary | Eddie McConnell obituary |
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| My friend, Eddie McConnell, who has died aged 81, was an influential film-maker. With two colleagues, Laurence Henson and Sydney Harrison, in 1963 he formed the company International Film Associates (Scotland), and over the next two decades they made documentaries and cinema shorts for the Films of Scotland Committee, the Central Office of Information, the Children’s Film Foundation and various public bodies. | My friend, Eddie McConnell, who has died aged 81, was an influential film-maker. With two colleagues, Laurence Henson and Sydney Harrison, in 1963 he formed the company International Film Associates (Scotland), and over the next two decades they made documentaries and cinema shorts for the Films of Scotland Committee, the Central Office of Information, the Children’s Film Foundation and various public bodies. |
| When Channel 4 first aired in 1982, Eddie created some of his best work. This included Ways of Seeing, six short film exercises set to specially composed pieces that allowed Eddie to engage with another love – music. | When Channel 4 first aired in 1982, Eddie created some of his best work. This included Ways of Seeing, six short film exercises set to specially composed pieces that allowed Eddie to engage with another love – music. |
| Eddie filmed all over the world and could enthral with tales that ranged from filming Salvador Dalí at Cadaqués to meeting General Alfredo Stroessner in Paraguay. Yet he remained unassuming describing himself only as “a punter from Glasgow with the rare good fortune of being able to make a living from my hobby”. | Eddie filmed all over the world and could enthral with tales that ranged from filming Salvador Dalí at Cadaqués to meeting General Alfredo Stroessner in Paraguay. Yet he remained unassuming describing himself only as “a punter from Glasgow with the rare good fortune of being able to make a living from my hobby”. |
| He was born in Glasgow, the eldest of four children of Edward McConnell, a schoolteacher, and his wife, Margaret (Quigley). With a passion for art and film, in 1954 Eddie went to Glasgow School of Art where he studied sculpture under Benno Schotz (about whom he later made the film Benno Schotz: Sculptor and Modeller, in 1973). While a student, he hitchhiked to film festivals throughout Europe and was inspired by the experimental short films he saw. He established a film society at the art school showing avant-garde films. | He was born in Glasgow, the eldest of four children of Edward McConnell, a schoolteacher, and his wife, Margaret (Quigley). With a passion for art and film, in 1954 Eddie went to Glasgow School of Art where he studied sculpture under Benno Schotz (about whom he later made the film Benno Schotz: Sculptor and Modeller, in 1973). While a student, he hitchhiked to film festivals throughout Europe and was inspired by the experimental short films he saw. He established a film society at the art school showing avant-garde films. |
| His own early films included Broken Images (1957) which won the Amateur Cine World Ten Best from the UK. This was followed by Faces (1959) in which the masks were designed and made by fellow art student, Alasdair Gray. | His own early films included Broken Images (1957) which won the Amateur Cine World Ten Best from the UK. This was followed by Faces (1959) in which the masks were designed and made by fellow art student, Alasdair Gray. |
| Eddie worked as a freelance for Scottish Television from the year it began broadcasting, 1960, and was in demand, contributing items to sport and news. There he came under the influence of John Grierson, the “father” of documentary film, who suggested the name of International Film Associates. | Eddie worked as a freelance for Scottish Television from the year it began broadcasting, 1960, and was in demand, contributing items to sport and news. There he came under the influence of John Grierson, the “father” of documentary film, who suggested the name of International Film Associates. |
| In 2007 Eddie received a Bafta Scotland award for his special contribution to film but, with his joy in the absurd, took more pleasure in the applause that he had received in 1967 when he arrived back in Glasgow from Lisbon after filming Celtic winning the European Cup. | In 2007 Eddie received a Bafta Scotland award for his special contribution to film but, with his joy in the absurd, took more pleasure in the applause that he had received in 1967 when he arrived back in Glasgow from Lisbon after filming Celtic winning the European Cup. |
| Given permission by the team’s manager, Jock Stein, to leave the plane first to enable him to film the captain, Billy McNeill, stepping out with the trophy, Eddie emerged to the rapturous cheers of a large crowd who, unwittingly, were applauding a talented man with a very special “eye” but one who had never played football in his life. | Given permission by the team’s manager, Jock Stein, to leave the plane first to enable him to film the captain, Billy McNeill, stepping out with the trophy, Eddie emerged to the rapturous cheers of a large crowd who, unwittingly, were applauding a talented man with a very special “eye” but one who had never played football in his life. |
| Eddie’s marriage ended in divorce. He is survived by his children, Michael and Clare, three grandchildren and his brother, Ian. | Eddie’s marriage ended in divorce. He is survived by his children, Michael and Clare, three grandchildren and his brother, Ian. |
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