David S. Dawson has worked in entertainment his entire adult life. As a technical theater major with an acting minor at Baylor University, David left college early to pursue his dream of working with VariLite after seeing them in use at a Pink Floyd concert in Dallas, Texas. After working at VariLite's world headquarters in Dallas for a year he moved back to his hometown of San Diego, CA. For the next decade he worked on local and traveling crews for concerts, corporate AV and conventions. It was during this time that he also adopted a true "roadie" lifestyle and began driving equipment trucks in support of the shows he was working, often keeping himself on the road for up to 250 days a year. In the early 2000's he decided to focus on filmmaking, pursuing a childhood dream of being a film director that he'd had since watching documentaries about Steven Spielberg and George Lucas on the sets of Jaws, Indiana Jones and Star Wars. He returned to school to get a certificate in Radio and Television Production from Palomar College and earned three EMMY nominations for his student films while there. For the past 15 years he has freelanced in various positions performing duties in every aspect of production from producing, directing, writing, cinematography, G&E, sound recording and mixing, editing and post-production sound. Most recently he was nominated for a 2015 San Diego Film Award for screenwriting.
Simple Twist
(
Film
Sound department
Star Wars: The Toys Awaken
(
Film
Actor
5th Annual San Diego Film Awards
(
Film
Producer
Tosssed Assside
(
Film
Producer
Forever, My Love
(
Film
Producer
A Gunman's Hand
(
Film
Sound department
Daydream Hotel
(
Film
Sound department
Screen Lock
(
Film
Actor
Forgotten Hero
(
Film
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Convolution
(
Film
Producer
The IntelleXual Talk Show
(
TV Series
Producer
San Diego Film Awards
(
Film
Producer
Fear Binds
(
Film
Sound department
Jordan Hates
(
TV Series
Actor
Being There
(
Film
Camera and Electrical Department
In Situ
(
Film
Producer
Bittersweet Fortune
(
Film
Producer
Discontinuance
(
Film
Producer
Lefty
(
Film
Producer
The Adventures of Ranger Rocket (...And Daisy Danger)
(
Film
Actor
Midnight Rest
(
Film (short)
by David S. Dawson (Horror)
Producer, Director, Writer
Things Happen
(
Film (short)
by David S. Dawson (Drama)
Producer, Editor, Director, Writer THINGS HAPPEN is a powerful, emotional, short film about a man who has lost everything after the death of his wife and child. Lost in his grief he is struggling to find a reason to go on until a fateful encounter presents him another chance to see that life is worth fighting for.
2015 San Diego Film Awards
(
Television
by Fred Ashman (Reality-TV)
Miscellaneous Crew
Violence
(
Film
by Matt Steinauer (Crime and Thriller)
Sound department, Editorial department A psychologist is gradually broken down to the point of no return in his life; but was it his work or his past that sends him over the edge, to do the most unthinkable things. All of this happens to him in the middle of chaos breaking out during the London riots.
The Recency Effect
(
Film
Producer
Past Impulse
(
Film (short)
by Michael Matteo Rossi (Action and Drama)
Producer, Editor, Cinematographer, Second Unit Director or Assistant Director Nolan has a dark past and his demons are exposed when he comes across a brutal fight.
Unlucky Charms
(
Film (short)
by David S. Dawson
Producer, Editor, Director, Cinematographer, Visual effects
Glimpse of Heaven
(
Film (short)
by Diego Robles (Adventure, Drama and Family)
Producer A heart warming story about a blind Vietnam Veteran, Frank (Obaka Adedunyo), whose encounter with a special little girl, Huian (Ella Jay Basco), takes him on a life changing journey, only to find a purpose again. Although having lost his sight in battle, Frank has managed to live an independent life in the world by routine, schedules, dates and time. But Frank has also lost a sense of himself along the way that the simple innocence of a child triggers memory, feeling and emotion to bring back color to his world. Written by Anonymous
Misogynist
(
Film
by Michael Matteo Rossi (Drama and Thriller)
Producer A male chauvinist guru guides his best prodigy through the art of controlling women, only for the student to find out he is not everything that he seems.
The Last Wish
(
Film (short)
by Michael Matteo Rossi (Drama and Sci-Fi)
Producer, Editor, Cinematographer, Sound department, Actor, Music department After suffering a recent loss, a desperate father considers undergoing a highly experimental procedure to relive a memory from his past.
Prison Diaries
(
Television
(Reality-TV)
Actor
Iraq and Beyond
(
Video
by David S. Dawson (Documentary, History and War)
Producer, Editor, Director, Writer, Self A beyond the headline news look at the complexities of the war in Iraq.
Better Cooking Through Chemistry
(
Film (short)
by Al Stoffel
Producer, Editor, Director, Writer Ted Wilson is struggling with his OCD as he tries to impress his attractive yoga instructor on their first at home dinner date. But Ted has to deal with more than his compulsive urges. In his mind he has to settle his loose ends with his previous relationships before he can move forward with his new love, Drew. Written by Dawson, David S.
Lucky Numbers: A Musical
(
Film (short)
by Al Stoffel (Musical)
Producer, Director, Writer A group of print shop workers think they've won the lottery on their office pool ticket. Only problem is they can't find Dan, the guy who bought the ticket.
Lonely Road
(
Film (short)
by Michael Matteo Rossi (Drama, Mystery and Thriller)
Cinematographer A nice young lady moves into a lovely but deserted neighborhood by herself and eventually comes across a man who is intensely focused on fixing his car to get out of the area. Although the man is closed off and reserved at first, the story focuses on the strong bond that they make over a very short period of time. Written by Mike K.
What's the Vig?
(
Film
by Al Stoffel (Comedy)
Producer, Editor, Cinematographer, Actor, Art department Tommy Irish is a dreamer, a documentary filmmaker large on ambition, thin on talent. He brings his ragtag film crew into a print shop, attempting to capture the pulse of America - the small business. Under time pressure from the Donald Vito, who wants to collect the Vig, Tommy begins to panic - his frustration at watching the ink dry drives him to "direct" reality. Complicating his life is his desire to define his ambiguous sexuality with his beautiful line producer, Julia. His nemesis is Kenneth, the religiously hypocritical owner of the print shop, who is hatching an evil master plan. Written by Dawson Digital Productions, Incorporated
Human Resource
(
Film (short)
by Roman S. Koenig (Sci-Fi)
Cinematographer
The Big Date
(
Film (short)
by David S. Dawson
Producer, Editor, Director, Cinematographer, Writer Daryl is cramming to finish his Thesis which is due TOMORROW! Can he stay awake and get the task done, or will he fall asleep and spend his last moments for writing in dreamland?
Film InDiego
TV Series
Sound department
Baylor University
(1994-1996)
Palomar College
(1994-1996)