Q&A: Dana Frankoff

Interested in attending the Wasatch Mountain Film Festival?

Dana Frankoff directed 2020 WMFF features “Voice Above Water” We asked him a few questions, see our Q&A conversation below:

What is in your gear bag/kit?

Currently in my camera bag is my SonyA7iii, ND filter, batteries, more batteries, a battery charger, lens cloth and cleaning kit.

What item can you not live without?

 

I like to live without all of it sometimes, forces you to be in the moment.

How do you choose music for your films?

For Voice Above Water my friends from the band Lucius graciously let us use one of their songs to play during the credits.

Most necessary character-quality for a director?

Rolling with the punches (“rolling” pun intended, “punches” pun not intended ;).

Who has been most influential in your directing career?

 

My godfather who’s edited documentaries for as long as I’ve known him and still gives me the best storytelling advice.

Favorite on-set memory?

Filming Wayan at sunrise with a volcano behind him and dolphins jumping out of the water and laughing with the DP about how that shot would be “too much” for the film.

Craziest on-set/en route to set adventure?

We took a speedboat from Bali to Nusa Pineda minutes after the whole crew met for the first time.

More About Dana Frankoff

 

Dana Frankoff is a filmmaker in Northern California who has helped make academy award-wining films come to life. Her directorial debut, “Voice Above Water” is a short documentary that combines her passion for protecting the ocean and storytelling. Her overall goal as a filmmaker is to tell emotional stories that motivate people towards living a sustainable lifestyle and help make the world a healthier place.