Sharon Lewis
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” a feature film prequel to the celebrated novel Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson.[1] 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.
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."
Sharon Lewis | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Lewis at the Black History Month event "An Evening with Pam Grier" in 2011 | |
| Born | Sharon M. Lewis Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Alma mater | University of Toronto (BA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1995–present |
Sharon M. Lewis studied political science at the University of Toronto.[2]
Canadian Screen Awards:
Winner, Best Direction Factual Series: Canadian Screen Awards, Paranormal Night Shift, 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
IN FOCUS: Black Women in Media Ep. 4 - SHARON LEWIS | The Africa Channel
Filmography[edit]
Filmmaker[edit]
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Ritch (Short) | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2009 | Chains (Short) | No | ||
| 2011 | In Between Life (Short) | Yes | Yes | |
| 2016 | See Me Now (Short) | No | No | |
| 2017 | Brown Girl Begins | Yes | Yes | |
| 2019 | Disruptor Conductor (Documentary) | No | No | |
| 2020 | Merry Liddle Christmas Wedding | |||
| 2021- | Murdoch Mysteries | |||
| 2021 | With Wonder (Documentary)[3] | |||
| 2022 | Hudson & Rex | |||
| 2023 | Power Book IV: Force | |||
| 2024 | Sight Unseen | |||
| 2024 | Chicago Med | |||
| 2024 | FBI: Most Wanted | |||
| 2024 | Law & Order Toronto | |||
| 2024 | Power Book II Ghost | Yes | No | No |
Actor[edit]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Rude | Rude (as Sharon M. Lewis) |
| 1999 | Lullaby (Short) | Creation Woman (as Sharon M. Lewis) |
| 2001 | Maple (Short) | Chamele (as Sharon M. Lewis) |
| 2002 | The Style of My Soul (Short) | as Sharon M. Lewis |
| 2014 | Happy 1 Year (Short) | Diana |
| 2018 | Mouthpiece | Barbara |
| 2019 | White Lie | Collette |
References[edit]
- ^ ""Canadian premiere of Brown Girl Begins at the Art Gallery of Ontario on Saturday The Caribbean Camera", February 22, 2018.
- ^ John McKay, "Sharon Lewis finds activism experience a plus for new role as CounterSpin host," Western Star, Corner Brook, Newfoundland: October 6, 2001, pg. 30.
- ^ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15598732/ [user-generated source]
External links[edit]
- Sharon Lewis' ZeD biography
- Sharon Lewis at IMDb
- 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
| Authority control databases: Artists |
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- Living people
- 20th-century Canadian actresses
- 21st-century Canadian actresses
- Actresses from Toronto
- Black Canadian actresses
- Black Canadian broadcasters
- Black Canadian filmmakers
- Black Canadian journalists
- Canadian film actresses
- Canadian stage actresses
- Canadian television actresses
- Canadian television directors
- Canadian television hosts
- Canadian women film directors
- Canadian women screenwriters
- Canadian women television directors
- Canadian women television hosts
- CBC Television people
- Film directors from Toronto
- University of Toronto alumni
- Writers from Toronto
- Canadian television biography stubs