A respected producer devoted to rebuilding southern Vancouver Island’s film and TV-production industry has died.
Ken Lawson, 56, passed away “suddenly and unexpectedly” this week, said Philip Fuldauer, his best friend and production co-ordinator on Spooksville, the children’s television series Lawson was spearheading here for Front Street Pictures.
It was a testament to Lawson’s character and work ethic that while cast and crew were in shock after learning Lawson had died just after principal photography began, they decided to soldier on, said Allen Lewis, Front Street’s vice-president of production.
“He was a show-must-go-on kind of guy,” said Lewis, noting the crew decided he wouldn’t want them to halt production.
They observed a moment of silence before shooting at a stone church on tribal lands overlooking Cowichan Bay.
“You always knew where you stood with Ken. He was a straight shooter,” Lewis said.
Fuldauer recalled his longtime friend as a hard-working producer who tirelessly promoted Victoria.
“He was one of the fairest, most honest and realistic people I’ve ever worked with,” he said.
Lawson’s extensive credits included We Don’t Live Here Anymore, starring Naomi Watts and Mark Ruffalo, and The Deal with Christian Slater for Front Street; Everything’s Gone Green; Warner Bros.’ Smallville and the CTV series Robson Arms. He was also executive special-effects producer for the 2010 Winter Olympics’ opening and closing ceremonies.
After relocating here three years ago, the Vancouver native joined local producers Les Bland and Ian Ferguson when they formed Less Bland Productions. He recently produced She Kills Me, their 13-part comedy series for APTN.
“He was a wonderful man to work with,” Bland said. “What’s sad is that his dream was cut short. He had set up a home with us here and was doing other projects. He always told you what he felt was the truth, not what you wanted to hear.”
Jason Furukawa, his first assistant director, said Lawson was always clear about what you were getting into.
“He never, ever went back on his word, which is a very big thing in this business,” the Vancouver director said.
He was also a devoted friend, said Fuldauer, noting Lawson turned down a job to stand by him when he had cancer.
Front Street Pictures is setting up a fund to aid the family.
