INTERVIEW: Dana Starfield
…at some point I realized I had spent a few years giving all my ideas, time and energy to other people’s projects. So I decided to change course and more actively pursue projects and ideas that I love. | Dana Starfield
Hey Hey!
Up next for our Sisterhood Cinema series is Dana Starfield, a producer and screenwriter known for Madagascar: A Little Wild, Hanazuki: Full of Treasures and Sofia the First. She gave lots of great insight about her career and a behind-the-scenes at what it’s like to work on really cool projects. Hope you enjoy!
1. When did you first know that you wanted to work in film/tv?
My best friend and I attended a high school that offered access to a performing arts magnet school. Every morning at 5AM we took a little bus to this school a few towns over, we would spend hours fiddling around with video and editing equipment before taking a bus back to our regular high school. We were total film geeks from the time we were tweens and made a pact to eventually move to Los Angeles and work in the industry together. I studied film in college and then moved out to Los Angeles and became the assistant to two producers who made some of my favorite movies. Their deal was at Universal, and my best friend ended up becoming the assistant to the president of Universal- so we would geek out every time we’d do roll calls between our bosses and get to hear each other pick up the phone. While I was working at that same company, I realized how much I loved not only giving notes on scripts, but also writing them, so I took screenwriting classes at UCLA after work at night. Even though I started out working in live action, I have always been drawn to animation and the incredible world-building that it allows for. Along with the type of storytelling- particularly in features- that transcends age.
2. Best part of creating 'Madagascar: A Little Wild’
It was really brilliant to see all these ideas we dreamt up turn into an entire world that took on a life of its own thanks to the contributions from the talented artists, musicians and actors on our team who breathed life into it. And then best of all- getting to sit down and watch it with my kid, who inspired so many stories.
3. Favorite project you have worked on and why?
That is a tough one! There is a feature I am working on right now that I have been wanting to write for years, and it is the kind of project where I wake up in the middle of the night with new ideas. It just sort of flows, and I have loved that.
4. Biggest regret in your career?
I regret spending a significant amount of time taking on speculative development work and freelance scripts for existing IP instead of concentrating on original ideas that I am passionate about. That actually might not be a regret so much as a necessary evil! It is hard to turn down opportunities that are brought to you- especially if you want health insurance, or a roof over your head or if you have kids who like to eat. But at some point I realized I had spent a few years giving all my ideas, time and energy to other people’s projects. So I decided to change course and more actively pursue projects and ideas that I love. And sometimes that still includes existing IP! But I have refocused on taking on the kinds of projects I am passionate about, whether they are my original ideas or existing stories and characters that I love.
5. What is up next for you?
I have been really busy writing and developing a few upcoming projects that I am incredibly excited about - an animated feature that will hopefully go into production soon, a live action YA series, an animated mini series, an adult animated comedy, and one incredibly unique animated series with a lot of exciting collaborators.
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