Dana grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and is a summa cum laude graduate of UCLA. Her films include the romantic adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' novel, "Safe Haven," directed by Lasse Hallstrom; "City of Angels," starring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan; "For Love of the Game," directed by Sam Raimi; "Blink," directed by Michael Apted, and "Life or Something Like It," starring Angelina Jolie. She was the creator and executive producer of "What About Brian," an ABC television series produced by J.J. Abrams that aired for two seasons, and creator/executive producer of the CBS television series "Reckless" in 2014. She is a regular advisor at the Sundance Institute writer and film-maker labs, and serves on the final selection committee for the Academy's Nicholl Fellowship Screenwriting Awards. She is divorced and lives in Los Angeles with her teenage son, John.