Name: Sophie Dawson
Graduation Year: 2020
Feature Track or TV Track: TV Track
Contact Email: sdawson9@g.ucla.edu
Short Bio: Raised in the Bay Area, Sophie attended undergrad at Fordham University at Lincoln Center, where she discovered the meaning of life at her local dollar pizza. She studied abroad at King’s College London, interned at several New York film institutions, and graduated summa cum laude with a dual degree in Philosophy and Film.
Born and raised in the Mormon church, Sophie left the religion at 18, soon joined by her parents and siblings. It was on their first post-Mormon trip as a family to a Napa winery where Sophie drunkenly declared she would apply to UCLA to pursue her passion for screenwriting. It was the best decision, intoxicated or otherwise, she has ever made.
Sophie also enjoys LA’s endless legal supply of cannabis, the infectious enthusiasm of her cohort, the company of her cat, Monkey, and nostalgia for the bygone era of MoviePass.
Short Artist Statement: Sophie enjoys writing female-driven TV comedies and dramas, ranging from the absurd to the historically grounded, aimed at a young, socially-conscious female audience. Common themes include the complicated nature of belief and the turmoils of entering adulthood often through the lens of dark humour. She also dabbles in the occasional indie comedy feature.
Logline #1: “Twinkle Twinkle” - Half Hour Comedy
After trained chemist Claire returns to New York after a messy divorce with an Icelandic hiking boot designer, she convinces her twin sister, Roxy, to relaunch their failed makeup brand, Twinkle Twinkle. But, can Roxy trust Claire not to bail when the glitter hits the fan?
Logline #2: “Emma Smith” - One Hour Drama
When young Emma Hale meets Joseph Smith, future founder of the Mormon church, they bond over a shared wish to leave farm life behind. But, she soon realizes his ambitions have dark motivations.
Logline #3: “Daisy Chain” - Feature Comedy
Set in San Francisco in the early 80’s, a pot smuggling ex-hippie realizes she is losing her daughter to anti-drug brainwashing and must go head to head with Nancy Reagan in a battle for her daughter’s soul.
Name three movies or TV shows that inspire you: Lady Bird, Unorthodox, High Maintenance