Dan Lawson

Chief Operating Officer

Location: London
Career stage: Expert

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As Chief Operating Officer, I oversee the successful running of the London Film School. LFS is the UK's oldest film school and trains filmmakers, screenwriters, and executives in all aspects of the film industry.

As Head of LFS OPEN, I oversaw the London Film School's successful workshops and short courses programme, ensuring they continue to offer high quality, industry-relevant professional training, as well as overseeing new schools and community outreach programmes and looking after the School's wide range of international projects.

Previously I have run multimillion-pound film and TV investment funds supporting both production and development, garnering BAFTAs, Golden Globes and many more awards. I helped to develop a raft of new British filmmaking talent including commissioning more than 50 short films with the UK Film Council/BFI and working with the best up and coming writing, directing and producing stars.

I have also delivered major creative industries projects including Film Nation: Shorts, the official, UK-wide young people’s filmmaking competition of the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games. During nearly three years at Creative Skillset, I ensured professionals and businesses in film, television, animation, VFX and games had access to the best training in the UK. I still advise creative content funds on prospective investments, and am a trustee of Flatpack Film Festival.

ScreenSkills tests passed.

Coronavirus basic awareness on production training

ScreenSkills

1st July 2020 - 1st January 2021

Work History

Chief Operating Officer - London Film School

Jul 2017 - Present

Head of LFS OPEN - London Film School

Feb 2016 - Present

Independent Digital Media Professional - Self-employed

Sep 2011 - Present

Partnership Manager - Creative Skillset

Jul 2013 - Feb 2016

Executive Producer and Fund Manager (Consultant) - Creative England

Oct 2011 - Jul 2012

Head of Production, Development & Inward Investment - Screen WM

Sep 2008 - Sep 2011

Production & Development Executive - Screen WM

Jan 2006 - Sep 2008

New Talent Manager - Screen WM

2005 - 2006

Production Assistant - Screen WM

Mar 2004 - Jan 2005

Production Assistant - Maverick Television

Jan 2003 - Apr 2003

Education

History, Film & Television - M.Phil(B) - The University of Birmingham

2002 - 2004

American Studies & Media Studies - BA Hons - De Montfort University

1999 - 2002

Skills

creative and media environments
development
production & distribution Corporate strategy within digital
Business development
Business planning/strategy
Business skills/running a business
Commercial awareness
Compliance and legal
Development - film & television Finance - film & television Project Management Creative content investment
Digital content skills
Editing
Entrepreneurial skills
Finance and budgeting
Management and leadership
Negotiation skills
Networking
Organisational skills
Pitching/presenting and proposal writing
Programming
Project management
Sales and marketing