Dan is an award winning motion graphics artist, founder of a non-profit and internationally recognized filmmaker. But, things didn’t always used to be this way…
Dan started his career in filmmaking in 2011. After a few years of producing video game montages and home videos Dan became excited about the idea of taking his passion a step further. While working as a salesman for heavy duty truck parts at a growing, well paying plus benefits company Dan was presented with an opportunity to work as a paid intern at a local studio company. With no kids, mortgage and major responsibilities Dan took the leap and was brought on as an assistant editor under Richard Cooper. In addition Dan would create animations and motion graphics as needed showing his true value and exposing a need in the production world.
Developing his Motion Graphics + Animation
Dan worked for several local production companies and had won a few awards for his motion design and animation work. In 2013 he was recruited by Deep Sky Studios in Portland, OR. Dan spent a year there being exposed to work on a much larger scale, working for clients like Bing, Microsoft, Portland State University and many more. Learning how to take projects a step further creatively and working in a team based environment. Since then he’s worked on his skills as a producer, director and cinematographer. Working directly with clients and building crews as needed to complete projects.
Little Ava Rose
In May 2017 Dan and Kristen welcomed their first child, little Ava Rose. They spent a lot of time outside and on hiking adventures across the Anchorage area. Ava was a smiley little girl with the cutest giggle. After Ava’s one year checkup the doctor noticed that she was behind developmentally. She couldn’t crawl, walk, eat with her hands or even sit up on her own. After a routine eye example Ava was diagnosed with Tay-Sachs, a genetic disease with a typical life expectancy of 3-5 years. Ava soon lost all voluntary movement, vision and developed daily seizures. Her adventures outside became a thing of the past.
Adventure for Ava
In search of a purpose or deeping meaning to the current situation Dan gathered his camera equipment, resources and connections. He started Adventure for Ava, a non-profit program focused on helping families with special needs capture memories outside. This project continues to deliver purpose and enjoyment to Dan. With each family he’s able to draw a parallel with, connecting each adventure to a bit of Ava’s story. Learn more about the program here.
The Current Situation
After working for other productions companies in both Anchorage and Portland Dan felt confident in his business knowledge and production skills. With the goal of spending more time with his daughters and the ability to chase his passions he quit his full time job to open his own studio. Having built a reputation over the many years for delivering high quality work, making the transition was rather smooth and successful, despite the pandemic. Today Dan works full time with a growing list of clients, agencies and other production companies to help visualize their goals. He also donates a portion of his time to growing and maintaining the Adventure for Ava program. The program has so far served seven families and is going into its third year of operation.
Q: Why the business name “Wake One”?
A: Because every morning you have a choice. Let me explain.
In my early 20’s I quit my steady, well paying job with the dream of telling artful stories for a living. Unemployed and renting a room from a friend, I had an empty mini fridge, mattress, TV, computer and alarm clock with two settings. The first setting was set for early in the morning. I’m talking 5am early. Being a night owl, that time was considered more night than morning. If I chose to answer the call I’d struggle out of bed, jump on the computer and work on my training the rest of the day until 10pm. Spending this time learning and honing my craft. These days were long, hard, but so satisfying. Knowing that by doing this I could cut the distance between me and my goal. I went to bed happy and feeling accomplished. My dreams became mapping out what to do the next day. When that first alarm would sound I’d get up and continue the cycle. After a while it wasn’t unusual to wake up a few minutes before my alarm. My body was passionately programmed to make another day mine.
The alarm also had a second wake up setting...
If I hit snooze on this first alarm, I’d typically hit snooze on the second and wake up in the afternoon. Feeling the day was basically gone and that I let myself down, bad habits started to form. I would chalk the day up as a loss and revert to playing video games, watching TV and going out. The next day I’d be tired from staying up late and goofing off. With my motivation buried in the abyss this cycle continued. I moved further away from my dreams by slipping into a spiral of excuses and poor work ethic. The result was nothing to be proud of.
Although I no longer have that same alarm clock, the lesson stays with me. Every morning you have a choice, continue to sleep with your dreams or wake up and chase them.
My dream was to make a living doing what I love. Some people supported me and knew I’d get there, others told me I’d have to get a real job at some point. Today, I’m happy to say everyday I get to wake up and do what I love. To tell stories for the people and businesses that trust me to tell them.
-Dan Redfield | Creative Director at Wake One