Paul Dawson

Acting

Paul Dawson

Paul Dawson is an actor and DJ perhaps best known for playing the secretly suicidal former prostitute James, one of the principal characters in Shortbus, a 2006 American comedy-drama film written and directed by John Cameron Mitchell.

Acting credits

Shortbus poster
6.3

In post-9/11 New York City, an eclectic group of citizens find their lives entangled, personally, romantically, and sexually, at Shortbus, an underground Brooklyn salon infamous for its blend of art, music, politics, and carnality.

Shortbus

2006

No artwork available
5.0

A four-part anthology film dealing with homosexuality from the young to the old. "CRUSH" details the budding friendship of a 12-year old girl and a 16-year old boy, who bond over their favorite TV program and musical tastes. In "THE MOUNTAIN KING", a young street hustler makes a play for a straight man on a deserted beach one afternoon. "…LOST" looks at a day in the life of a young man who is first seen engaging in unsafe sex with a random partner. In "THE CONFESSION", a dying Catholic asks his partner of 35 years to send for a priest, even though the partner is greatly opposed to such a request.

Boys to Men

2001

The Big Kahuna poster
6.8

Three salesmen working for a firm that makes industrial lubricants are waiting in the company's "hospitality suite" at a manufacturers' convention for a "big kahuna" named Dick Fuller to show up, in hopes they can persuade him to place an order that could salvage the company's flagging sales.

The Big Kahuna

1999

Baby Blue poster
9.0

A handsome 20-something gets ready for a date with a boy that he fooled around with years ago in his youth.

Baby Blue

2002

Urbania poster
5.5

A series of urban legends take place around the life of a troubled man who is searching New York City for a mysterious stranger.

Urbania

2000

Gifted and Challenged: The Making of 'Shortbus' poster
6.5

A look at the unusual process used in the making of the film Shortbus (2006) featuring interviews, behind the scenes footage and clips from the feature film. Director John Cameron Mitchell starts with the concept of using real sex in a film with a positive message. The cast of unknowns is selected from homemade audition tapes and then a callback audition workshop. More acting workshops are used to develop the characters and script. The project overcomes a number of obstacles and the rest of the film's development is followed up until its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

Gifted and Challenged: The Making of 'Shortbus'

2007

The Mountain King poster
5.3

A reserved young man meets an impulsive stranger on a secluded beach. Their brief friendship leaves each subtly changed.

The Mountain King

2000

No artwork available
NR

For five sophomores, the college experience consists of illegal substances, firearms, hookers, repeated transgressions of natural law, and general chaos.

The Blur of Insanity

1999