Professor John Mateer

Profile

Biography

I am presently a Professor in Film and Television Production, Deputy Head of School, and Associate Dean for Partnerships, Engagement and International activities in the Arts and Humanities Faculty. As Associate Dean, I am tasked with generating and sustaining productive external partnerships and coordinating international activities in line with Faculty and University objectives.

I joined the University of York in 2001 and was one of the four founding members of the former department of Theatre, Film, Television and Interactive Media (now part of the School of Arts & Creative Technologies). I was responsible for developing all aspects of our film and television production provision, including the development of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes from the ground up. I also oversaw the design, construction and fit-out of production and postproduction areas for our award-winning building, working closely with then Head of Department Professor Andy Tudor. I have taught on numerous film and television production modules at all levels. In my teaching I draw on my industry experience and links to ensure the material covered is current and techniques are up to date, often bringing in industry guests.

I received a BFA in Film and Television Production from New York University, a postgraduate degree from the American Film Institute Conservatory, where I was a Directing Fellow, and a PhD from the University of York.

Industry Background

I started my career working with Emmy award-winning Robert Greenwald Productions (MGM Studios) doing lighting for made-for-television movies for the ABC and NBC networks in the US. After completing my degree at AFI, I worked as a producer and director with numerous companies including Jonathan Goodson Productions (in association with Paramount Studios), Gabriel Films Ltd., Ogilvy & Mather and LucasArts (as part of the First Cities project) and several others. More recently I worked as Executive Producer and Visual Effects Producer for the feature film The Knife That Killed Me, backed by Universal Pictures UK, and as Visual Effects Producer for the feature film Macbeth, produced by GSP Studios.

My expertise lies in the development and supervision of projects involving computer-generated imagery as well as format and script development for television series and feature films. My IMDB entry can be found here.

Research

Overview

My research has two primary strands:
 
The first looks at the impact of new technologies on different aspects of the film and television industry including new methods of marketing and distribution, changes in production roles and workflows as a result of new technological developments, and emerging media such as cinematic virtual reality.
 
The second involves the examination of the relationship between academia and the film and television industries in different commercial contexts. This includes looking at formal academic-industry collaborations for the creation of commercial feature films and broadcast television programmes, their impact on student/recent graduate participants and the industry, and an exploration of the cultural issues surrounding the mixing of practice and academia including perceptions of media practitioners working in higher education.

Notable Recent Projects

Higson, Mateer, Brereton, Swords, Murphy, 2020–23, SIGN – Screen Industries Growth Network, Research England, £4,989,357

Mateer, Schofield, Monkman and Morrow, 2019, ‘At Home’ Cinematic Virtual Reality Pilot, funded by the XR Stories project (awarded by AHRC), £63,850

Mateer and Schofield, 2017–19, Formal Collaboration with Wild Rover Productions Ltd., Knowledge Transfer Partnership awarded by AHRC, NI Invest and Innovate UK, £313,594

Grants and Publications

For the latest information please visit my PURE profile

External activities

Memberships

Externally I have served on several advisory panels for local and national creative industries and UK research councils (EPSRC) as well as judged for various film and television festivals. I have been closely involved with the Producer's Alliance (PACT) and the Directors Guild (DGGB).