Meet David Dolansky | Creative Producer – MBA/MFA Candidate at Chapman University

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

Hi David, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
Growing up in a small town outside Cleveland, Ohio, my childhood was relatively normal. Between asthma-induced hospital visits, diving into various sports, and hiding the trouble I got in at school, life was full of ups and downs.

My parents focused on fostering leadership and independence, urging me to carve my own path. That meant facing the consequences of my choices, a lot of failure, and learning pains. I emerged today as someone more balanced, equipped with the resilience and wisdom to continue to take risks and embrace failures.

I spent much of my time outside of work and school watching movies, but my mind was usually somewhere else when I was in school. I spent the days dreaming up movie moments and recalling my favorite scenes. It only really occurred to me that I could create a life in the entertainment industry once I was in college. Upon graduation, I took a leap of faith. I moved out to Southern California to continue my education, establish a life here, and finally live the dream that I could previously only imagine.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As a creative, I have always been fascinated with dystopian films and novels. They are extensions of our own world that highlight or stretch certain parts of our society to raise the stakes, clarify a theme, or explore complex character arcs. As I continue to produce and create content, my hope is to create films that foster dialogue, generate emotion, and inspire the next generation of filmmakers.

Additionally, one of my goals as an MBA/MFA candidate is to be the liaison between the creative and business minds. As I venture out and seek leadership positions, my hope is that I will be able to bring perspective from both sides of the entertainment industry.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Hike in Malibu Creek State Park – some really great views and they filmed a few movies there! Visit The Great Frog in West Hollywood – a London based jewelry maker. Make your way down to Dana Point’s Doheny Beach for some great surfing. Take a studio tour at Warner Bros – especially for those fans of Friends. Stop by the historic Orange Circle and grab a beer at Chapman Crafted.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First, I’d like to thank my high school acting teacher Carol Pribble. She is an inspiration and kind mentor to students unsure whether a path in the creative arts is possible. She was instrumental in fostering my passion for acting/film and developing the courage to pursue a career in the industry. More recently, I would also like to shoutout my producing mentor Nana Greenwald and my MBA mentor Ralphie Giron for their careful guidance, patience, and much needed wisdom.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daviddolansky

Image Credits
Many thanks to Chaewon Suh, Frank Xu, and Tristan Marr for some of their incredible BTS set photos!