Carroll Ballard

Carroll Ballard is an American cinematographer and film director born on October 14, 1937 in Los Angeles, California. Ballard directed the 1996 Fly Away Home motion picture.

Carroll Ballard is mostly known for directing films featuring humans, particularly children, interacting with animals including the Oscar-nominated Never Cry Wolf and The Black Stallion. This is what brought him to the attention of Fly Away Home producer Carol Baum who felt he was the perfect choice for directing a film depicting geese and a young girl. Ballard granted a lot of latitude to his actors, allowing them to create their own character as he set the scene, explained what was to be discussed and letting them do the rest. Working with wild geese also required much spontaneity and adaptation.

Ballard's daughter Nora appeared in Fly Away Home as Amy's classmate Jackie.