BIO

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Like most people of my generation (Boomer) who ended up becoming 'makers' (to use the modern parlance), my youth was spent in a basement corner of my parent's house with Aurora model kits, Famous Monsters of Filmland magazines, chemistry sets and any Ray Harryhausen movie I could find on the fuzzy b/w portable Philco. The basement survived, though my father's Lazy Boy recliner was slightly damaged in a rocket fuel experiment. 

In my teen years, I discovered 8mm film and finally had a way to document the stuff I had been making and showing to my bewildered parents. Eventually, film production and everything associated with it became my life. 

After college (WMU '78, Art Ed) I began 'working' as an indie filmmaker (20+ short films and several documentaries). Of course there were the memorable 'pay-the-bills' jobs; grave digger, wedding photographer, movie projectionist, bank teller. Eventually I found an amazing opportunity to work as a Visual Information Specialist for the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, where I was responsible for all of the print advertising design, multi-media displays, national press coordination and exhibit fabrication. But after 5 years, movies kept calling me back. 

In 1988 I decided to leave to pursue feature filmmaking. I wrote and directed a low budget SOV movie called 'Blind Faith' (so sorry, it's out-of-print) which flopped, but which ultimately led me to starting a company called Lionheart Creative Services (catchy!). For 16 years, we (myself, my writer/producer partner and an army of minions) provided sets, props and special effects to the film/video/TV community in West and Central Michigan as well as trade show exhibits for national vendors, exhibits for several museums and a variety of custom installations for commercial/retail clients. 

In 2005, I took a sabbatical from the grind for a few years to work as a sous chef on Beaver Island (What? Where?). After I returned, I decided to finally put my college degree to use as an Art Teacher, so, in 2009, I found a position with a small district in the middle of the state. 

Since then, in addition to my teaching (which I love), I continue to provide design and fabrication services in support of the creative community and am always anxious for the next opportunity to be a 'maker'.  

Dean Wilson, July 2023