Emmy-nominated filmmakers, Adria Dawn and David
Tarleton, just finished creating their eleventh film for social change, titled Spiral. This latest project marks a significant milestone for the duo, as it’s their first endeavor tackling social issues with college students as the central focus.
Tarleton/Dawn Productions
Adria Dawn: From Midwest Roots to Hollywood to New York!
Adria Dawn’s journey began in the Midwest, leading her to Hollywood, where she initially worked as a Levi’s model and made her breakthrough as April Tuna in Ryan Murphy’s cult hit Popular.
As a director, Adria is known for her award-winning films for social change, including Identity, which deals with gender and inclusion and received an Emmy nomination. Dawn garnered three Telly Awards in two years for her social change films, including her Black Lives Matter film Karen and Gray Area, which focuses on alcohol addiction.
As an actor, Adria has appeared on numerous television shows for FOX, CBS, NBC, Nickelodeon, the WB, etc., as well as appeared in many films. You may have seen her on Chicago Med, Nip/Tuck, My Name is Earl, Felicity, and NCIS.
As an educator, Adria currently teaches on-camera acting, film directing, and acting and filmmaking for social change at Syracuse University.
David Tarleton: Academic and Creative Force
David Tarleton is the chair of the Department of Film and Media Arts and a professor of film at Syracuse University. An Emmy-nominated producer, director, and editor, David has an impressive resume with credits working on projects for Hollywood’s top production companies, including Sony Pictures, The Muppets, Apple TV+, Syfy, Walt Disney
Pictures, 3Net, Fox, Comedy Central, Disney Channel, Tokyopop, Mattel, Universal, Warner Brothers, Baby Einstein, Showtime, Learn360, Random Media, and more.
Adria and David created Tarleton/Dawn Productions over twenty-five years ago, and have created over forty-two projects together. They are excited about their most current film, Spiral, because they wanted to amplify that mental health matters, especially as it pertains to college students.
Spiral: A Focus on Mental Health in College
Magdaliz Rivera and Conner Tell on the set of Spiral.
Spiral delves into the critical issue of mental health among college students. The film follows one student’s mental health decline, ultimately leading her to make the difficult decision to prioritize her well-being and recovery above everything else.
Adria Dawn explains the significance of this project: “Spiral marks our first time making a social change film with college students. Previously with Kids Matter, we’d been making them with middle and high school aged kids. Gray Area and Karen—our other social change projects— focused more on older leading characters”.
Production Details and Collaboration
David Tarleton, Yushan Liu and Magdaliz Rivera on the set of Spiral.
The film was shot in and around Syracuse, NY, using three different locations over six days. Adria and David co-directed the project. The film also included college students in crew positions helping with the production.
Adria and David had help from longtime collaborator, composer, and friend Andrew M. Edwards, and wardrobe supervisor and longtime friend, Sarah Pace.
Social Media Official Film Page
Spiral has its own dedicated Instagram page under the Tarleton Dawn Productions handle, where viewers can follow the film’s progress and learn more about its themes and message.
https://www.instagram.com/tarletondawnproductions
A Continuing Commitment to Social Change
Tarleton/Dawn Productions’ work consistently addresses pressing social issues and aims to spark important conversations. They continue to use their creative talents to make a positive impact on the world! Follow Tarleton/Dawn Productions on their official website to keep up with latest film projects and updates!