Today we’d like to introduce you to Dawn Gregg
Hi Dawn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was a child model in NYC. Grew up bicoastal due to my families involvement in the entertainment industry. That setting provided me with a unique upbringing which included world travel, set tutoring, and a behind the scenes education in film & television. I went to USC where I studied Screenwriting. At 19, I met my husband, an actor, on a set. We recently celebrated our 34th Wedding Anniversary. We are the parents of 5 grown children who we chose to home-educate in the Sonoran Desert while taking a self imposed hiatus from Hollywood. I enjoy, cooking for the family, hiking, Pilates and Pottery Classes, filmmaking, abstract painting, writing, photography, and documenting daily life on my social media accounts alongside a whole bunch of other things.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Many years ago, during a conversation about the way in which I move through my days, with a bent towards the artistic, a friend referred to me as a “Renaissance Woman.” If I’m not writing, I’m shooting, if I’m not crocheting, I’m painting, if I’m not beading, I’m thrifting for new additions to add to our dining room Gallery Wall etc. etc. etc. It’s the way I process and enjoy the world around me. “Renaissance Woman” is a title that resonated with me deeply, but it did so in the background of my being. I’ve recently moved in the direction of claiming this title as my own. It’s somehow feels like the timing is right. The kids are grown. My 20 year run as their primary educator has come to a close. I have a lighter load and more time to reprioritize how my days are spent and what I choose to focus on. Living life as a creative is easy in that it’s all one knows. It’s who you are, and the way it manifests, shifts as you unpack where you’ve been and open up to who you are becoming. For me, life is a journey. Along the way, who I’ve been created to be, is constantly being revealed. Like many maturing women, I too am in a season self acceptance and discovery. I’ve embraced my silver hair with a joy filled heart and truly identify as Pro Aging. Of course!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m currently on day 163/366 of my OOTD DOC.
It’s a TikTok & IG self imposed Creative Challenge/Exercise in Resourcefulness & Contentment which centers on my commitment to purchase Thrifted Only clothing items in 2024 and to document my daily fits. This aligns perfectly with a favorite life motto, “Necessity is the mother of all invention.” I am of the belief that, more times than not, we already have been given access to what we “need” if we simply look around and get creative. I’ve been contemplating what next to do with a Short Film Project that I directed & produced some years back, where I invited ten women from various backgrounds to participate. Each woman was given the same line of dialogue as an ending prompt to a 3 minute scene which was to be written and performed by them. They had a three hour block on the shooting schedule and no money was to be spent on locations, wardrobe, props etc. We were to only use what was already at our disposal. I am so proud of what we accomplished in our 2 day shoot.
This reminds me of our film, Journey to Jemima, a documentary following the overseas adoption of one of our daughters. Zero budget.
My husband and I write under Family Drama Pictures. We currently have three ready to go indie film screenplays and multiple other projects in various stages of development.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Life is art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://familydramapictures.com
- Instagram: @evangelinecottage
Image Credits
I have the rights to all these images.
