We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Joe Brandmeier. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Joe below.

Joe, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Ok, here’s the thing about “risk”. I’ve never really liked that word. It feels like everything’s a risk in some way or another.

I like the words – chance, or possibility or exposure! These feel more alive, more exciting – more positive facing!

I took a chance when I spent several days in the Alaskan wilderness photographing grizzly bears. I opened up possibilities when I got my first documentary, “I Do?”, on the big screen – and recently got some exposure by writing my first mockumentary comedy screenplay called “AGED OUT”.

You could look at all of them as risks if you want: the risk of being eaten by a very large bear – being exposed as a fraud or a really bad writer on my first screenplay! Or the risk of losing a lot of time and money on a passion project that goes nowhere (by the way, “I Do?” won Best Documentary at the Twin Cities Film Fest and screened at numerous film festivals around the world – and remains on Amazon Prime today).

In the case of AGED OUT and writing this mockumentary screenplay – I was way out of my element. But I just started to research, learn new software and began laying out things I knew about or was very curious about – and eventually JUST STARTED TYPING! And so far – this spring I won BEST Screenplay from the Georgia Comedy Screenplay Film Festival – and it continues to get buzz as an “Official Selection” in other festivals.

Who knew!?

Take a risk, a chance, a possibility of doing something fun, great, inspiring – you’ll have many more regrets if you don’t – than if you do!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a producer, director, storyteller and owner of the production company Moving Pictures, Inc. We develop and produce stories that create emotional connections with the viewer and the brand. We do multi-camera specials and heartfelt documentaries.

I’ve never been one to sit around and wait for the phone to ring. I talked (sometimes begged) my way into all kinds of jobs and really cool, high profile projects over the years.

I’m pretty proud that people trust me because it’s key to getting great content. A-list artists and talent have trusted me with their intimate personal projects. Magic happens on camera when a talent feels they’re in good hands and collaborating with someone with their best interest in mind, knows what the hell they’re doing and is fun to work with.

• I spent about 5 months with the artist Prince, sometimes 1-on-1 in the middle of the night. He even brought me to a room where few have gone – to discuss his religious beliefs.

• Janet Jackson allowed me to sit in on several private recording sessions while working on a documentary with legendary music producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

• We built up Moving Pictures, Inc. to a point where Academy award-winning producer/director Bill Pohlad trusted me enough to merge our companies (under River Road Entertainment). And even though we eventually followed different paths (and I’m back under Moving Pictures, Inc.), it was an amazing experience, which I’m very grateful for.

Overall, it’s about trust, integrity, and true curiosity. That’s what drives me.

Check out www.joebrandmeier.com

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I like “creative journey”, it feels like a life thing – not just a production thing.

I want to produce positive, purposeful projects (that’s a lot of “p’s”) that put good things out in the world.

We’ve been working on projects like; a documentary called “THE RIGHT THING TO DO”, based on a simple act of kindness from baseball Hall-of-Famer Joe Mauer, that set a series of positive life changing events into motion. And a new project called “STORY”. It’s a chance for people to tell their stories or share their legacies in a mini-documentary format.

Then there’s “AGED OUT” – which is just meant to be a silly look at something we all face, something to get a cheap laugh from and remind us to be grateful for all the cools things we have in life – and that we’re still alive!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Not having a real job. I’ve never really worked a real 9 to 5 thing.

I guess that’s good and bad. The security of a corporate job can be nice in some ways, but can kill the creative dreams because of the tight ropes that bind you.

I’ve taken a lot of chances. Some good. Some not so good. I’ve mostly followed my heart – because it knows the best direction to go.

I recently was a guest speaker at a middle school and one of the students asked me if I had any regrets in my career – and my answer was; I worried waayyyy too much! I wish I could have that time back – especially knowing now that things just always seem to work out – somehow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.joebrandmeier.com/

Image Credits

Grizzly bear images by Joe Brandmeier