Pen Densham

A writer, producer and occasional director of highly entertaining genre fare of the 1980s and 90s, Pen Densham specialized in action-adventure with a minor in sci-fi. The son of a lighting camera operator, Densham was born and raised in England. He initially showed an interest in photography, studied at art schools in Bournemouth and Salisbury and eventually made his way to Toronto, Canada in the mid-60s. Shortly after his arrival, he began making short films, some with media guru Marshall McLuhan. He met John Watson and the duo formed Insight Productions, creating films and TV commercials. After earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Short Subject for "Life Times Nine" (1973), Densham and Watson were lured to Hollywood by fellow Canadian Norman Jewison. Through working with Jewison on "F.I.S.T." (1978), Densham met Sylvester Stallone for whom Densham was consultant and montage supervisor on "Rocky II" (1979). Watson and Densham earned a second Oscar nod for Best Short Subject with 1980's "Don't Mess With Bill."