Dawn Jones Redstone

Dawn Jones Redstone is an award-winning queer, Latinx writer/director whose films have screened around the globe. Her work often features women of color and explores themes of resistance, emotionality, feminism and the internal machinations that help us transform into the people we want to become. She's the recipient of MRG Foundation’s Lilla Jewel Artist Award, was named Woman of Vision by Oregon Daily Journal of Commerce and has been awarded four grants from the Regional Arts and Culture Council to date. In 2017, she was selected to shadow director Debra Granik on the set of Leave No Trace as part of the 5to50 program in Oregon. She believes in using her writing/hiring decisions to lift people up and help create a filmmaking community that reflects and brings new perspective to the world we live in.
Before becoming a full time filmmaker, Dawn worked as a union carpenter and as training manager at Oregon Tradeswomen for a combined total of 15 years. She resides with her wife and daughter in Portland, Oregon. She is currently preparing to make her first feature film, COVID-allowing. Photo by Jason Quigley.

SELECTED Work

Commercial WORK

Web video for ColorPAC. DP: Sean Conley

Excerpt of spot for Metro that ran in Regal theaters--from existing footage.

Left: Two broadcast commercials developed, directed and edited by Dawn for Oregon Tradeswomen. DP: Sean Conley.

Narrative films

Sista in the Brotherhood (2016 / 20:37 mins)

DIRECTOR, CO-WRITER
Sista in the Brotherhood is a twenty minute short film about a black apprentice carpenter who experiences discrimination on the job and must between taking a stand or keeping her job. The film stars Sidony O'Neal and was produced by Roberta Hunte. After winning multiple awards around the country, Sista continues to be used as a teaching tool within the construction industry with several screenings planned through 2018 including in Australia, the Philippines, Portland, Chicago and New York.
The film was recently purchased by the US Department of Labor Women's Bureau to use in their work.
Dawn is a journey-level carpenter and has travelled around the country speaking with the film.
Made possible by a grant from the Regional Arts and Culture Council.

AWARDS
Best Short Film · Portland International Film Festival (2016)
Best Oregon Short Film · Portland Int'l Film Festival (2016)
Best Narrative Short Film · Workers Unite Film Festival (2016)
Best Short Film · Local Sightings Film Festival (2016)
Spirit Award · Reel Sisters Film Festival (2016)
Best Short Film · International Black Film Festival (2016)
Best Actress · International Black Film Festival (2016)
Best Short Film · Winter Film Awards (2017)
Best of Fest · Black Women Film Festival (2017)
Best in Show · Chicago Feminist Film Festival (2017)

"Sista in the Brotherhood is what we need right now." - Winter Film Awards, NYC

"The buzz is growing as @SistaShortFilm racks up awards for a compelling look into experiences of Oregon tradeswomen."
- Tweet from Governor Kate Brown of Oregon

Sista in the Brotherhood was made with an all female, mostly women of color crew.

Director's statement and film press here.

We Have Our Ways (2018 / 15:06 mins)

DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
In a dystopic but recognizable America, a customer service rep (sidony o'neal) for for a greedy healthcare company, must decide what price she’s willing to pay to help those around her in need. The film also stars Paige Moreland and Ana del Rocío. The film was licensed for distribution on Magic Johnson's Aspire TV!

We Have Our Ways was written by Kjerstin Johnson, produced by Christian Henry and made possible by a grant from the Regional Arts and Culture Council.

Names one of Willamette Week's Favorite Portland Films of the Year. Our first screening sold out the Clinton Street Theater in December. The film won BEST OREGON SHORT at Portland Film International Film Festival, Oregon's largest and most prestigious film fest!

We Have Our Ways was made with an all female, mostly women of color crew.

Check out this article by the Willamette Week.

Magnificent (2019/ 12 mins)

Two women go on a first date in the Gorge get much more than they bargained for from both the date and their hike. Learn more about Magnificent here.

Check out articles and press about Dawn and her films here.

Gabby Antonio Smashes the Imperialist, White Supremacist, Capitalist Patriarchy! (2018 / 15:30)

DIRECTOR/CO-WRITER/CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Gabby Antonio Smashes the Imperialist, White Supremacist, Capitalist Patriarchy! is the pilot for a web series centered on a spunky and idealistic Filipina that is struggling to do good in Portland, Oregon, the whitest city in America. She wants to change the world, but it’s not quite happening – yet.
The show is from creator Luann Algoso. Luann and Dawn co-wrote the pilot. Dawn directed and shot it. Gabby Smashes premiered March 2018 with screenings in Portland, NYC, Seattle and LA.
Winner of Best Narrative Short at Workers Unite Film Festival in NYC.
Gabby was made with an all female, mostly women of color crew.

Graphic Means (2017 / Feature Film)

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY/SOUND RECORDIST
In 2016, Dawn traveled with director Briar Levit to Germany, UK and around the US to shoot and record audio for the feature documentary about the history of Graphic Design before design was digital. The film was sponsored by Adobe and has screened all around the world. Learn more here.

ADDITIONAL AND UPCOMING

Dawn is currently developing her first feature film for 2021, COVID-allowing. She was awarded a RACC grant in February 2020 to film a proof of concept. Stay tuned for more soon!
In summer 2019, Dawn directed a series of queer, Latinx telenovelas for Outside the Frame for a project with OSU.
Dawn was selected to shadow acclaimed director Debra Granik during filming for the feature film Leave No Trace. Some of her Behind-The-Scenes camera work is also included on the DVD bonus material.
Dawn served as DP on Shilpa Sunthankar's short film Working Lunch which premiered in New York in 2018 and is currently on the festival circuit.
Dawn directed the short, Nemesis, written by lead Brenan Dwyer. It's an exploration of white male fragility as told through a single match of Scrabble and was awarded funding via the POST-TRUTH project created by Lower Boom and Open Signal. The film is nominated for Best Oregon Film at the Portland Comedy Film Festival!

Directed by Women interviewed Dawn. Click on image to read. Photo from set of Sista in the Brotherhood.

SCREENINGS AND APPEARANCES

August 2020 We Have Our Ways
Screening online as part of the Oregon Filmmaker Series in partnership with the Hollywood Theater. Details coming soon.

August 4, 2020 Sista in the Brotherhood
Screening online as part of the Workers Unite Film Festival out of NYC for 12 hours only! Info here.

May 13, 2020 We Have Our Ways
The film will screen as part of AspireTV's #UrbanIndieShortsBlock on Magic Johnson's Network across the country. Info here.

April 2020 Magnificent
Screening as a new release now as part of the QueerBee catalogue out of London. Check it out here.

March 11, 2020 Magnificent
at Portland International Film Festival, Info here

February 28, 2020 Magnificent
at Tag! Queer Shorts Film Festival in Corvallis. Info here.

February 22, 2020 Magnificent
at McMinnville Short Film Festival. Info here.

January 21, 2020 Sista in the Brotherhood
Portland,OR Info here.

November 29, 2019 Magnificent
Indie Shorts Fest in LA. Info here.

ADDITIONAL ARCHIVED SCREENINGS HERE.

Dawn with director Debra Granik on the set of Leave No Trace during the job shadow made possible by the 5to50 program.

Contact

ASK A QUESTION OR JUST SAY HELLO.

Dawn is also the owner of Hearts+Sparks Productions, offering community-minded video production.