We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brandon Holland a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Brandon thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.
Do It Scared! That’s what I will lead with for all of you scared creators just like myself. There is only one of you and YOLO TAKE THE RISK! I am the owner of Molding Heartz Productions, I work in entertainment full time outside of the classroom; everything in our industry is a risk. In order to be your best self everything you do will go against the norm, so you have to work hard to always present the best version of yourself at the highest level with the unknown in mind. Creating a show, writing a movie, developing concepts and attempting to tap a market that is dominated by some of the greats already is a risk. Many days I am unsure if I should work harder to advance on my day job or continue to put my blood, sweat and tears in to making my dreams a producer/writer/director come true. Everyday Im up for the challenge to go after my dreams, every day Im risking my finances, my health, my mental healthy, when facing my fears of being the next great in Tv and Film.
“After waking up months to a dark room from where I had hid myself from the world, I made the decision to start my life over. I sold all of my belongings and packed my clothes and moved to Atlanta.” 2013 was the year that my life changed forever. I decided to start my life over and I was afraid to do so. My family was not all the way on board with me making such a big decision but the ones that I was closest too were my greatest support in what seemed like a decision of a lifetime. Prior to this moment I was dealing heavily with anxiety and depression after a divorce. I was dealing with trauma of feeling left alone in the world, which first stem from the passing of my parents when i was 19/20 years old. Me taking a risk to move to what we know as a big city was the biggest risk that I had taken at the time, but it was the decision that changed my whole life. What’s life without taking risk? Sounds boring :).
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Allowing God to be your guide begins with a commitment to trust. God cannot lead you where you will not follow. I live by this scripture. I have dedicated my life to God and I have always trusted him to lead me in my decision making. Consulting God and asking him what deals to make, what stories to write, who to hire, who to work with or not. Everything we do we have to trust him completely to know that no matter what steps we make or risk we take God is for you. DO IT SCARED!
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 am a content creator and filmmaker based in Atlanta, GA. I began my journey to concept development around 2008/2009 while attending college at Alabama A & M University. I have worked in the education field for almost 18 years now, but my creative brain has been fulfilled only through the arts. First starting, I named my production company Molding Heartz Productions and became Incorporated in 2016. The company name was previously B. H. Entertainment. In 2015 I joined collaborate efforts with ESG Entertainment with Mr. R. Roundtree and we have been strong since. We have exceeded many expectations as a team developing collaboratively and individually over 50 plus projects. Our most popular films currently include “Bad Girl Virtuous Woman” by Janet Evans, “Carpool” created by R. Roundtree written by Justin Coleman , “Two’s a Couple Three’s a Crowd” by Mark Wilson and “Traceless” created by my cousin Derrick Holland, “To Have and To Hold” create by yours truly and I recently directed “The Clean” A Big Nino Production film with my girl Stacee Nino coming early spring. Though an extensive resume and body of work, I have plans that include much bigger productions, more notable cast and multiple cities. I am currently holding about 8-10 scripts waiting to go into production and an unlimited number of undeveloped ideas.
The long-term vision for Molding Heartz includes becoming a fully operating production house for all kinds of content including but not limited to feature films, documentaries, and Reality tv. I have worked on a few Reality tv concepts including “Dirty Old Cars” on the History channel, “The Amaysing Twins” now streaming on Tubi, “Dear Future Husband” pilot as an AP, and a host of other concepts in development. We are soon producing more shows, films, weddings, music videos, talk shows and more, all independently. Although a huge undertaking, the next level is what gives me hope that there is a real chance for me and those who have helped me along this journey.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
LIFE. My Resilience came from just wanting to feel proud of something in my life. I haven’t always known how to be the best version of myself. As you get older you learn that life is about choices and making the best ones for you. Life taught me resilience, at one point it felt like I was born with a target on my back. Everything seemed like a loss and even now, some days being in entertainment it feels that way many days. My parents both died by the time I was 20 attending college and I had to choose then if I was going to lose or win. I wanted to fight, I wanted to win, and I still fight daily. The impact of dealing with loneliness, depression, and struggles that no one understands but you. Your journey is not for others to understand, and they don’t so it can be lonely heading to the top. However, each day I wake up: I choose to win, I choose to be happy, I choose to be successful regardless of how hard, long, or tough.
My Pastor Jesse Draper use to say, “Get something behind your name.” What he meant was regarding being active in church, but it’s something that I have applied to my career and personal life. Starting with M.Ed. my master’s in education, there’s also: writer, director, producer and the list go on.
I work hard to check off one goal after the another, not for anyone except myself. I am continuing to build the legacy that my parents left and live out the dream passed down to me. I want the things our family fought for us to have.Resilience is who I am.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
First getting into business, I had to call on a few family and friends. At first when producers came to me with this budget they weren’t sure that I could manage to solicit a budget on my own to make my first film, but I managed to do so in a very short time frame. I have been one who was raised in church, one thing that I learned from that is being able to ask the people for what you need. “You have not because you ASK NOT” , is bible. First getting into business I leveraged on every relationship that I had in order to make this happen, but I was not going to give up on my dream. To be honest I am still far away from where I’d like to be as it relate to capital but I am also far from where I was. One thing I’ve learned when it comes to support, its not always who you think it should be.
I’d like to highlight my cousin Derrick T. Holland who was the first main executive producer to help build my company capital. He was one of my number one supporters who help me create at levels I didn’t imagine as a new creator. Along with R. Rountree, and others we took my big dream from ground zero to now creating content that don’t leave us in the red afterwards. (its hard out here yall) I am currently and always seeking larger investors as we know the only way to run a company is with money. So I am looking forward to the day where I started with very little becoming more than enough to give away!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.moldingheartzproductions.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/brandon_thedirector?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moldingheartz?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-l-grand-0897a599
- Twitter: https://x.com/brandondirector/status/1207307398093967362?s=46&t=R-tKPGR6TAabARm3RsmsCw
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9OmhpFTrYg&t=114s
- Other: My book : https://www.amazon.com/How-Live-half-heart-through/dp/1708688757 My radio show: https://instagram.com/reeltalkwithbrandon?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
Image Credits
Darius Dewayne-cover, Ry Media Company, Nya Woodard, Markel Mitchell, Isaac Ward