Kirk Shaw

Shaw completed a journalism diploma at Douglas College in BC with the initial intent of becoming a writer. He landed on the administrative side of journalism, and was part of the management that launched the tabloid Edmonton Sun in 1978. Upon his return to Vancouver in the mid-1980s, Shaw spent 12 years in the computer business before launching Insight Films.

Shaw initially launched Insight Films to produce self-guided audio tours for museums and branched into video after he was approached by the Museum of Vancouver to produce display videos.[2]

In 1994, Shaw began to produce his own documentaries, with Insight’s first dramatic feature film released in 2001, Maximum Surge.[2]

From 2006 to 2009 Kirk Shaw's Insight Film Studios was Canada's largest independent production house.[2]

Shaw has been deemed an unfair engager by the Writers Guild of Canada.[7]

In 2012, Shaw announced his appointment to Vancouver-based, Odyssey Media Inc. as an Executive Consultant and Producer. Odyssey Media Inc. opened its doors in 2011 with offices in Vancouver BC, LA and in Brisbane Australia as Odyssey Film Studios [5] In Shaw’s own words, “I’m very excited to be joining Odyssey. The entertainment industry is in the midst of a great transformation and Odyssey Media is perfectly positioned to lead the change. I know I can tailor cast, funding sources and filming locations around the globe to match the unique requirements of a variety of feature films Odyssey currently has in the works, as well as, bring my projects to Odyssey by leveraging short-term funding to back pay-or-play deals for actors, cash-flow prep and to confidently secure optimum distribution value.”[5]

In 2012, Shaw and Odyssey Media packaged and produced their first film together, Absolute Deception, an action/thriller starring Academy Award Winner Cuba Gooding Jr.[8] Kirk also helped kickstart his son, Christos Shaw’s acting career.

In January 2013, Odyssey announced new investor funding for a 15-film slate of films [9]

In June 2013, Odyssey Media/Odyssey Film Studios and Kirk Shaw Executive Produced the Feature Film Drive Hard starring John Cusack and Thomas Jane.[10] Hard Drive was filmed throughout Australia's Gold Coast.[11]

For 2014 Odyssey Media and Kirk Shaw packaged and produced Pound of Flesh starring Jean-Claude Van Damme.[12] Shot in China for worldwide release in 2015.[13]

In 2015, with close to 200 film and television credits to his name, Shaw is one of the leading film financiers and producers.[14]