Meet Dan Felska of Grand Scheme Collective in East

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Felska.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Dan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in Minnesota and moved to Arizona when I turned 19. My first job here in the valley was in Old Town Scottsdale, at a restaurant named Olive & Ivy. I ended up staying with that company for ten years, working as a chef while I completed both of my degrees in film from The Scottsdale School of Film and Theater, and an associates degree from Scottsdale Community College. I opened the very first Culinary Dropout, and two other (Culinary Dropout) locations over the following six years as well as Modern Steak, and finally Narcisse Champagne Lounge with a separate company. During my career with Fox Restaurant Concepts, I began producing Capstone Films for the Scottsdale Film School and directing short films of my own. I also spent a lot of time in front of the camera, acting in commercials and short films, and even a couple of features.

In 2018, I was awarded best performance at the Scottsdale Film Festival, starring in a film by Michael Giambra entitled “THE FIRER”. While production is now my main focus, I am consistently finding myself drawn to interesting scripts and taking on new roles as an actor. At the end of 2017, I began production on what would become my first feature-length film as executive producer. The film, “BLOCKED IN THE BACK”, tells the story of the controversial decision made by Arizona state officials to abruptly end all funding for college football (as well as various other programs) in their community colleges and affiliated schools. We followed teams from all over Arizona, as well as players, coaches, and state representatives in an attempt to fully expose the effects this decision had. Over the last two years, we have finished principal photography for the film, and have now moved into the editing phase. I am eager to finish post-production and get the film out for the world to see.

After ten years of cooking and far too much college, I turned 29, quit my job and re-branded my small LLC into a fully functional production company. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from a lot of incredible artists and business owners and developed a solid foundation to jump into the saturated content creation market. In just two years, through a combination of hard-working artists willing to guide me, and having an outstanding support system, this company has grown into something I am truly proud of. I have gotten a chance to work with so many amazing people, and am beyond grateful to continue expanding my understanding of content production. Last month I had the opportunity to produce a commercial for PANASONIC and THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, which featured Michael Phelps and some of Arizonas’ top collegiate swimmers. The entire process was surreal, and I am so grateful for having gotten such a wonderful chance to enhance my craft.

In Early 2020, I began pre-production for my latest feature film, “DRY HEAT”, which will begin shooting sometime in late December. This project means a great deal to me, and I look forward to seeing the direction that this particular film takes, as I always seem to discover something new about myself and the world with each new story.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Well, in the Grand Scheme of things (a prime example of why this company bears its’ name) my journey has been exceptionally smooth. When I think about the struggles that so many people face, simply by having a different genetic code or set of circumstances than I, my perspective tends to expose just how fortunate I have been. Despite developing a set of skills as a chef, I now see that I never truly loved what I was doing. There were elements of my time in the culinary industry that I enjoyed, but the overall draining nature of that position can only be sustained by someone who genuinely loves the craft. What I love is film and everything related to the creation of motion pictures. While I will never return to the kitchen, the lessons instilled within me through that development process will be forever utilized in the creation of my art.

After leaving Fox, a new set of challenges awaited me as I began the arduous process of owning and operating a business of my own. The daunting nature of artwork creation as a means of income was a lot for me to digest. You would be hard-pressed to find any artist who wouldn’t say they felt or still feel the same. It can be tremendously difficult to maintain the mindset needed to create truly meaningful art while having to balance the delicate house-of-cards that is any business. Writing a great script is hard enough, getting it shot is another, and keeping your employees paid (and food in your stomach) throughout that process can break even the strongest spirit. I am confident that my love of this art form and my rock-solid team of talented artists will continue to provide the fuel needed for this fire to burn.

Please tell us about Grand Scheme Collective.
Grand Scheme Collective is more than a company, it is the basis of my entire existence. While that may sound dramatic, it is the only honest way I can describe it. The “Grand Scheme” is simply the idea of viewing everything as a whole, and identifying the importance of each action based on this consistent concept. The company exists as an art collective, and is a parent company to various Local businesses and organizations, all of which provide positive contributions to the communities they serve.

FILM OFTEN is one of those companies and the largest within Grand Scheme Collective. I can’t wait to tell you all about why I love producing for FILMOFTEN.COM, and what it is we do!

– (FILM OFTEN) is a production company specializing in broadcast advertising and company promotional content!

– Our work can be seen on various networks across the USA, however in Arizona, we are best known for our corporate event work and company branding content! If you’ve seen footage from a corporate event, company retreat, national business summit, or trade show, there is a good chance FILMOFTEN.COM provided production services for it! This year, we have partnered with Arizona’s leading corporate event photography team (PHXCORPORATEEVENTS.COM) to provide video content all across the Valley!

– What really makes me proud of this company is the way it is structured as a whole. When I established this company, my goal was to provide effective content for businesses and artists all over the world. In America, it can be nearly impossible to differentiate which companies are ethical or have any real understanding of who/what you are supporting with your purchases. This company has given me the power to control exactly which organizations can utilize the talent that only our team can provide.

We stand proudly behind our content and it speaks for itself.

This organization refuses to provide services to companies who lack a clear moral backbone, as we feel it is the most effective way to genuinely serve the community that sustains us.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Nothing. Despite the fact that I could spend the rest of my life trying to determine which mistakes were “good” and which mistakes were “bad”, every single one of them contributed to the Grand Scheme.

The disgusting math problem that is “Dan Felska”, simply could not exist without every number that created it. I can. However, add as many new numbers as I need to, so that is exactly what I do.

Contact Info:

• Address: 815 North 52nd Street suite 2013, Phoenix, Arizona, 85008
• Website: filmoften.com
• Phone: 320-291-3841
• Email: info@filmoten.com
• Instagram: @filmoften
• Other: @danfelska @cinemacollective INSTAGRAM

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