Dana Heinz Perry

Filmmaker Dana Heinz Perry became well known after she won an Academy Award for producing the documentary short subject "Crisis Line: Veterans Press 1" (2014). Perry gave a stirring speech as she accepted the award, alluding to the way that the film's subject matter-suicide-had touched her own life. It was a somber and memorable moment for the veteran filmmaker, who had been making movies for two decades. After graduating from Connecticut College, Perry headed to New York to pursue a career in film. There, she met her husband, cinematographer Hart Perry, and the two founded a production company, Perry Films. Perry spent several years producing and directing documentaries, finding particular success with musically themed projects like "Motown 40: The Music is Forever" (1998) and "And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop" (VH1, 2004). Tragically, in 2005, Perry's 15 year old son Evan committed suicide following a lifelong battle with bipolar disorder. Utterly devastated, Perry channeled her grief into a documentary about Evan's story, "Boy Interrupted" (2009), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Perry brought her knowledge and experience to "Crisis Line" in 2014, as she and director Ellen Goosenberg Kent explored the tireless efforts of those who work in call centers, helping suicidal veterans. After Perry gave her moving speech on the Oscar stage, host Neil Patrick Harris made a lighthearted joke about Perry's unique vintage gown, which was decorated with black puffballs. The dress had belonged to Perry's mother-in-law, and though many in the media took offense to Harris for making a joke following Perry's serious statement, Perry herself was quick to defend the quip, remarking later "I didn't mind the joke; I thought it was cute. The fur balls on the dress belonged to my late mother-in-law, who had terrific style. I don't support the idea that if you do serious work, you can't have fun with fashion and humor. Laughter is often what gets us through the hardest times."