Film
Dawson has created over 15 original short films and played creative roles in over 20 productions.
Straight Lines (2022)
Short Films
Music Box (2023)
Director, Cinematographer, Screenwriter, Lighting/Gaffer, Sound Designer, Audiovisual Editor
Music Box illustrates the queer paradox: representing queer death with a history of queer regulatory death (Bury Your Gays) tropes and a history of real-life queer death. The narrative film depicts Joy (21), an amnesic genderfluid person on a mission to piece together their life and identity through disembodied fragmented memories defined by their life with Sam (22), their queer love. However, Joy and Sam’s future are disrupted by a traumatic hate crime that severs reality. To restore a future with Sam, Joy must revisit the day they die to alter fate, but this comes with consequences. The two become trapped within the queer paradox resolved through the music box.
Genre: Drama, Queer, Tragedy
More info found here.
Straight Lines (2022)
Director, Screenwriter, Lighting/Gaffer, Sound Designer, Film Scorer, Audiovisual Editor
A struggling queer artist finds love for the first time at a coffee shop.
This short film is an abstract expression of asexual queer love in the form of lines. With lines as gendered structures, the painter can subvert straight lines with curvy lines. And thus, the painter rejects (hetero) compulsory sexuality in favor of queer asexuality.
Genre: Drama, Queer, Artsy
January (2022)
Director, Cinematographer, Lighting/Gaffer, Mixer, Sound Designer, Audiovisual Editor
A man in jail will do anything to be there for his son's birth.
This film showcases the horrendous real-life events of a man experiencing withdrawal in jail. This raises concerns about the lack of humanity inmates receive, especially once the man learns that their son is being born. By harming himself, he can be medically released to the hospital, which effectively became the only solution for making it to his son's birth. What might this say about the United States jail/prison industrial system? About rehabilitation? And about humanitarian policies that can be put forth to help in these situations?
Genre: Drama, Harrowing, Brooding
Encyclopedia Dramatica (2022)
Video producer, Audiovisual Editor
Trigger Warning: This film contains conversations and coverage about violence, hate crime, murder, shootings, and bigotry such as racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, and more.
A deep dive into the news coverage and commentary about the Club Q shooting on November 19, 2022, in Colorado Springs, CO, and the ongoing damaging rhetoric produced by right-wing conservative politicians (as a means to maintain power and incite violent hate crimes) that the LGBTQIA+ community (in particular trans people) are pedophiles and groomers sexually mutilating and exploiting children alongside other similar falsehoods to justify their hate.
Genre: Documentary, tragedy, LGBTQIA+
YOASOBI「ハルカ」”Fan” Music Video (2022)
Director, Actor, Screenwriter, Lighting/Gaffer, Art and Costume Director, Audiovisual Editor
Based on the original song and music video YOASOBI「ハルカ」and the short story "The Prince of the Moon" by Osamu Suzuki, Haruka struggles to find hope for the future and turns to her life-long friend the Prince of the Moon for support.
Genre: Music Video, Drama, Feel-good
Sisters (2022)
Director, Screenwriter, Lighting/Gaffer, Sound Designer, Audiovisual Editor
A sisterly conflict has dire consequences.
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Gore
Disclaimer: Blood and Violence
I Got a Thing about Trains (2022)
Video Producer, Audiovisual Editor
A documentary created out of 11 interviews with retired railroad employees from the early to mid-1900s. These interviews were conducted in 2005 and 2006 and were compiled into this video for the Meadville Railroad Depot Museum on behalf of the French Creek Valley Railroad Historical Society.
Genre: Documentary, Nonfiction
Some depictions of the stories are historically accurate while others are a representation of the stories.
All existing sources are credited at the end of the video.
Wanda 1984 (2022)
Director, Actor, Screenwriter, Lighting/Gaffer
This is a memoir monologue all in one take describing the days surrounding my grandmother's death.
Genre: Drama, Somber
David Dead (2022)
Co-director, Actor, Screenwriter
David Dead is haunted by the loss of his shoe. He and his friend Oliver document their search for David's missing shoe. But, at what cost?
Genre: Mockumentary, Comedy, Mystery
This film was made for the Allegheny College 48-Hour Film Festival 2022.
Hunt(ed) (2021)
Director, Actor, Screenwriter, Lighting/Gaffer, Sound Designer, Audiovisual Editor
A never-ending loop of hunting and hiding.
Genre: Horror
Faded Light (2021)
Director, Voice Actor, Screenwriter, Lighting/Gaffer, Sound Designer, Audiovisual Editor
A study of the safety and anxiety of faded lights.
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Eerie
i don’t hate my brother (2021)
Actor, Screenwriter, Sound Designer
I am here to set the record straight. I would do anything to protect my brother. I love my little brother. Seriously, I don't hate my brother...
Genre: Eerie, Horror, Mystery
Based on the short story "i don't hate my sister" by u/propheticdreamstrash.
Success (2021)
Director, Full Production
draigh sheldon struggles to succeed in college studying economics. However, an opportunity to audition for their college's theater troupe leaves draigh with a way to escape. Now, if only their dad would approve.
Genre: Drama
Filmography
Created or Directed
Music Box (2023) [Creator/Director]
Encyclopedia Dramatica (2022) [Video Producer]
January (2022) [Director]
Straight Lines (2022) [Director]
Cody & Melissa [Wedding Video] (2022) [Video Producer]
I Got a Thing About Trains (2022) [Video Producer]
Wanda 1984 (2022) [Director]
Sisters (2022) [Director]
David Dead (2022) [Co-director]
YOASOBI - “Haruka” 「ハルカ」[Fan-Made Music Video] (2022) [Director]
Hunt(ed) (2021) [Director]
Faded Light (2021) [Director]
Behind Closed Doors (2021) [Director]
Success (2021) [Director]
Larry’s Dream Realm (2021) [Co-director]
Norman Lewis (2021) [Video Producer]
Other Creative Roles
Freelance Contract for global company (Sept. 2023-present) [Assistant Video Editor]
Camp Menominee (Jun. 2023-present) [Photographer, Videographer, Video Editor]
The Keylogs of Jason and Melanie (Oct. 2023) [Wedding Videographer]
Roma Tomatoes (2023) [Assistant Director/Cinematographer]
Leaving (2022) [Assistant Camera]
Daydreams (2022) [Lighting Tech/Gaffer/Mixer]
Smile - Nat King Cole [Student Music Video] (2022) [Lighting Tech/Gaffer]
i don’t hate my brother (2021) [Sound Designer]