D. W. Waterson

D. W. Waterson
Waterson in 2017
Born Kristin Waterson
Innisville, Ontario, Canada
Nationality Canadian
Education Ryerson University
Occupation DJ, drummer, writer, director, web series creator
Years active 2014–present
Notable work That's My DJ

Kristin Waterson, credited professionally as D. W. Waterson or by her stage name hey! dw, is a Canadian DJ, drummer, writer, director, and web series creator. She is known for her work as a performer and for creating, writing, and directing the award-winning web series That's My DJ (2014–2017).[1][2]

Early life and education

Waterson was raised in smalltown Ontario,[3] and later attended Ryerson University for film school.[4] Afterwards, she settled in Toronto.[5]

Career

Beginning in the early 2010s, Waterson worked as a DJ, performer, and event promoter in Toronto.[5] She created a monthly event called Home Brew, which features herself and other local DJs.[6] Waterson also served as a post-production supervisor for Rhombus Media; she worked on the award-winning film Closet Monster in 2015. She has also directed various music videos.[7]

That's My DJ

Waterson released her first web series, That's My DJ, in 2014. Waterson directed every episode of the series and co-wrote several. She also wrote and produced some of the music. Waterson based some of the series on her own experiences as an out lesbian in the entertainment field.[8] For her work on the series, she won awards for Best Director at the Vancouver Web Series Festival in 2017,[9] and at the New York Television Festival in 2016.[10] NOW Magazine called her series "well-produced, well-acted, and well-written".[2] Flare dubbed the series a "must-see—even if you're not in the music scene".[11] In 2018, for her work on the third season, she was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Direction in a Web Program or Series, but did not win.[12]

Music

Waterson has released several singles under the stage name hey! dw, including the title track from That's My DJ.[13] In September 2017, she released a single called "Breathe".[14] Another single, "Things I Do", premiered on October 25, 2017; the music video for this single also served as her debut music video.[15]

In October 2017, Waterson embarked on a North American tour with Mystery Skulls.[16]

On January 31, 2018, she released her second music video as hey! dw, for her single "The Rhythm", on YouTube.[17]

Activism

In 2016, Waterson penned an open letter to the CNE, condemning the festival for its lack of female musicians.[18][19] In the letter, she wrote: "Let's balance these numbers out and inspire a new generation of little girls that yes they too can be rockstars".[20] 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".[20]

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominated work Result Refs
2016
New York Television Festival Best Director That's My DJ Won [21]
2017 Vancouver Web Series Festival Best Drama Series Nominated [22]
Best Director Won [22]
Best Canadian Series Won [22]
2018 Canadian Screen Awards Best Direction, Web Program or Series Nominated [12]
Seoul Web Fest Best Music Won [23]

References

  1. ↑ "9 New York Television Festival Pilots to Put on Your Radar". NBC News. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  2. 1 2 "Binge-worthy Toronto web series". NOW Magazine. 2016-08-17. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  3. ↑ "Addicted Magazine interview with hey! dw".
  4. ↑ "Ryerson grad is turning tables in film".
  5. 1 2 "D.W. Waterson spins DJ life into a web series". CBC Radio. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  6. ↑ "A Day in the Life with Toronto Creative D. W. Waterson".
  7. ↑ "This week on Toronto screens: A female film pioneer and a host of jazz greats".
  8. ↑ ""That's My DJ" gets queerer in Season 2 - AfterEllen". AfterEllen. 2016-08-30. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  9. ↑ "Vancouver Web Fest". vancouverwebfest.com. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  10. ↑ "Indie Pilots 'According to My Mother,' 'Poor Todd' Take New York Television Festival Prizes". Variety. 2016-10-29. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  11. ↑ "'That's My DJ' Season 3: This Show Has Something for Everyone - FLARE". Flare. 2017-07-07. Retrieved 2017-09-16.
  12. 1 2 "D.W. Waterson - Academy.ca". Academy.ca. 2018-01-10. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  13. ↑ "That's My DJ Season 2 Soundtrack".
  14. ↑ "hey! dw releases new single, "Breathe"".
  15. ↑ "hey! dw shares video for 'Things I Do' [405 Premiere]".
  16. ↑ "San Francisco Examiner October 25–26".
  17. ↑ "hey! dw Brings 'The Rhythm' with a Music Video - FUXWITHIT". fuxwithit.com. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  18. ↑ "CNE takes heat for lack of female musical acts". blogTO. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  19. ↑ "Does the CNE Understand Who They're Dealing With?". Euphoradio. 2016-09-01. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  20. 1 2 "This open letter challenges CNE to book more female musicians | Chart Attack". Chart Attack. 2016-08-31. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  21. ↑ "Indie Pilots 'According to My Mother,' 'Poor Todd' Take New York Television Festival Prizes". Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  22. 1 2 3 "Vancouver Web Fest 2017 Winners & Nominees". www.vancouverwebfest.com. Retrieved 2017-10-08.
  23. ↑ "Seoul Web Fest - 2018 Award Winners".
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