Meet Danny Simmons of Broken Dove Productions in Santa Monica

Today we’d like to introduce you to Danny Simmons.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My path to show business is pretty linear for a native Angeleno. I grew up Tinseltown adjacent and always found myself glued to the tv reciting lines from Rocky and Bullwinkle. My father waxed poetic about his stint as a comic performing at the legendary Comedy Store and thus, my love for comedy was cemented in my soul. Standup was where I first learned how to craft a story. Whether it’s a perfectly timed punchline or clean exposition, I love the intention behind every word involved in telling stories filled with jokes.

This passion segued right into my senior year at UC San Diego, where I started producing comedy shows at local venues and found my passion for finding and booking talent. I burned the candle at both ends in college – I was a fulltime student majoring in International Studies, a part-time producer, and on my way to competing in the College World Series. After losing a close championship game, I decided to write my first comedy pilot about an Independent baseball team and I’ve kept following the funny ever since.

After college, I found myself working in theatrical distribution for Sony Pictures. There was always a part of me that knew I wasn’t destined to be on the corporate side of show business. The next five years flew by as I graduated from Second City, played saxophone in two Key & Peele sketches, and one of my scripts was in development with Escape Artists – my goals seemed within reach. And yet, I still struggled to take my creativity fulltime.

After a year as a manager at 20th Century Fox in TV distribution, I was lucky enough to direct and produce Every Other Weekend, a pilot executive produced by Sterling K. Brown of NBC’s This is Us and created by Netflix’s Adrienne Carter. Fox put in development Every Other Weekend, a half-hour single-camera comedy from Will Packer Media at the end of 2019.

Has it been a smooth road?
I think one of the biggest challenges was conquering my battle with mental health. With supportive friends, family, mentors, and NAMI I’ve been able to overcome various obstacles that have plagued me my entire life. I believe the best thing for my mental health has been my passionate pursuit for filmmaking. I’m lucky to have developed a profound connection to visual storytelling and I’m grateful for its positive impact on my life.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
In January 2020, I decided to take my talents, ideas, and initiative and pour it into my own company, Broken Dove Productions. Broken Dove is a production company with a focus on sports documentaries, scripted comedy, music videos, broadcast commercials, and digital content. What sets us apart from others is our grit. We work hard. Just like Eleanor Roosevelt said, “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” Broken Dove embodies that same insatiable thirst for finding the perfect story. That’s why we are so passionate about character-driven stories inspired by the will to grow and endure, to suffer, and remain positive. We are compelled to persevere beyond what we thought could not previously overcome.

And just as Broken Dove opened in January of 2020, so many doors were closed because of the pandemic. And yet, the show must go on. With ample time for reflection, I finalized Broken Dove’s Mission Statement:
Create meaningful content
Support diverse voices and story
Inspire engagement and craftsmanship
Focus on the process and help others along the way

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Los Angeles is a true hub of diversity. It is the land of dreams and optimism. We can achieve anything in this town if you persist hard enough. Grit is everywhere. It’s ubiquitous here. The stories on all the unique faces we pass represent the history, talent, and goals shared in this place. The heart of LA is filled with soul. Six dollar coffees and perfect tacos are the carrots in front of our mouths and I’m grateful to be in this hustle.

People in Los Angeles have to hustle. It’s too expensive to quit. Quitters live in other cities. Quitters leave every day. I like the challenge of this town. If you don’t have what it takes, you can’t live here and that’s why I love LA.

If you want to make it, come to the big leagues. Don’t play around in indie ball – step up to the dish and play with the big boys in Hollywood. Seeing sharks in the water will only make you grow into a bigger fish.

If LA could improve one thing, it would be public transit. The Expo Line is a huge improvement, but we need more public transportation and less garbage on the streets. Let’s do our part and help clean up the path in front of us. LA is too beautiful to be littered with the spoils of capitalism.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.brokendove.com
• Email: info@brokendove.com
• Instagram: @dannymsimmons
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrokenDoveProductions

Image Credit:
David Fisch, Melissa Karlin, Stephen J. Metoyer, Marguerite Perfumada

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