Dad Profile #4: Dana Glazer, Documentary Filmmaker

Dana Glazer’s film “The Evolution of Dad” comes out Father’s Day 2010. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and 2 sons. For more information on Dana and the film visit the “The Evolution of Dad” website.

Q: Intro: Who are you and what do you do for a living? Kids? How old?

A: My name is Dana Glazer. I’m a filmmaker and a dad. I have two sons, ages 3 and 6.

Q: How did you get into filmmaking?

A: I started making films when I was 9 years old, shooting very primitive claymation movies in my basement with my grandfather and his trusty Super-8 camera. He was my first director of photography:)

Q: What aspects of your current project do you find most exciting & inspiring?

A: Being given the opportunity to have spoken with so many people on a topic that is so deemphasized and so emotionally raw was very inspiring for me. I see filmmaking as being something like being a cultural doctor. Films should allow us to heal and grow as people and as a culture. I hope my film does this for people.

Q: How has your own family influenced your approach to this film?

A: Well, I certainly wouldn’t be making this film if I wasn’t a dad:) And I certainly wouldn’t be making this film if I didn’t feel the pangs of fatherhood in as an intense way as I have. Also, I have the most loving and supportive wife and I certainly couldn’t have done this without her.

Q: How have you balanced completing The Evolution of Dad and spending better time with your family?

A: That’s always the quandary. Spend more time making the film means less time with the family. It’s very reflexive that way. If I didn’t have a family to try and maintain a balance, I would’ve finished the film a lot sooner – but then again, I wouldn’t be making this film if I wasn’t a dad:)

Q: What brands and activities did you love growing up that you’ve made it a point to share with your kids?

A: Oh my God, there are so many! I’ve been playing the Star Wars radio drama for my kids in the car (highly recommended!) I also love sharing Beatles music, Indiana Jones, The Red Balloon (took Charlie to see this at Film Forum) and Superman (the Christopher Reeve version). My kids parade around the house in their superhero costumes and we love playing hide n seek. Then there’s camping, swimming, hiking, biking and making our own radio dramas together. All in all, being a dad is license for re-exploring all the things one used to love doing as a kid.