We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brandon Newman 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. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
I learned to write screenplays when I was around 20 years old. I learned how to write them well a few years later. I was a big fan or writing all my life. I would write stories back in elementary school, but back then it was just for fun. I had recently purchased a DVD, “Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back”, by Kevin Smith. I purchased the version that had the script-to-screen feature that allowed you to read the script as you followed along with the movie. As I read it, I realized that screenwriting was essentially just telling the story in written form as I had been doing since I was a little boy. The only difference was the formatting.
Knowing what I know now, the only thing I would have done to speed up the process would be to find places to read other scripts much sooner than I did. Reading other scripts really helped me to understand how scripts worked and flowed.
I think the most essential skill that I use is my creativity. I look at writing as a puzzle that I am trying to solve in the most creative way possible. How do I start the story and move through the world in the most interesting ways.
The obstacles that stood in the way of learning more is lack of film culture in my home town. I feel as though the city I grew up in, there were not a lot of people that had the same interest in filmmaking as I did. So, that made things a little more difficult to try to pursue filmmaking as a career. It was not until I was able to move that I discovered a bigger film community that helped me grow more in my passion.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
After writing spec scripts for a number of years with no prospects or way into the film industry, I reached out to Craigslist for a film director. I was able to find a local director that had once lived in California directing various projects, and had moved back home to Texas. After meeting with him and agreeing to work on one of my scripts, I met an actor who would become my best friend at the time. We ended up starting our own production company and shot a hand full of shorts and a music video. After stepping away from the company, I branched out on my own and met my current best friend, Mitchell Junious, through work. He was also interested in filmmaking. Together we have shot a music video, multiple shorts and our first feature film “Mrs. Missing”, looking to release later this year.
As a screenwriter, I offer a number of services such as editing, script doctoring, book adaptations. But I am not only a screenwriter, I direct along with Mitchell, and have served as producer and consulting producer on projects as well.
What sets my work apart from others is the realism. The realism in the story that jumps out at you. The realism in the world around the characters in the story. The way the dialogue flows from each of the characters I create.
The thing I would most like for readers to know about me is that my journey in the mainstream film industry is just getting started. There will be plenty more from me to come in the near future.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
When attempting to make my first feature movie, we had done all of the pre-production, rehearsals, filming dates and locations were set. Two days before the start of the shoot, the director called to tell me that we were going to have to cancel the production due to unforeseen circumstances. I was extremely upset and lost faith in being able to be a filmmaker. The next week, I decided to start smaller and make films myself. I contacted the lead actor and we became fast friends. He had the same work ethic I did, and together we made a smaller film, which lead to bigger and bigger projects until we were able to make the first film that was cancelled. The only difference was that now, we were the ones in charge..
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
In my opinion, I believe the best way to support artists and creatives starts at home. If a child tells a parent that they want to be a creative, that they have a passion for the arts, believe them. Believe in them. Even if they live in a small town or somewhere not know for creatives to thrive, do whatever you can as a parent to facilitate that child’s passion. Don’t dim the light before it has the chance to shine bright. Creative talent can come from anyone. Allow them to pursue their dream. It may turn out that they find that what they thought they wanted could leave to what they are truly meant to do. I wanted to act. I wanted to be on the big screen. I tried my hand at it, realized that I was no good, but that lead me down the path to discovering writing films. That changed my life in more ways than I can imagine. Finding writing and creating films gave me self confidence and allowed me to find my voice. I was 26 years old when I felt like I truly began my life. I hope that parents would allow their children to explore the world and their passion so they can find their purpose as well.