We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dania Denise. Check out our conversation below.
Dania, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity is most important to me not only because it’s the main thing people consider when it comes to working with someone, it demands both intelligence and energy to successfully attain. You have to possess a certain level of emotional intelligence and maturity to make decisions that are in your best interest to avoid compromising yourself. Knowing how to pick your battles and when to walk away to preserve your integrity are vital in this industry. Maintaining and exemplifying integrity also requires an insane amount of energy. Putting in the hard work, showing up early and staying late, making the effort to address all the tedious details that get overlooked to make sure you’re putting out the best product and setting your team up for success are all contributing factors to one’s brand and reputation. No one who is foolish or lazy has ever been perceived as a person of integrity.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Dania Denise and I’m a multi-hyphenate entrepreneur. In front of the camera, I’m a working actor, voice-over artist, model, and host/emcee/interviewer. Behind the camera, I’m an indie filmmaker. Through my company, Runaway Mill Productions LLC, I serve as the Founder and wear the hats of writer, director, producer, editor, and creative director. I also own an art business, The Chalk Chica, where I provide custom, hand drawn chalk art for special occasions and events like tradeshows. What’s unique about my company/brand is my ability to take my nearly 30 years of professional experience in the entertainment industry and successfully execute productions of all sizes in a way that ushers in the new generation of filmmaking: one that isn’t dominated by egos, bad behaviors, and entitlement but instead by fostering a positive environment deeply rooted in “community, not competition.”
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My dad taught me the most about work and the kind of work ethic it takes to be successful. As a merchant marine, I grew up with my dad being gone overseas working on naval vessels for 6-9 months straight. He would be home for only 1 month and I always made sure I was attached to his hip. Not a day went by that he didn’t explain to me in depth why he was away for so long and how hard he worked to make sure me and my mom had a good life. On several occasions he took me with him on the ships when they were docked. I spent hours drawing in my notepad while he and his coworkers crawled around these massive engines and ensured everything was safe. As I got older, I watched him fight with his employer to be properly recognized/promoted with the job titles he rightfully earned, and I saw his successes and failures. My dad wasn’t perfect but he showed me what I could accomplish if I stayed the course and focused on being my biggest advocate.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me resilience. No sense of entitlement could ever properly show me my worth and value. It’s only been through loss, grief, and suffering that I had something to fight for and the resilience to see myself through the other side. It’s during those darker times that I’ve witnessed firsthand the strength I’ve always carried within me. I never take anything in my life for granted because of it. My priority is maintaining my peace and anything that feels negative, toxic, or unnecessary is much easier for me to brush aside and let go of because anything that doesn’t serve me doesn’t belong in my life. Now that I feel my path is clearer than ever before, I’m in a better position to welcome the successes that I know I earned and were meant for me. My story would be a lot more boring if all I had were successes without the life experiences.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
My first feature film, “You Were Just Here,” is a project I am committed to finishing come hell or high water. I’ve had some initial successes with it, including filming 10 minutes of principal footage, but production is currently on hold while I secure the rest of the budget. I know the story is solid and that it has mainstream appeal. I have the most amazing team in place behind the camera and the most talented and capable actors in front of it. Everyone that’s part of this project has known from day one that we’re playing the long game and I plan to see it through no matter what. Knowing I have so many people in my corner believing in the project and in me gives me the momentum to keep going.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m onset, writing, or editing. Organizing the chaos, managing personalities, watching my team thrive in their creativity and using my own talents to breathe life into stories and characters is my Zen. My thoughts, my emotions, my excitement, my frustrations, my joy are all tied to the creative work I do onset and in the comfort of my home office where I write and edit. Being front row to that level of creativity and witnessing the people I care about shine gives me such purpose and the validation that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. When I’m onset, I feel so at peace. I’m untouchable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.runawaymillproductions.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runawaymillproductions/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniamallette/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dania.denise1/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/daniadenise
- Other: www.daniadenise.com
www.daniadee.com
Image Credits
Rosalin Santa Cruz
Sammy Jimenez
Steadfaster Media
Sir51508
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