About JM MURPHY

JM is a proud Canadian of Irish descent. He's always been a writer.

He has completed two novels ("The Book of Ezekiel" and "Constellations: Moonshot") and a family memoir ("12 Babies").

He is educated in English Literature, Journalism and Screenwriting and most recently completed a masterclass by best-selling crime-thriller author Harlan Coben.

After years as a newspaper journalist, JM dove into television, including DreamKids, an after-school kid's series developed for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

JM has produced/directed/edited/written dozens of hours of prime-time Canadian lifestyle television. He's also been a Media Director, often interviewed by national media.

An original screenplay about the life and death of Toronto Maple Leafs great Bill Barilko was optioned twice.

His writing style, called "engaging and punchy" by author/former agent Nathan Bransford, is flavoured by his background in journalism and television/screenwriting.

JM has owned and operated several successful (and unsuccessful!) businesses -- media and non-media.

He comes from a long line of tall-taled Irish storytellers. Father to four girls, grandfather to six, and uncle to more than 20, including three sets of twins.

When not punching a keyboard, JM is rumbling with his grandkids, digging in a huge vegetable garden, fishing for elusive big bass, crying about his Leafs and Jays, and plunking on his guitars. It's an Irish stew, to be sure.

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EDUCATION:

English Literature (Wildfrid Laurier University, Trent University)

Journalism (Georgian College)

Screenwriting (George Brown College)

CREDITS

Screenwriting:

Bill Barilko: Shooting Star - Biopic Teleplay optioned by Big Star Motion Pictures (1994); Bell Media (1996)

Producer/Director/Editor/Writer:

The Canadian Travel Show - Life Network, Global Television, licenced to an Asian satellite network. 103 x :30 episodes (1996-2001)

DreamKids - Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. After school kid's series licenced and developed with pilot. (2000-2002)

My Backyard - Home lifestyle series for Cogeco Television. 13 x :30 (2010-2011)

Home World - Real estate lifestyle series for Cogeco Television. 13 x :30 (2014-2015)

A Taste Of -  Field-to-table lifestyle series for Cogeco Television 13 x :30 (2015)

Full Circle - Feature documentary. Six high school students trace the lives and deaths of six soliders in the First World War. Locations: Ontario, France and Belgium. Cogeco Television. :90 (2016) 

A Warrior's Legacy: First Nations in the Second World War.  Feature Documentary.  Four Native men relive their experiences of World War Two. Toronto Hot Docs Festival entry. Cogeco Television. :90 (2014)

Generations: A Family Tradition of Service: Feature Documentary. Military service goes back many generations in four families. Cogeco Television. :90 (2015)

National Commercials & Industrial Videos. Ford Canada, Canadian Tourism Commission, Parks Canada, Canadian Capital Commission, Holiday Inn Canada, Yukon Tourism, Pillitteri Winery, Magnota Winery

Reporter/Editor/Publisher

Thomson Newspapers

Reporter and Entertainment Editor for a small daily newspaper. (1983-1986)

Pinnacle. Reporter, Editor and Publisher of a weekly newsmagazine in Peterborough, Ontario. (1986-1988)

The Toronto Star. Correspondent for Canada's largest daily newspaper. (1988-1991)

Freelance Journalist. The Toronto Sun, The Winnipeg Free Press, The Vancouver Sun,  The Edomonton Journal, Canadian Business Magazine. Century Homes, Cottage Life, Toronto Business. (1988-2000)

Speaking

Storytelling: interactive workshops staged across Ontario to help local producers improve their narrative strength. Cogeco Television (2015-2016)