BPS 449: From Setbacks to Festival Wins: The Filmmaking Path of Dawn Fields

BPS 449: From Setbacks to Festival Wins: The Filmmaking Path of Dawn Fields

Author: Bulletproof Screenwriting December 11, 2025 Duration: 1:29:16
Dawn Fields is a Los Angeles-based producer, writer, and director whose journey through the film industry is marked by both struggle and triumph. Beginning her career as a production assistant in Atlanta, she quickly discovered her true passion was behind the camera. After relocating to Los Angeles with nothing but determination, she worked in distribution and acquisitions before founding Palm Street Films. From early crowdfunding attempts like Zombie Elves to the painful shutdown of Shattered Love, Dawn’s career has been shaped by hard-earned lessons in persistence, preparation, and the realities of independent filmmaking.

Her breakthrough came when she stepped into the director’s chair, turning setbacks into opportunities with projects like 209, Found, and Fragile Storm starring Lance Henriksen. Along the way, she learned to navigate the challenges of crowdfunding, casting, and maintaining creative control while still building credibility and an audience. Today, she not only develops new projects but also shares her knowledge through seminars and script contests, guiding emerging filmmakers. Her story stands as a powerful example of resilience in filmmaking—showing that while the path may be filled with setbacks, passion and persistence can transform failures into lasting successes.


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Ever find yourself staring at a blank page, wondering how the stories you love actually got made? Bulletproof Screenwriting™ Podcast digs into that process with the people who live it. Each week, we sit down for honest, detailed conversations that pull back the curtain on the craft and business of telling stories for the screen. You’ll hear from Oscar® and Emmy® award-winning writers, not just about their triumphs, but about the drafts that failed and the specific problems they had to solve. We also talk with best-selling authors who have adapted their work, seasoned Hollywood agents and managers who know what sells, and various industry insiders who provide a clear-eyed view of how things really work. This isn't about abstract theory or motivational fluff. It's a practical resource built on real experience, covering every aspect of the screenwriting process from that initial spark of an idea to navigating the complexities of the marketplace. The goal is straightforward: to provide you with actionable insights and straight talk that can strengthen your work and clarify your path forward. Whether you're just starting out or have a few scripts under your belt, this podcast offers a grounded perspective on the journey, one concrete discussion at a time. Tune in for a dose of reality and craft from those who have been in the trenches and emerged with stories to tell.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Bulletproof Screenwriting™ Podcast
Podcast Episodes
BPS 376: How to Make Money in TODAY's Indie Film with Jon Erwin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:19
In 2002, Jon Erwin founded a production company with his brother, Andrew. Their first ventures were commercials, documentaries, and music videos. The brothers soon were directing videos and producing concerts and televis…
BPS 375: Directing Al Pacino in an Indie Film with Johnny Martin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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BPS 373: Cinematography for Directors with Jacqueline B. Frost [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:58
Cinematographers are really the directors of images while directors are the authors of the performances. Evidently, the collaboration between these two important persons on set with a shared vision and respect influences…
BPS 371: Selling Scary Stories To Tell in the Dark with Cody Meirick [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:24
Today on the show we have filmmaker Cody Meirick. Cody is the director of the documentary Scary Stories, based on the wildly popular book series Scary Stories To Tell in the Dark. We discuss how he leveraged an underserv…

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