Talk:Sharon Lewis

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Update Biography, directorial work with references
Sharon M. Lewis is a Jamaican/Trini/U.S/Canadian filmmaker, and director. She is known in the screen industry for her directing flair, distinct cinematic voice, respect with crew, and her ability to inspire award-winning performances from actors.

Lewis has received numerous accolades for her work, including a Canadian Screen Award for Best Direction of a Factual Series, eight Canadian Screen Award nominations as a Showrunner and Director. She appeared in the Emmy- and NAACP-nominated documentary "How It Feels to Be Free" about iconic African American female entertainers. Sharon hosted the Emmy nominated groundbreaking TV series ZeD before the world wide web was on everyone’s phone.

Lewis honed her directing skills at the prestigious University of California Los Angeles. She directed her award-winning feature film debut "Brown Girl Begins," an Afro-futurist sci-fi tale which garnered recognition, including a CSA nomination for Best Screenplay. “Brown Girl Begins” continues to screen on multiple platforms including Apple, Amazon, Hulu, and Paramount Plus. Her award-winning feature documentaries, "Disruptor Conductor" for CBC Docs and "With Wonder" on CBC Gem, highlight stories from the BIPOC LGBTQI+ community, which continues to be a main focus in her work.

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Sharon’s film and tv industry career began behind the screen as an actor. When Sharon was living in Toronto and in LA the paucity of roles for Black women and women of color inspired her to partner with powerhouse maxine bailey to write their play, “sistahs”. The DORA nominated play  featured Caribbean women and queer women of color and broke office records in Toronto in 1994 where it premiered. The play's success has led to recognition as a seminal work in Canadian theater. The play has been produced in theaters across the U.S. and Canada. From “sistahs” the theater company, “sugar’n’spice was born.

Sharon Lewis is a trailblazer in the Canadian theater scene, having co- founded the first theater company for women of color in Canada, Sugar N Spice. This groundbreaking initiative provided a platform for women of color to showcase their talents and stories, which were often underrepresented in traditional theater spaces. Through Sugar N Spice, Lewis and Bailey created a nurturing environment where artists could collaborate, innovate, and explore their craft freely. The company's productions challenged societal norms and shed light on the diverse experiences of women of color in Canada.

Sharon has been at the forefront of the digital revolution in the film and tv industry. Zed was a groundbreaking Canadian television program that aired on CBC Television from 2002 to 2006. The inaugural series was hosted by Lewis. No show had done what Zed introduced:  the show was known for its innovative approach to arts and culture programming, featuring a mix of music videos, short films, animations, and interviews with emerging artists and cultural figures and merging it with an online community of artists. Zed quickly gained a dedicated following for its eclectic content and diverse representation, becoming a platform for showcasing new and underrepresented voices in the arts. The show's impact extended beyond its broadcast, as it engaged with its audience through interactive online content and live events, fostering a community of artists and enthusiasts. Zed was recognized with an Emmy nomination. Zed's legacy continues to be felt in the Canadian media landscape, remembered for its contributions and putting Canada at the cutting edge of the digital revolution.

Lewis has always been an activist so she married her on camera presence with her political background and hosted counterSpin. It was a political debating show hosted by Sharon Lewis that aired on CBC Television. In 2001 Sharon’s first year hosting the program, it garnered the highest rating in the history of the show. The  program provided a platform for in-depth discussions on current affairs, politics, and social issues. Known for its balanced and thought-provoking approach, “counterSpin” featured a panel of experts, politicians, and commentators who offered diverse perspectives on pressing issues of the day. The show's format encouraged civil discourse and critical thinking, aiming to inform and engage viewers in important national and international debates.

Before establishing herself as a renowned filmmaker and director, Sharon Lewis embarked on a successful acting career, appearing in various film and television productions. One of her notable roles was in the critically acclaimed Canadian TV series Degrassi: The Next Generation, where she portrayed Mrs. Walters, the mother of the character played by hip-hop artist Drake. Her performance added depth to the show's narrative, showcasing her ability to embody complex characters with authenticity. Lewis's acting talents extended to the big screen, where she delivered a memorable performance in the film “Rude”. “Rude” was the first all black above the line film produced in Canada and directed by the extremely talented Clement Virgo. The film took her to Cannes where it was an official entry.

Lewis is currently converging all of her experience, storytelling skills, and directorial knowledge to fully realize her talent as an exceptional filmmaker. She continues her work through her production company, urbansoul inc., developing genre features and scripted TV series that highlight the stories and talents of Black women, South Asian women, and the BIPOC 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Lewis's latest work includes directing episode 507 of "FBI Most Wanted," and she is currently shooting an episode of "Star Trek Strange New Worlds."

Film and Television Credits:

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds S3 (Director x 1 ep) Paramount + 1 Hour Action/Sci-Fi CBS Studio

Chicago Med S9 (Director x 1 ep) Amazon 1 Hour Drama NBC

Law and Order: Criminal Intent Toronto (Director x 1 ep) City TV 1 Hour Drama Cameron Pictures/Lark Productions

Sight Unseen S1 (Director x 2 eps) The CW 1 Hour Drama CTV

Power Book II: Ghost (Director x 1 ep) Lionsgate Television 1 Hour Drama Starz

FBI: Most Wanted (Director x 1 ep) CBSTVS/UTV/Wolf Films 1 Hour Drama CBS

East New York S1 (Director x 1 ep) WBTV/Skyemac 1 Hour Drama CBS

Power Book IV: Force (Director x 1 ep) Lionsgate Television 1 Hour Drama Starz

Transplant (Director x 2 eps) Sphere Media Inc. 1 Hour Drama NBC

Law and Order: Organized Crime (Director x 2 eps) Universal Television 1 Hour Drama NBC

Ginny & Georgia (Director x 2 eps) Netflix 1 Hour Drama Blue Ice Pictures

Hudson & Rex (Director x 2 eps) CityTV 1 Hour Drama Shaftesbury

Murdoch Mysteries XIV & XV (Director x 3 eps) CBC 1 Hour Drama Shaftesbury

Awards and Recognitions:

2022, Playback Top 30 TV Programs in Canada

2022, Canadian Screen Award Nomination – Best Direction of a Drama Series

2021 Reelworld Audience Choice Award

2019 Canadian Screen Award Nomination – Best Adapted Screenplay & Numerous Film Festival Awards

2022, Canadian Screen Awards Winner, Best Lead Actress TV Movie

2022, Canadian Screen Awards Nomination, Best Lead Actor TV Movie

2022, Canadian Screen Awards Nominee, Best Direction of TV Movie

2020 Canadian Screen Award Nominee – Best Director, Children’s Show

Winner – Africa Channel Film Spotlight Award

Winner – Best Horror/Sci-Fi Short at Eugene International Film Fest; ABFF Finalist

Winner – Atlanta Hip Hop Film Festival

References

Canadian Screen Awards:

Winner, Best Direction Factual Series: Canadian Screen Awards, Paranormal NightShift, 2021

Nominee, Best Direction TV Movie: Canadian Screen Awards, Death She Wrote, 2022

Nominee, Best Direction Drama Series: Canadian Screen Awards, Murdoch Mysteries: “The .38 Murdoch Special”, 2022

Reelworld Film Festival:

Winner, Audience Choice Award: Reelworld Film Festival, 2021

Black Alphabet Film Festival:

Winner, Best Documentary Film: Black Alphabet Film Festival, 2020

Houston Black Film Festival:

Winner, Best Costume Design: Houston Black Film Festival, 2018 Filmco

Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival:

Nominee, Best Film, Youth Jury: Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival, 2018

Indiefest:

Winner of Award of Merit Special Mention in the African American Category: Indiefest, 2017

Yorkton Film Festival:

Winner, Best Documentary Series: Yorkton Film Festival, 2014

Africa Channel:

Know Your Heritage: Sharon Lewis: Africa Channel

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz9Srkyo3Lg IN FOCUS: Black Women in Media Ep. 4 - SHARON LEWIS | The Africa Channel]

Sharon Lewis Press

Various Publications:

Media Magnets Zed

Share Magazine Counterspin

CBC’s Exhibitionists Brown Girl Begins: A Vision for Black Artists in the Future

The Toronto Star - Afrocentric symbiosis

Sistahs Cayman Compass

Athens Banner-Herald

Potent Magazine

The Sydney Morning Herald

Inatiff Podcast

Ranker The Best Black Sci-Fi Movies

Screenrant

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I am a paid editor editing on behalf of Sharon Lewis. My username is Salemscripts Salemscripts (talk) 22:29, 25 April 2024 (UTC)