We were lucky to catch up with Bradford Jackson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Bradford, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Oh, we’ve got a mission alright and it’s locked, loaded, and ready to detonate.

Contra isn’t just a film, it’s a statement. It’s for every kid who grew up on side-scrolling, 8-bit chaos. It’s for every Soldier who played Contra in the barracks after a long day in the field. It’s for every film lover who misses the glory days when movies didn’t lecture you, they pumped you up.

This isn’t about politics. It’s not about trends. It’s about pure, unapologetic, adrenaline-fueled storytelling. Explosions. Brotherhood. Absurdly large biceps. It’s the kind of film that kicks in your door, steals your popcorn, and makes you cheer like it’s 1989 again.

Why does it matter to me? Because I’m a Soldier and a filmmaker. I’ve served my country, I’m still serving my country today and now I’ll be serving up a cinematic love letter to a generation that believed heroes didn’t reload, they reigned.

The mission is simple: bring the fans something Hollywood forgot how to make.

No ego. No agenda. Just pure American fun. Let’s go.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

You want the truth? Here it is… uncensored, unfiltered, full-throttle.

I’m Bradford Jackson. I’m a Soldier. I’m a filmmaker. I’m a storyteller who doesn’t sit around waiting for permission. I left Hollywood at the height of my acting career to join the Army, because I believed in something bigger than myself. I didn’t go chasing red carpets… I went chasing grit, purpose, and a higher calling.

But storytelling never left me. It just waited for the right moment to come back. And now, I’m bringing it back with everything I’ve got.

What do I create? Films that hit like a freight train. Films that make you laugh, cheer, and maybe even tear up a bit… if you’re not afraid of a little emotion with your explosions. I tell stories for the unsung heroes, for the nerds and the warriors, for the people who want to watch something bold, original, and damn entertaining. I bring action and heart together in a way that makes you remember why you fell in love with movies in the first place.

What sets me apart? Authenticity. Discipline. Passion. I work with real Soldiers, real stories, and real stakes. I don’t chase trends… I build teams. I bring together cast and crew who believe in the mission, who live and breathe the story. I’m not trying to impress Hollywood…. I’m trying to wake it the hell up.

With Contra, we’ve created a wild, unapologetic tribute to 80s action, retro gaming, and American storytelling. And it’s just the beginning.

What I’m most proud of? That I get to serve my country and serve a story at the same time. That I built something with my hands, my heart, and a squad of like-minded misfits who refused to quit. That I didn’t wait for the industry to hand me a shot. I made my own.

So if you’re looking for something safe, I’m not your guy.

But if you want something real? Something explosive? Something with purpose?

Welcome to the mission.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

At a time when things were finally clicking. I had just won Best Actor at the Beverly Hills Film Festival, my career started skyrocketing, I was auditioning and getting callbacks regularly, even working with Academy Award-winning writers, producers, and directors, it all felt like the dream was starting to happen.

And then my grandfather passed away.

He was a World War II veteran with nearly 40 years of government service. His death hit me hard, not just emotionally, but spiritually. It forced me to re-evaluate everything. What was I chasing? Who was I doing it for? I had spent years pretending to be heroes on screen, but I had never been one.

So I walked away from Hollywood.

I left the business, moved back to Alaska, and enlisted in the Army. It was the single most important pivot of my life. People thought I was crazy. “You’re giving up all that momentum?” they said. But I wasn’t giving anything up, I was stepping into something bigger than myself. I needed to serve something real.

That pivot didn’t end my career. It rewired it.

Now I create stories grounded in something deeper. I’ve lived through the brotherhood, the sacrifice, and the chaos that most action films only pretend to understand. I didn’t quit Hollywood. I just took a detour through the truth and I came back with something worth sharing.

I walked away from Hollywood as an actor on the rise.
But I’m coming back a Soldier with a story to tell.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist isn’t the spotlight or the accolades … it’s the impact. It’s watching someone’s eyes light up because your film reminded them of their childhood, their brother, or their dreams they thought were long gone.

As a filmmaker and a soldier, I’ve seen both chaos and beauty up close. Art lets me channel all of that… the grit, the heart, the humor… into something that connects people. Whether it’s two kids bonding over a Nintendo controller or a veteran feeling seen for the first time in years… that’s the reward.

We don’t make films just to entertain… we make them to mean something. To bring people together, to wake up their senses, and to remind them that joy, courage, and badassery are still alive and well.

And if I get to do that with explosions, jokes, and some red-blooded American heart? Even better.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bradfordjacksonfilms.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contrathemovie/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573561215264
• Twitter: https://x.com/contra_movie
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BradfordJacksonFilms

Image Credits

Brendan White
Justin Stewart
Kevin T. Bennett