Meet Dania Denise

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dania Denise. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Dania, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

For better or for worse, my dad taught me to “see in color” from elementary school age. Growing up, he would tell me that before anyone heard me speak, saw my talents, or knew of my intellect, they would see my “paint job” (his candid reference to skin color). Being born in the ’40s, he sat front row and center to the Civil Rights Movement and had his fair share of encounters with being the only person in the room so every lecture he gave me, each lesson he taught me, it stayed with me my entire life.

In that sense, my dad prepped me for what to expect. He also made it very clear that it wouldn’t matter that I was a girl or that I was “nice to look at.” I would always have to work harder, longer, and more thoroughly to show what I was capable of because even my degree, resume or training alone wouldn’t be enough.

I never go into rooms looking for a battle, however. I instantly know because of my appearance that I’m automatically going to be judged in some way, shape, or form: whether it’s my age, gender, or race (or all 3). Instead of leading with everything I know how to do, I prefer to observe and let people talk to gain a sense of what they’re all about. Knowing how to read a room, doing my homework on the people I’m around, and gauging the energy has always been pivotal in how I operate in those kinds of environments.

Oftentimes, people meet me and assume I’m new or don’t have as much experience so without asking about my background/training, they jump into teacher mode and walk me through the paces. I typically take this with a grain of salt. I don’t correct anyone or get defensive. I smile, nod, and then get to work.

I lead with my experience in a hands-on way, whether it’s how I articulate myself or seeing me in action in front of or behind the camera. I find that people who have the urge to talk the most tend to have the least amount of substance in what they’re saying. Knowing how a majority of people will perceive me ahead of time prevents me from feeling defensive or that I have to fight to prove myself. I know my worth and what I bring to the table but there’s a big difference between confidence and arrogance. When people see that I lead with the former, they instantly let their guard down and let me do what I need to do.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’ve been a professional actor/model/voice-over artist/host/emcee for 25+ years. Being in front of the camera is second-nature to me but it wasn’t until I got behind the camera in 2017/2018 that I really fell in love with the craft of filmmaking — indie filmmaking in particular.

In April of 2021. I founded Runaway Mill Productions LLC, which is committed to telling stories that are anything but “run-of-the-mill.” In that role I’m a writer, producer, director, and editor. Casting is also a hat I wear when needed. The process of writing or being given a script and being tasked with putting together a team and executing the best way to tell the story is a rush for me from beginning to end. I also offer actor demo reels, where clients receive a custom-written scene, coaching/rehearsals, and a full day of film production, resulting in a professionally edited scene/clips for their reels.

I will always continue to work as on-camera talent but at the moment, I’m really focused on continuing to build my body of work as a writer and director. Living onsets is a major goal for me. The more I’m onset, the stronger my skills will get, the larger my network will grow, and the more doors that will open to me as a result. It all serves to make me better than I was yesterday.

Additionally, I’m also an acting coach. While I’ve done online workshops for groups in a guest speaker capacity, I really thrive offering one-on-one coaching via Zoom to help actors from all experience levels with a wide range of areas, including (but not limited to): self-tapes & auditioning, monologues, scene study, colds reads, getting into character, etc. Not only do my acting students get to learn the ins and outs and be introduced to an industry that doesn’t have to be cutthroat and negative, it also gives me a built-in talent pool. I love reaching out to my students with roles for projects I think they’d be a good fit for. It’s a beautiful full-circle experience where everyone wins.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Empathy: When you know how to put yourself in another person’s shoes and see different perspectives, it allows you to be a more efficient leader, collaborator, and overall good person. From managing personalities to understanding what others deal with related to their respective job duties, it all contributes to giving me the language I need to connect with anyone on my team, making them feel seen, heard, and valued.

Strong Communication Skills (Verbal & Written): Whether I’m writing an email, sending a text, or having a meeting, I’m completely comfortable with expressing my needs, expectations, and feedback on any given situation, individual, or group of people. Being proficient at communication in all its facets improves the odds of a positive outcome where everyone is on the same page as much as possible. I’m a firm believer of knowing how to use tact and delivery to reach any audience and that skillset has helped me be taken seriously no matter who is in the room.

Playing To My Strengths Via Multitasking: I’m fortunate that I can multitask with the best of ’em. There are several hats I wear well and that I have total confidence in wearing. But I don’t stretch myself too thin. If I know I’m feeling burned out or taking on responsibilities I know I don’t have to, I’ve learned to scale back as needed. I never want my ability to multitask to work against me. I’d rather excel in a few things than be mediocre across the board.

My best piece of advice for people early in their journeys is to learn empathy first. Being a people-person who can engage with all personalities and walks of life really helped the rest of the puzzle pieces fall into place for me. It gives a type of blueprint on what to do next. Once I knew how to put myself in someone else’s shoes, it made it easier for me to identify how to communicate well and which of my hats were best suited for tackling particular situations and people.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

100% being well rounded is a priority to me. That doesn’t mean I have to master every single area I’m not the best in but having familiarity builds knowledge, which builds competence. That then leads to building confidence and that chain reaction is an extremely rewarding and beneficial process to experience.

Being honest with myself and identifying the areas of filmmaking I wasn’t good at or didn’t know much about helped me seek guidance and education from the right resources. As a filmmaker, it was essential for me to have at least basic knowledge of who does what when it comes to the crew behind the camera, as well as in post-production.

When I took on the short film, “Yvonne Speaks,” I was directing a cast and crew of almost 40 — the largest for me at the time. The first thing I did was pick the brains of my cinematographer, assistant director, G&E, and sound mixer. I told them I was eager to learn what they do, why, and how it impacts the project. I made sure to explain that I wasn’t doing this to micromanage but because as a director I wanted to know how to run my sets more smoothly, create the synergy needed for them to feel like they had the freedom to work their magic, and so I would know what was happening at any given time during filming.

As an actor, I’ve been onset where there was a delay for whatever reason and the director would just get upset and yell at everyone instead of simply asking what the delay was. As a result of the research I did before heading into principal photography, I was absolutely cool, calm, and collected whenever we had a delay or a snag because I spoke my team’s language and – more importantly – I fully understood the situation when it was explained to me.

When you only stick to your strengths and turn a blind eye or have indifference towards other positions/avenues in your field, not only does it increase the odds of a breakdown in communication with your team, it puts you in a bubble where you’re in the dark and don’t even know why.

I’m not saying you have to do it all but learning the ropes at the most basic entry-level position will go a long way towards building a solid team and they’ll love you for taking the time to care about what they do. I’m always learning and growing and that’s contributed greatly to my success so far.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.runawaymillproductions.com
• Instagram: @runawaymillproductions.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runawaymillproductions
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniamallette/
• Twitter: @runawaymill
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DaniaDenise
• Other: https://www.youwerejusthere.com

Image Credits

Cameron Radice Photography
Hollow Doubt Photography
Vanessa Armstead
Z9 Media
CineSoul 2024
Steadfaster Media