Daniel Jason Heffner attended Ithaca College Park School of Communications and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications in 1978. Upon graduating, Mr. Heffner worked as a Stage Manager and Production Assistant on the Academy Award winning film "Kramer vs. Kramer”, and then as a Research Assistant to Milos Forman on "Ragtime".
In January of 1980 Mr. Heffner moved to Los Angeles and became a member of the Director’s Guild of America as a Second Assistant Director. He has worked in this capacity on such films as: "Personal Best", the Academy Award winning "An Officer and a Gentleman","Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip", and the critically acclaimed "The Big Chill". In 1982 he went to work for Columbia Pictures, working on various projects as a Production Manager and a First Assistant Director.
Mr. Heffner's Executive career began in August of 1985, when he was selected to be the first Production Executive for the newly restructured film division of the Walt Disney Studios. In this capacity he was instrumental in the rebuilding of the studios feature production division, serving on the studios New Technologies and Facilities Expansion committees. As a Production Executive, Mr. Heffner oversaw the production of the following projects:
"The Color of Money", directed by Martin Scorcese starring Paul Newman and Tom Cruise, filmed on location in Chicago; "Tough Guys", which was the final collaboration of Kirk Douglas and the late Burt Lancaster; "Adventures in Babysitting",the directorial debut of Chris Columbus, starring Elizabeth Shue, filmed on location in Toronto and Chicago; "Three Men and a Baby", directed by Leonard Nimoy starring Tom Selleck, Ted Danson and Steve Guttenberg, filmed on location in Toronto and New York City.
During his tenure at Disney, Mr. Heffner was called upon to Line Produce "Cocktail", directed by Roger Donaldson starring Tom Cruise, Elizabeth Shue, and Brian Brown, filmed on location in New York City, Jamaica, and Toronto. As well as "The Good Mother", directed by Leonard Nimoy starring Diane Keaton and Liam Neeson, filmed on location in Toronto and Boston, Mr. Heffner also served as the 1st Assistant Director on this film.
In 1988, promoted to Vice President of Production, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, a division of The Walt Disney Company, Mr. Heffner was charged with the creation and operation of the Buena Vista Pictures Production Division. Including both production and finance personnel, this division started with 5 employees in 1988 and grew to over 35 employees by the end of 1991. During this period, he was responsible for the production of over 25 pictures, including the successful "Ernest" series as well as "Mr. Destiny" directed by James Orr starring Jim Belushi. "Deceived" directed by Damian Harris starring Goldie Hawn. "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle" directed by Curtis Hanson starring Rebecca De Mornay and Anabella Sciorra, as well as "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken", "White Fang", "Where The Heart Is", "Spaced Invaders", "Shipwrecked", "Paradise", "The Incredible Journey", "Greencard", and "Betsy's Wedding".
In November of 1991 to pursue a career as an Independent Producer, Mr. Heffner left The Walt Disney Company.
Since then he has served as Co-Executive Producer and Production Manager of "Holy Matrimony" directed by Leonard Nimoy starring Patricia Arquette, filmed on location in Great Falls, Montana; Co-Producer and First Assistant Director on Fred Dryer’s "Highway 395", filmed in Lone Pine California; First Assistant Director on “Winter Break”, filmed in Aspen Colorado; First Assistant Director on ACI/American Cinema, Inc’s “Killer Buzz” filmed entirely in Brazil; Co-Producer on Walt Disney Pictures “George Of The Jungle 2”, filmed in Queensland, Australia; Producer on Fox Television Studios MOW/Pilot “Anonymous Rex” for the Sci Fi Channel; Line Producer on “Checking Out” for Full Circle Productions, LP; Co-Producer on “P2” for Summit Entertainment; Producer on Twisted Pictures/Lionsgate “REPO! The Genetic Opera”; and Executive Producer on “Make Your Move”, “Knights of Badassdom”, “The Pin”, “Grace Unplugged”.
Most recently he has served as Executive Producer for Netflix on “End of the Road”, “Trigger Warning”, and “Rebel Ridge”.
He also serves as the Executive Producer on the $1 billion grossing franchise “SAW”. Starting with the original and including “SAW II”, “SAW III”, “SAW IV”, “SAW V”, “SAW VI”, “SAW 3D”, “Jigsaw”, “Spiral: From the Book of SAW” and “SAW X”.
Mr. Heffner is currently serving as President of Twisted Pictures, and is in development for Serendipity Productions, Inc. as Producer on “The Prince Test”, “The Insurrectionist” and “The Iron Will of Shoeshine Cats”.
Mr. Heffner is contract services COVID-19 certified, and fully vaccinated.