Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Proudfoot is of Scottish heritage. He was active as a sleight-of-hand magician in his youth, winning several international magic competitions, before attending film school at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.[11] He launched his own film production company, Breakwater Studios, in 2012, and has directed a number of other short films including Dinner with Fred (2011), ink&paper, Life's Work: Six Conversations with Makers and That's My Jazz.[11]
On July 27, 2021, The New York Times website published a 16-minute film by Proudfoot about the life of astronomer Jocelyn Bell Burnell. Entitled "The Silent Pulse of the Universe," the film shows her instrumental role in the research on the discovery of pulsars and how she did not receive recognition for her work in the attribution of the Nobel Prize received by Antony Hewish and Martin Ryle. Bell Burnell also describes the extreme prejudice she faced at school, at university and in her career as a woman scientist.
On August 24, 2021, the Times website published another 16-minute film by Proudfoot. "Almost Famous: The First Report" profiles Jason Berry, the Louisiana reporter who broke the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal in the 1980s — in large part, before the story was able to gain traction. In 2002 The Boston Globe covered the story, this time garnering a Pulitizer Prize and inspiring the Academy Award-winning feature film Spotlight. Berry spent ten years trying to gain traction for his documented stories of the church protecting and enabling pedophile priests.
ESPN Films acquired the short documentary film "MOTORCYCLE MARY", produced by Proudfoot's company Breakwater Studios. It was screened at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 7, 2024 in New York. The film was directed by Haley Watson. Rachel Greenwald was the producer, while Proudfoot and seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton served as executive producers.[13]
