Danae Grandison

unaffiliated

1) What was your first professionally directed work and when was it? 

I have not been hired to direct professionally as of yet.

2) How did you get into directing?

I got into directing in 2011, when I took my first intro to film course during the summer at SVA. I was introduced to writing, directing, casting and I was my own camera women shooting on 16mm Bolex. My film Unconditional Love went on to win the Audience award. It was in this moment sitting in the theatre with the audience and hearing their responses that it reaffirmed the stories I want to tell resonated with them. In that moment it lit a fire to keep going.

3) What is your most recent project? 

My recent project is Unspoken, a short film. I am currently in-development with my first feature which is based off of the short Unspoken.

4) What is the best part of being a director? 

The best part of directing for me after I have locked my script, and flushed out the visuals with my cinematographer and I ready to work with actors. Set life is exhilarating, its a lot of work but there is a high that everyone rides when crew and cast flow in synergy.

6) What is your current career focus: commercials and branded content, television, movies? Do you plan to specialize in a particular genre–comedy, drama, visual effects, etc.?

My current career focus is in both commercial and narrative space, which includes branded content, television and movies. The genre I plan to specialize in is drama: romantic, comedy and crime as well as action.

10) Tell us about your background (i.e., where did you grow up? Past jobs?) 

Danae Grandison graphic designer–turned–writer/director is an award winning filmmaker. Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica. While studying in NY at F.I.T. she wore the crown of Miss Jamaica USA in 1997 and graduated with a BFA in Graphic design. Graduate of School of Visual Arts (SVA) with a Masters in Directing. Award winning short film Unspoken has toured film festivals domestically and internationally. Won the Best Short and recipient NYWIFT Most Outstanding Female Content Creator Award. Awarded YGB Entrepreneurial Awards 2019 Strategic Business Award in Film & Cinematic Production. Participant in the 2019 inaugural Australian International Screen Forum’s Women in Screen Workshop developing Unspoken, her first feature film–an adaptation based on The Bed Head. Grandison has also produced award-winning shorts, music videos and branded content.

Contact

Contact Danae Grandison via email
Website