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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, feminism and the internal machinations that help us transform into the people we want to become. She was named a Woman of Vision by Oregon Daily Journal of Commerce and has been awarded grants from the Regional Arts and Culture Council, Northwest Film Center, MRG Foundation and more. 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 needed 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's also a returned Peace Corps Volunteer. She resides with her wife and daughter in Portland, Oregon. Dawn directed the short See Me with Artists Repertory Theater and it will have its premiere at Portland International Film Festival in March 2021. She is currently preparing to make her first feature film. Top photo by Jason Quigley. |
Photo by Kim Oanh Nguyen.
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DIRECTING Reel
Reel includes footage from broadcast commercials, short films, web promos and music videos directed by Dawn Jones Redstone.
Narrative films
Sista in the Brotherhood (2016 / 20:37 mins)
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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 Dr. 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 Sista in the Brotherhood was made with an all female, mostly women of color crew.
Director's statement and film press here.
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Sista in the Brotherhood is being released on collective Eye!!
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 and is currently screening at Hollywood Theater via Oregon Media Labs through the end of 2020.
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.
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 and is currently screening at Hollywood Theater via Oregon Media Labs through the end of 2020.
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!
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We Have Our Ways was made with an all female, mostly women of color crew.
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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. Starring Ashley Mellinger (right) and Ariana Celestine (left). Learn more about Magnificent here.
Check out more articles and press about Dawn and her films here.
Gabby Antonio Smashes the Imperialist, White Supremacist, Capitalist Patriarchy! (2018 / 15:30)
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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. |
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Graphic Means (2017 / Feature Film)
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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. |
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ADDITIONAL AND UPCOMING
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Directed by Women interviewed Dawn. Click on image to read. Photo from set of Sista in the Brotherhood. |
SCREENINGS AND APPEARANCES
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October 1, 2020 Magnificent
screening at POWFest virtually! September 13, 2020 Dawn on Tradeswomen Talk Podcast with Judaline Cassidy about Sista in the Brotherhood and upcoming release on Collective Eye! August 2020 We Have Our Ways Screening online as part of the Oregon Filmmaker Series in partnership with the Hollywood Theater thru end of year. Tickets here. 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 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 and Oregon Film Office.
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Dawn is also the owner of Hearts+Sparks, her video production company.
