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Robert Willis, 1932-2005, was born in Edmonton, Alberta. He received an honours degree in Advertising Art from the Ontario College of Art in 1955. He worked in Calgary for Master Film Studios Ltd., Alberta's first film production company, from 1955 to 1966. For six months in 1958 he took time out to work with Pearl and Dean Cartoons Ltd. in London, England as a cartoon director. Upon his return he became general manager and then president of the studio which had been renamed Master Films (Alberta) Ltd. The company specialized in concept to screen productions of TV commercials and sponsored 16mm documentary films.
In 1966 the company became Canawest-Master Films Ltd. As vice-president, Robert served as producer/director/editor on commercials and sponsored films. In 1985 he took over Canawest-Master Films and merged it with On/film Productions Ltd. which he had incorporated in 1969. His company went on to produce more of the same types of features, including some work for the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary. Robert went into semi-retirement in 1991. He and his wife Jean had one son Rob.