J. Michael Dawson

J. Michael Dawson is a producer in film, television and online media, focusing on commercially viable and brand centered entertainment. The founder of Lifeforce Entertainment, a digital media company, he has produced five original web series, including the hit show Men's Room, and launched Canada's first online broadcast network, LifeforceTV.com. In 2005 he created the Toronto Film Challenge, Canada's largest film competition. Executive Producing and hosting over 2500 filmmakers, the event has become a staple in the Toronto film community, awarding local filmmakers over $100,000 in prizes and enabling their work to be adjudicated by some of Canada's most distinguished actors, directors and producers. After spending several years on set as an assistant director, Michael has gone on to produce a variety of projects including the short film Heir Apparent, the latest music video Laces Out for the hit band U.S.S, and the feature film The Shrine for Brookstreet Pictures. The Shrine recently won the Best Canadian Feature award at the 2010 Fantasia Film Festival. Michael is an active member of the Canadian Media Production Association, and an alumnus of the Vancouver Film School. He hosts an ongoing meet-up for web television professionals in Toronto where he resides, while developing new projects for film, television and the web.