University of Montevallo theater students will have an opportunity to “talk shop” with actor-writer-director-producer and UM alumnus Cameron Watson during his visit to the campus Friday, Jan. 26.

Watson, who lives in the Hollywood hills of Los Angeles, will talk with all theater majors about the film industry during a morning session in Reynolds Studio Theatre. That afternoon, he will lead an acting-on-camera workshop for upper-level majors. At 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 26, a screening will be held for Watson’s award-winning film Our Very Own, starring Allison Janney. The screening will be held in the Merchants and Planters Bank Auditorium in Comer Hall. Afterward, Watson will be available to answer questions from the audience. The event is open to the public free of charge.

“We are very fortunate to have an artist with Cameron’s range of professional TV, film and theater experience work with our students,” said theater professor David Callaghan, chair of the UM Communication Arts department. “Our theatre majors always learn so much from their contact with outside guest artists, and this visit will be especially exciting since Cameron attended UM. I am thankful for Cameron’s efforts to maintain contact with the University over the years, as well as his enthusiasm for arranging his busy schedule in order to share his experience with our students.”

Watson received his bachelor of fine arts degree from Montevallo in 1983. While at UM, Watson was an active major in the theatre division under the leadership of the late Dr. Charles Harbour. He acted in many main-stage productions and discovered his passion for directing as well. He was involved in College Night and was a member of Orchesis, the dance troupe. He graduated as Senior Elite in Theater and was a two-time recipient of the Marion Galloway Directing Award.

He began his extensive professional acting career in New York City, where he studied with the legendary Herbert Berghof at the HB Studio in Greenwich Village. He soon landed the starring role in the original production of Horton Foote’s Off-Broadway play “The Widow Claire” at Circle in the Square, replacing Matthew Broderick.

Watson then moved to Los Angeles to build a career in film and television while still acting in theaters around the country. He starred in three other Horton Foote plays on the West Coast, “The Habitation of Dragons,” “Laura Dennis,” and the highly acclaimed world premiere of “The Day Emily Married.” He originated the lead role in Jack Heifner’s “Comfort and Joy” at Portland Center Stage and starred opposite Peri Gilpin in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey and again in the West Coast premiere of Douglas Carter Beane’s “As Bees in Honey Drown” at the Pasadena Playhouse directed by Sheldon Epps. He created the leading role in Richard Dresser’s “Wonderful World” at The Laguna Playhouse, and has appeared on many other LA stages including the Tiffany, Zephyr, Court and Blank theatres.

Watson’s television career was launched when he was cast as Bart Fallmont in the now infamous mini-series “Dynasty —The Reunion,” where he joined original cast members as one of the Carrington clan, playing opposite John Forsythe, Heather Locklear, Joan Collins and the rest. This led to many years appearing in television movies, commercials, pilots and episodic television. He was recently seen in the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie adaptation of Anne Tyler’s Back When We Were Grownups, co-starring with Blythe Danner, Jack Palance and Faye Dunaway. Some memorable TV appearances include “Stacked,” “CSI: Miami,” “NYPD Blue,” “Six Feet Under,” “King of Queens,” “Frasier,” “Caroline in the City,” “Profiler,” “Ned and Stacey,” “Wings,” and “Cheers” among many others. Film credits include “Vanilla Sky” directed by Cameron Crowe, “Manna from Heaven” with Shirley Jones, Cloris Leachman and Frank Gorshin, the starring role in the cult hit “Get Your Stuff,” and “Leaving Drew” opposite Allison Janney.

Watson’s feature-film writing and directing debut, Our Very Own, stars Janney, Jason Ritter, Cheryl Hines, Keith Carradine, Hilarie Burton, Faith Prince and Autumn Reeser and was just picked up by Miramax Films. The film world premiered at the prestigious 2005 Los Angeles Film Festival to a packed DGA Theater audience and a rousing standing ovation. Janney was nominated for a 2006 Independent Spirit Award for her exquisite work in the Best Supporting Female category. Variety film critic Robert Koehler praised Janney, saying, “What’s amazing about Janney’s performance is that it is just the beginning of what turns into one of the most fully realized female characters in recent American film.” The movie has gone on to win the Grand Prize at the Bluegrass Independent Film Festival, an Outstanding Ensemble Acting Award at the Sarasota Film Festival and a Special Jury Prize at the Rome International Film Festival. Miramax Films has secured all North American rights to the film.

Horton Foote recently invited Watson to participate on a panel at the first annual Horton Foote Playwright’s Conference at Baylor University alongside Romulus Linney, Estelle Parsons, Carlin Glynn and Ellen Burstyn. He is also an active member of Film Independent in Los Angeles and several theatre companies in the southern California area.

Recently, Watson directed the critically acclaimed and award-winning stage production at the Actor’s Co-op in Hollywood of Horton Foote’s “The Habitation of Dragons.” That production won the coveted LA Ovation Award for Best Supporting Actor. Watson’s American stage premiere of Dodie Smith’s “I Capture the Castle” at the El Portal Theatre in Los Angeles was unanimously hailed by critics. Watson’s direction was called “sterling, deft, excellent and focused.” The show was nominated for six 2006 Ovation Awards.

Watson currently continues his writing, directing and acting career. He is also a respected acting teacher and private coach with a high-profile client list. International Creative Management (ICM) represents him as a filmmaker.