William Michael Carter
Michael is an Adjunct Professor at the RTA School of Media, bringing extensive experience from the Film & Television industry, with a particular focus on Animation and Visual Effects. As a production executive and studio owner, he has led the development and delivery of complex, high-end content, working at the intersection of storytelling, technology, and global production pipelines. His work spans creative direction, studio operations, and the strategic management of projects for international markets.
In the classroom, Michael translates industry practice into applied learning, giving students direct insight into the realities of contemporary screen production. He emphasizes the full lifecycle of Film & TV projects—from concept development through to post-production and delivery—while equipping students with the creative, technical, and managerial skills required in Animation and VFX-driven environments.
His teaching reflects a forward-looking perspective on the evolving media landscape, preparing emerging creators to navigate and lead within an increasingly complex, technology-enabled industry.
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Michael's research integrates digital archaeology with advanced 3D scanning and VR to ethically reconstruct lost historical sites. He studies the enculturation of AI, examining how cultural data and biases are embedded within machine learning algorithms. Furthermore, his work establishes rigorous standards for digital heritage ethics, ensuring transparency between historical evidence and technical interpretation in virtual and media reconstructions.
Practice-based and industry-engaged contributions include the visualization of the Jean Baptiste Lainé archaeological site in collaboration with the Wendat Nation, the deployment of robotic systems for fieldwork in Egypt, the development and delivery of the Creative Leadership & Entrepreneurship Workshop Series, and ongoing research in enculturation and AI within creative workflows, alongside professional engagement with Computer Animation Studios of Ontario (CASO), Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAFFI), and the Visual Effects Society, contributing to Animation, VFX, and Film & Television industry practice, innovation, and knowledge mobilization at Toronto Metropolitan University.
2018 - Team Award Recipient, Award for Outstanding Work in Digital Archaeology - Archaeological Institute of America (AIA). For the design, development, and implementation of the Open Digital Archaeology Textbook Environment (ODATE). Shared with Dr. Shawn Graham, Dr. Neha Gupta, and Dr. Beth Compton.
2015 - Team Award Recipient, President’s Blue and Gold Award of Excellence – Ryerson University. For the design, development, and implementation of the Master of Digital Media program. Shared with Dr. Matthew Kyan and Ms. Sonya Taccone.
2008 - Gemini Award for “Best Preschool Program or Series” – Service Production, 2D Animated series Will & Dewitt for Cookie Jar Entertainment.