Amaze
AMAZE is an award-winning international film and television production company founded by producing partners Michael Souther and Teza Lawrence. Amaze has a strong commitment to storytelling and an ambitious slate of projects in a broad spectrum of genres. The most recent being EVERYTHING’S GOING TO BE GREAT starring Bryan Cranston and Allison Janney and directed by Jon Baird. Amaze has also produced Amazon Prime Video’s first Canadian Scripted comedy THE LAKE, a half-hour comedy starring Julia Stiles and Jordan Gavaris.
The company’s mystery drama series CARTER, starring Jerry O’Connell, aired globally on Sony AXN for Sony International & Bell Media. Amaze’s portfolio also includes four seasons of the award-winning HBO comedy series CALL ME FITZ, starring Jason Priestley, the ½ hour comedy THE STANLEY DYNAMIC, the TIFF audience award winner FINN ON THE FLY, the multi-award-winning feature film SAINT RALPH, and BEING CANADIAN that premiered at HOT DOCS.
Amaze Team
Teza Lawrence
Executive Producer/Co-owner
Teza Lawrence is an award-winning producer and the co-founder of Amaze. She is a passionate storyteller and has a wide variety of interests that she hopes will positively impact the planet, specifically a deep love for trees. Over the past 20 years, Teza has co-built Amaze to be a creative incubator and producer of market-driven television and films. Past projects include CARTER for SONY and BELL MEDIA, THE STANLEY DYNAMIC for CORUS, and CALL ME FITZ for HBO CANADA. She also executive produced three feature films: FINN ON THE FLY and SAINT RALPH, which had their world premiere at TIFF, and BEING CANADIAN, which premiered at HotDocs.
Michael Souther
Executive Producer/Co-owner
Michael Souther is an award-winning producer. Michael began his career directing, writing, and producing the short film PATTI BURNS, which became a backdoor pilot for THE COMEDY NETWORK and the flagship show for Amaze. Michael has a strong commitment to telling LGBTQ stories and recently finished executive producing the first season of the half-hour comedy THE LAKE for AMAZON PRIME VIDEO. Past projects include CARTER for SONY and BELL MEDIA, THE STANLEY DYNAMIC for CORUS, and CALL ME FITZ for HBO CANADA. He also executive produced three feature films: FINN ON THE FLY and SAINT RALPH, which had their world premiere at TIFF, and BEING CANADIAN, which premiered at HotDocs.
Ryan St Peters
Development, Kids & Family
Bio to come.
Hugo van Essen
Associate Producer
Originally from The Netherlands, Hugo graduated from Humber College’s Writing & Producing for TV in 2019. Hugo used his experience in Dutch film production to become a Covid Compliance Officer for Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol (ViacomCBS). Now, Hugo uses his organizational skills to put the “prod” in Producer’s Assistant for Mike & Teza. Fueled by ravenous curiosity and adventure, Hugo enjoys climbing all sorts of things, ranging from corporate ladders to bouldering gyms!
AMAZE SCRAPBOOK
Amaze through the years
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Teza Lawrence (m) and Michael Souther (r) during 2004 Toronto International Film Festival – Inside Entertainment Surreal Party at Brasaii in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by J.Sciulli/WireImage) 
WESTWOOD, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: (L-R) Producers Michael Souther and Teza Lawrence, a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman, Canadian Consul General James Villeneuve, producer Megan Raney Aarons, director Robert Cohen and producer Colin Gray arrive at the premiere of Candy Factory Films’ “Being Canadian” at the Crest Westwood on September 17, 2015 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/WireImage) 
