D. W. Waterson

D. W. Waterson, is a Canadian DJ, drummer, writer, director, and web series creator. They are known for their work as a performer and for creating, writing, and directing the award-winning web series That's My DJ (2014–2017). In June 2020, Waterson announced on Instagram that they identify as non-binary and use they/them pronouns.[1]

D. W. Waterson
Waterson in 2017
Born
Innisville, Ontario, Canada
NationalityCanadian
EducationRyerson University
OccupationDJ, drummer, writer, director, web series creator
Years active2014–present
Notable work
That's My DJ

Early life and education

Waterson was raised in Innisfil, Ontario,[2] and later attended Ryerson University for film school.[3] After graduating, they settled in Toronto.[4]

Career

Beginning in the early 2010s, Waterson worked as a DJ and event promoter in Toronto.[4] They created a monthly event called Home Brew, which features themselves and other local DJs.[5] Waterson also served as a post-production supervisor for Rhombus Media; they worked on the award-winning film Closet Monster in 2015. They have also directed various music videos.[6] In 2014, they founded their production company, Night is Y.[7]

That's My DJ
Main article: That's My DJ
Waterson in 2017

Waterson released their first web series, That's My DJ, in 2014. Waterson directed every episode of the series and co-wrote several. They also wrote and produced some of the music. Waterson based some of the series on their own experiences as a queer person in the music industry.[8] In an interview, Waterson discussed their intentions with the series, saying:

Being a DJ myself I found myself looking around the clubs and bars thinking there are so many interesting characters set against this colorful background, why isn’t anyone telling this story?! It was that moment that inspired me to write and create That’s My DJ.[9]

Waterson collaborated with other creatives in the Toronto arts scene to create the series and initially relied on self-financing to produce the project. The first season of the series originally premiered online in 2014, after a successful crowdfunding campaign via Indiegogo.[10] The series gained media attention after the second season premiered in 2016.[11][12] The second and third seasons were also funded primarily through Indiegogo campaigns.[13][14] Cumulatively, the three seasons have been viewed over 3 million times on YouTube, as of 2020.[15]

For their work on the series, they won awards for Best Director at the Vancouver Web Series Festival in 2017,[16] and at the New York Television Festival in 2016.[17] NOW Magazine called the series "well-produced, well-acted, and well-written".[18] Flare dubbed the series a "must-see—even if you're not in the music scene".[19] In 2018, for their work on the third season, they were nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Direction in a Web Program or Series, but did not win.[20]

Music

Waterson released several singles under the stage name hey! dw, including the title track from That's My DJ.[21] In September 2017, they released a single called "Breathe".[22] Another single, "Things I Do", premiered on 25 October 2017; the music video for this single also served as their debut music video.[23]

In October 2017, Waterson embarked on a North American tour with Mystery Skulls.[24] On 31 January 2018, they released their second music video as hey! dw, for the single "The Rhythm", on YouTube.[25]

In May 2019, Waterson announced on Twitter that they will no longer be using the hey! dw stage name, and would thereafter be credited as only D. W. Waterson for all of their future projects.[26]

Other work

In 2019, Waterson announced their debut feature film as a director, an adaption of Ellie Moon's play, What I Call Her.[27] Waterson directed the six-episode Crave series, The D Cut, which premiered in 2020.[28]

Activism

In 2016, Waterson penned an open letter to the CNE, condemning the festival for its lack of female musicians.[29][30] In the letter, they wrote: "Let's balance these numbers out and inspire a new generation of little girls that yes they too can be rockstars."[31] CNE general manager Virginia Ludy responded to the letter, calling it "self-serving" and denying that there is an issue, claiming that the CNE features "a lot of female performers".[31]

Awards and nominations
Year Association Category Nominated work Result Refs
2016 New York Television Festival Best Director That's My DJ Won [32]
2017 Vancouver Web Series Festival Best Drama Series Nominated [33]
Best Director Won [33]
Best Canadian Series Won [33]
2018 Canadian Screen Awards Best Direction, Web Program or Series Nominated [20]
Seoul Web Fest Best Music Won [34]

References
  1. "𝘿.𝙒. 𝙒𝘼𝙏𝙀𝙍𝙎𝙊𝙉 on Instagram: "Call me D.W. // Non-binary // Pronouns they/them ⁣ 📸: @lindsayinmotion"". Instagram. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  2. "Addicted Magazine interview with hey! dw".
  3. "Ryerson grad is turning tables in film".
  4. "D.W. Waterson spins DJ life into a web series". CBC Radio. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  5. "A Day in the Life with Toronto Creative D. W. Waterson".
  6. "This week on Toronto screens: A female film pioneer and a host of jazz greats".
  7. "Night is Y".
  8. ""That's My DJ" gets queerer in Season 2 – AfterEllen". AfterEllen. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  9. "Director D.W. Waterson Talks "That's My DJ" and Other Projects". Occhi Magazine. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  10. "That's My DJ". Indiegogo. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  11. "Indie Pilots 'According to My Mother,' 'Poor Todd' Take New York Television Festival Prizes". Variety. 29 October 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  12. "Binge-worthy Toronto web series". NOW Magazine. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  13. "That's My DJ Season 2". Indiegogo. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  14. "That's My DJ Season 3". Indiegogo. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  15. "Night is Y". YouTube. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  16. "Vancouver Web Fest". vancouverwebfest.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  17. "Indie Pilots 'According to My Mother,' 'Poor Todd' Take New York Television Festival Prizes". Variety. 29 October 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  18. "Binge-worthy Toronto web series". NOW Magazine. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  19. "'That's My DJ' Season 3: This Show Has Something for Everyone – FLARE". Flare. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  20. "D.W. Waterson – Academy.ca". Academy.ca. 10 January 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  21. "That's My DJ Season 2 Soundtrack".
  22. "hey! dw releases new single, "Breathe"".
  23. "hey! dw shares video for 'Things I Do' [405 Premiere]".
  24. "San Francisco Examiner October 25–26".
  25. "hey! dw Brings 'The Rhythm' with a Music Video – FUXWITHIT". fuxwithit.com. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  26. DW (23 May 2019). ""Call me D.W. Officially leaving behind hey! dw Moving forward all my artistic projects, film & music, will be under the name D.W. Waterson"". @dw_waterson. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  27. Punter, Jennie (29 April 2019). "Inside Out LGBTQ Fest Unveils 2019 Finance Forum Selection (EXCLUSIVE)".
  28. Hatzitolios, Chloe (30 June 2020). "8 reasons this inclusive LGBTQ2S+ series about haircuts is a must-watch". The Loop. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  29. "CNE takes heat for lack of female musical acts". blogTO. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  30. "Does the CNE Understand Who They're Dealing With?". Euphoradio. 1 September 2016. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  31. "This open letter challenges CNE to book more female musicians | Chart Attack". Chart Attack. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  32. "Indie Pilots 'According to My Mother,' 'Poor Todd' Take New York Television Festival Prizes". Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  33. "Vancouver Web Fest 2017 Winners & Nominees". vancouverwebfest.com. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  34. "Seoul Web Fest – 2018 Award Winners". Archived from the original on 4 October 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
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