John Borowski
| John Borowski | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Chicago, Illinois |
| Occupation | Director, producer, writer, author |
| Website | http://www.johnborowski.com |
John Borowski is an American independent filmmaker and author. The focus of his work has been on late nineteenth and early twentieth century serial killers, initially in a trilogy of documentaries on American criminals, more recently on particular international criminals, on the commerce that has grown up around such crimes, and on other niche artists.
Career
Film Work
Borowski directed a trilogy, based on America serial killers, H.H. Holmes: America's First Serial Killer (2004), Albert Fish: In Sin He Found Salvation (2007), and Carl Panzram: The Spirit of Hatred and Vengeance (2012).
John Borowski received the 2003 award for Best Director for H.H. Holmes from the Midwest Independent Film Festival, and the film was voted the Best Horror Documentary at the 2004 Screamfest Horror Film Festival.[1] The film has been featured on PBS.
Carl Panzram featured John DiMaggio as the voice of title criminal and murderer, Carl Panzram. Locations for the film included the maximum security prisons of Leavenworth Penitentiary and Clinton Correction Facility, and made use of Panzram's handwritten autobiographical papers at San Diego State University; Carl Panzram received the director's choice award at the 2012 Chicago Horror Film Festival.
Borowski has a further film on the work of Vincent Castiglia, in production, Bloodlines: The Art and Life of Vincent Castiglia (2015).[2]
In addition, Borowski served as a producer on the feature Toro Loco (2010), by Chilean filmmaker Patricio Valladares.
Music videos
- Mr. Fish, by the Swedish Band, Sparzanza.,
Written work
The Strange Case of Dr. H.H. Holmes is an illustrated book written and self-published by Borowski, with the assistance of Herman W. Mudgett and Dimas Estrada, focusing on material from the H.H. Holmes movie and history.[3]
Projects in development
Borowski is currently involved in work Serial Killer Culture, which focuses on musicians, filmmakers, authors, and collectors who are inspired to create and collect art based on serial killers. The film features interviews with artists and collectors, including Joe Coleman (owner of The Odditorium), Macabre (a death metal band), Murder Junkies (a punk rock band), and Matthew Aaron, owner of The Last Dime Museum and founder of "The Crime Scene" events.[4]
Borowski is also producing a documentary on the German serial killer Peter Kurten, who was beheaded for his crimes in 1931.
References in published works
Borowski’s work was featured in The Documentary Moviemaking Course: The Starter Guide to Documentary Filmmaking by K.J. Lindenmuth,[5] and in a self-published work, Murderabilia and True Crime Collecting, by S.F. Scouller.[6]
The Swedish Band, Sparzanza used the narration by Tony Jay in the Borowski movie Albert Fish in their song, Mr. Fish.
Guest appearances
Borowski was a special guest speaker at the 2012 Indie Horror Fest.[7]
Personal life
Borowski currently resides in Chicago.
Filmography
As director
- H. H. Holmes: America's First Serial Killer (2004).
- Albert Fish (2007)..
- Carl Panzram: The Spirit of Hatred and Vengeance (2012).
- Bloodlines: The Art and Life of Vincent Castiglia (2015).[2]
Other roles
- Toro Loco (2010), by Chilean filmmaker Patricio Valladares, as producer.
Awards
- Midwest Independent Film Festival 2003 - Best Director: John Borowski for H. H. Holmes: America's First Serial Killer.
- Screamfest Horror Film Festival 2004 - Best Horror Documentary: H. H. Holmes: America's First Serial Killer[1]
- Chicago Horror Film Festival 2012 - Director's Choice Award: Carl Panzram: The Spirit of Hatred and Vengeance.
Further reading
- Bears Fonte, 2014, "Murderbelia and the Serial Killer Culture: An Interview With John Borowski," at AMFM MAGAGINE (online), November 20, 2014, see , accessed 15 May 2015.
- Harold Schechter, Lee Mellor, Michael Newton, Kim Cresswell, Aaron Elliott, Robert Hoshowsky (Lee Mellor, Ed., William Cook, Illustr.), 2014, “Unsolved in North America,” Serial Killer Quarterly, Vol.1 No.3, pp. 8–10, Grinning Man Press, ISBN 099382322X, see , accessed 15 May 2015.
- Matt Forster, 2014, "Movie Review: John Borowski’s “Serial Killer Culture,” TuffGnarl (online), August 30, 2014, see , accessed 15 May 2015.
References
- 1 2 Anon., 2004, "John Borowski, winner Best Documentary for 'H.H.Holmes'," at Getty Images (online), see , accessed 15 May 2015.
- 1 2 Inked Staff, 2015, "John Borowski’s Inside Look at the Art of Vincent Castiglia," at InkedMag (online), February 26, 2015, see , accessed 15 May 2105.
- ↑ John Borowski, with Herman W. Mudgett (Dimas Estrada, Ed.), 2005, "The Strange Case of Dr. H.H. Holmes," Toronto, Canada:Waterfront Productions, ISBN 0975918516, see , accessed 15 May 2015.
- ↑ David Lindquist, 2012, "Matthew Aaron Stages 'The Crime Scene II'," at INDYSTAR (online), August 9, 2012, see , accessed 15 May 2015.
- ↑ Kevin J. Lindenmuth, 2010, The Documentary Moviemaking Course: The Starter Guide to Documentary Filmmaking, York, U.K.:Methuen, ISBN 1408128586, see , accessed 15 May 2015.
- ↑ Steven F. Scouller, 2010, Murderabilia and True Crime Collecting, Bloomington, IN:AuthorHouse, ISBN 144909421X, see , accessed 15 May 2015.
- ↑ Anon., 2013, "News: John Borowski – Special Guest @ Indie 2012!!!," at The Indie Horror Film Festival (online), March 19, 2012, see , accessed 15 May 2015.
|