Blaine Thurier
Thurier in August 2009
Background information
Born1967 (age 56–57)
Estevan, Saskatchewan, Canada
OriginVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
GenresIndie rock, power pop
Occupation(s)Musician, director, writer, editor
Instrument(s)Synthesizer
Years active1997–present

Blaine Thurier (born 1967) is a Canadian musician and filmmaker. He played synthesizer with the Canadian indie pop supergroup The New Pornographers from their inception in 1997 up to 2021. He also directed several music videos for the band during his tenure. Thurier has written and directed feature films, which have been screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), South by Southwest Film Festival, Slamdance and other festivals. Thurier served as a 2011 panelist for the TIFF.[1]

Personal life

Thurier was born in 1967 Estevan, Saskatchewan, Canada.[2][3] He lives in Vancouver with his wife and son.[4]

Career

Thurier considers filmmaking his main creative outlet, while treating music as a job.[5] He plays synthesizer with the Canadian indie pop supergroup The New Pornographers.[6][7] Thurier has directed three of the band's videos "Use It", "All For Swinging You Around" and "The Laws Have Changed".[8]

Feature films

Thurier's first full-length feature Low Self-Esteem Girl[9][10][11] premiered at the September 2000 Toronto International Film Festival.[12] Thurier used the attention from his film debut to promote The New Pornographers who were still a few months away from releasing their debut album Mass Romantic.[13] The film was awarded Best Narrative Feature at the South by Southwest Film Festival.[2][14][15]

Thurier's second full-length feature, a comedy, Male Fantasy received a nomination at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was released to DVD in 2008.[16] A Gun to the Head, a crime comedy, was Thurier's third full-length feature film.[17] Thurier's fourth film 12 Takes was made in 2010. It is a short documentary.[18]

Filmography

Music videos

Year Title Notes
2003 "The Laws Have Changed" from the album Electric Version
2003 "All For Swinging You Around" from the album Electric Version
2005 "Use It" from the album Twin Cinema

Features

Year Film Role Notes
2000 Low Self-Esteem Girl Screenwriter
Producer
Director
Editor
Sound
Casting director
Cinematographer 		Best Narrative Feature at the SXSW Film Festival
2004 Male Fantasy Screenwriter, Producer, Director, Editor
2009 A Gun to the Head Lester Screenwriter
Director
2012 12 Takes Editor TV documentary
Segment: "Carl Newman"
2014 Teen Lust Director
2015 A Matter of Time Himself TV film
2021 Kicking Blood Director

Shorts

See also

References

  1. ^ "Canada's Top Ten » Panelists » Shorts Panel". Toronto International Film Festival. 14 September 2009. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Feature Films 2010 » A GUN TO THE HEAD". Telefilm Canada. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  3. ^ Howell, Peter (27 September 2000). "No laughing at Low Self Esteem Girl". Toronto Star. p. E03. OCLC 679765547. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  4. ^ "a gun to the head. a blaine thurier film PRESS KIT" (PDF). Doghouse Films (Press release). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  5. ^ Berner, Drew (14 September 2009). "New Pornographer Brings 'Gun' to TIFF". Spinner. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  6. ^ "Blaine Thurier Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  7. ^ McLean, Steve (3 July 2014). "The New Pornographers". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  8. ^ "The New Pornographers » Media". The New Pornographers. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  9. ^ "Low Self Esteem Girl (2000)". Yahoo. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  10. ^ Johnson, Barry (16 March 2001). "SXSW Film Reviews » Low Self-Esteem Girl amounts to nothing terribly special, which makes its Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature all the more baffling". Austin Chronicle. ISSN 1074-0740. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  11. ^ Chambers, Bill. "LOW SELF ESTEEM GIRL (2000) » *** (out of four)". Film Freak Central. Archived from the original on 16 October 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  12. ^ Keast, James (November 2000). "The New Pornographers Mutual Appreciation Pop Society » Features » On the Cover » Nov 2000". Exclaim!. Toronto. ISSN 1207-6600. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  13. ^ Perlich, Tim (7 September 2000). "Music Feature » Pornographers get film fest boost". Now. Vol. 20, no. 1. Toronto. ISSN 0712-1326. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  14. ^ Keast, James (February 2000). "Tennessee Twin » Interviews » From The Magazine » Feb 2000". Exclaim!. Toronto. ISSN 1207-6600. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  15. ^ Dumpert, Hazel-Dawn (21 March 2001). "Hot Movies, Cool Scene » The eighth annual South by Southwest film festival". LA Weekly. Culver City. OCLC 60630561. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  16. ^ Buchanan, Jason. "Male Fantasy Overview". AllRovi. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  17. ^ Buchanan, Jason. "A Gun to the Head Overview". AllRovi. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  18. ^ "12 Takes Cast & Crew". Allmovie. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2011.

External links

The New Pornographers
Films directed by Blaine Thurier
Authority control databases
Categories