Meet Dana Brawer | Screenwriter & Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dana Brawer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dana, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
One of the most exciting aspects of TV and filmmaking is the collaboration – and just the sheer number of different creative professionals who come together to bring a project to life. It’s awesome, and the more I collaborate with others who are passionate about their crafts, the more it gets me exciting to keep creating more. Being an artist can be isolating sometimes. You work alone towards a goal. You have your vision, and you’re often unsure if others will connect with it. But I absolutely love working in film & TV because of that feeling of community and partnership with everyone involved. Before I started working in the field professionally, I was obviously familiar with all the “above the line” talent involved – actors, writers, directors, producers — even other department heads like directors of photography and editors. I knew about agents and managers and lawyers… But I had no idea how many individuals it takes to actually bring a project to life. There are crucial roles in development, pre-production, production, post-production, sales, marketing, and distribution I had no idea existed. It’d be lunacy to list them all now, but I do think folks outside of entertainment don’t realize how many hands have to touch and love and nurture a project before it’s ready for the world. For anyone seeking to break into entertainment, just know there are countless ways to be involved in creating the content you love, and there’s no one path to get there.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ll stick on this theme of collaboration and cooperation today. I do believe that’s something that sets me apart from others in the industry – especially other TV writers. As much as I’ve just spoken about the wonderful folks I’ve had the honor of working with, there are… you know, some folks who are less about the team effort, to put it kindly. It can be cutthroat. There’s a lot of money to be made and lost, and that can bring out the worst in people. But I think that’s one of the reasons I keep getting hired in rooms, aside from my fabulous writing samples, of course. I am all about the team and I absolutely love connecting with others and pushing towards a collective goal and vision. I’ve come away from almost every single job with lifelong, genuine friends (even former bosses have now become close friends), which I know the folks obsessed with the money and career politics can’t say.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We’d see a few movies at the Aero and New Beverly theaters. Dance it out at The Echo and Akbar. Sushi at Asanebo and Chiba. I’m currently doing The Grog Log at Tonga Hut, so we’d have to go to that LA classic tiki bar. For a weird time, we’d head to the Museum of Jurassic Technology and grab margaritas at Madre! afterwards. In the summer. we could take the ferry to Catalina Island and snorkel at Lover’s Cove and fuel up at the Lobster Trap.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It would be impossible to name everyone who’s helped me reach this point in my career – because as I’ve said, I’ve been fortunate to work with countless folks who’ve made me a better artist and collaborator. So I dedicate this to everyone who has made the long hours and unpredictability of this work a true joy. My community of other passionate folks who love movies and storytelling more than anything. Friends who’ve read my horrible vomit drafts and still given me notes. My family who’s supported my dreams since day one. The more experienced and established writers and mentors who’ve advocated for me, continued to hire me, and submitted my work to reps and producers and other showrunners.

Website: www.danabrawer.com

Instagram: @brawerpower

Twitter: @danabrawer