Meet Dania Denise | Indie Filmmaker

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

Hi Dania, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When it comes to my indie production company, Runaway Mill Productions LLC, I was inspired based on my experience co-founding other indie production companies with fellow filmmakers. It was truly trial and error but with each short film project we did, I came away learning so much. What I loved most is that every takeaway got applied almost automatically to the next film and that, in turn, made each project more successful than the one before.

But at the same time, I was observing the ways in which to manage different personalities and the ups and downs that present themselves when collaborating on a team. Having grown up onsets in front of the camera since I was a teen, I’ve seen positive production environments and negative ones. Being front and center for the indie projects opened up my eyes as to how I would run my own company if I was solely in charge.

After a while I realized I was meant to have my own production company and instead of having co-founders, I would serve as the sole owner/operator, allowing me to set the expectations and make creative decisions. That freedom and flexibility gives me the breathing room to partner with other creatives in a way that allows me to be 100% invested in whatever I’m doing. I also knew I wanted my sets to be “learning sets,” where students and pros alike could work together and newer filmmakers could get the hands on experience they need in an environment where they didn’t have to be afraid to ask questions or make mistakes. Being in charge ensures I’m able to maintain the professional, positive work environment everyone can thrive in.

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.
I’ve been immersed in the entertainment industry since high school. Being front and center for several decades already put me where the action was and my education from that standpoint was accelerated dramatically. I was always curious about the equipment and the various roles people played in a production. That natural curiosity fueled my desire to understand the world behind the camera, as well as the postproduction world.

Luckily, I had no shortage of people who willingly let me pick their brains. By the time I decided to create Runaway Mill Productions LLC, I already had a long list of previous clients, production companies, actors, and other individuals in the industry that I knew professionally and personally.

That community was built-in as a result, and my positive reputation as on-camera talent over the years really came in handy when I was ready to start reaching out to different people to collaborate with as an indie filmmaker. People were excited to see me level up and their faith in me, along with their desire to work with me truly made me feel like this path was the right one.

If I make things look easy it’s only because I started the work 10+ years ago by continuing to work in the industry as a model, actor, voice-over artist, and host/emcee. I continued to foster great relationships with the people whose energy, work ethic, and creativity matched mine over time. And I was never shy about letting people know what I was trying to do. Anyone who is with me onset, whether I’m acting or behind the camera, knows how I work and that I get results. Building your brand and staying consistent is key to showing people who don’t know you yet what you’re capable of and what you require to be successful.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Living just outside of the San Francisco Bay Area gives me access to literally everything so I can truly tailor a week long trip based on interest. I’m food motivated so I’d likely start off with fresh seafood at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, followed by a ferry ride over to Sausalito to explore their cute boutique art galleries. Also taking in a hike at Mount Tamalpais would give us the perfect combo meal of nature and natural exercise.

Then we’d get a nice Airbnb in Sonoma County and be wine snobs for the day. I’d make reservations for a wine tour with restaurant pairings and have a driver handle the itinerary so all we’d have to do was drink, eat, and relax in between destinations.

To keep the relaxation vibes going, we’d head to St. Helena and hit the hot springs, followed by massages. I’m all about enjoying the moment and living in the present while being surrounded by natural beauty, far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city and crowded touristy areas.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Every single actor in front of the camera and every single crew member behind the camera has my lifelong appreciation and gratitude. Every client who has trusted me with their story/vision and anyone who has taken the time to guide me, answer my questions, show me the ropes, and invested in my growth and career trajectory is what motivates me to be better than I was yesterday. My film family is a tribe of individuals I deeply admire and respect. Creating with them has made my life and heart so full. I could never thank them enough and it makes me extremely excited for the stories we’ll be working together on in the future.

Website: https://www.runawaymillproductions.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runawaymillproductions/

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

Twitter: https://x.com/runawaymill

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runawaymillproductions/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DaniaDenise

Image Credits
Hollow Doubt Photography
Steadfaster Media
Z9 Media