Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Dobi.
Hi Dan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Oh boy, that’s a long one. I’m 37, I’ve had a camera in my hand since I was ten, had my families VHS camera and never put it down. When I was 14, my older brother took me to hardcore/punk/ska shows in the New England area and I’d film all these bands and trade VHS tapes of it on the internet.
I was a senior in high school and took a TV production course, and eventually just “became” the teacher. I spent all my free time behind the school’s only iMac, where I taught myself how to use Final Cut Pro.
I eventually went to film school at Full Sail University in Orlando, graduated, then immediately moved out to LA. Fast forward 16 years, I’m still out here with a camera in my hand.
For about ten years, I mainly focused on music videos until I decided it was time to move on.
I do a lot of commercials, branded content, but my passion is telling stories. Last year, I released a short film called “You Are My Person”. The film won a few awards when it did the film fest circuit but most notably won best short at the Silicon Beach Film Festival.
I direct, shoot, edit and produce pretty much everything I touch and am currently writing a feature in which I plan to shoot hopefully in the next year.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh, I’ve been burnt, people stole from me, people didn’t pay me, people lied to me… But it’s a learning curve. You learn as you go who you can trust and how to run a business properly, but there are some shady people out there for sure.
When I originally came out to LA, I slept in a bunk bed in an office… I worked for experience and the opportunity to “be involved”. Eventually, I proved myself and climbed the ladder, but I always tell people, if you’re not willing to work your way up and start from the bottom, I don’t know if this business is right for you. No one is going to blindly give you a chance when you’re fresh out of film school.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in… well, a bunch of things. I direct, edit, shoot and produce… I can do it all! like I said prior, my passion is telling stories, but it’s truthfully a struggle to turn down (good) paid work for major brands that want to hire me to make content for them.
My proudest work is my short film “You Are My Person” (which is on Amazon Prime and YouTube).
I hate to answer the question “what sets me apart”, however, I think I have a pretty unique style that captures moments in a very “Dan Dobi” way (I don’t even know how to explain that to be honest, hah).
I have a composer that does all my music and although I don’t know how to physically play an instrument, I feel the music I create alongside my composer gives my content a VERY distinct vibe.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
ANYTIME I played soccer… That’s something I look back at (after two knee surgeries and back surgery) and say “damn, I really miss doing that” hah. At 37, I think my days of that are over unfortunately.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.dandobi.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/dandobi
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/dobalish
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/dandobi
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/dandobi
- Other: https://youtu.be/zUR058GgSCc
