Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brendan Gillen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Brendan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my debut novel, STATIC, which was released last summer by Vine Leaves Press. The novel took nearly ten years from inception to publication, so I think its existence is, if nothing else, a symbol of what’s possible if you persist, day by day, to work at your craft. It’s also a powerful lesson that the process doesn’t get any easier. It’s cliche, but the journey really is the destination.
Brendan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Originally from Charlottesville, VA, I’m a writer and creative director based in Brooklyn, NY. A love of storytelling has been my compass throughout my career, guiding me through various creative avenues—be it writing, directing, or crafting compelling narratives for brands. At the core of it all is a desire to connect with audiences on a profound level. To make people feel something.
In the realm of fiction, STATIC delves into the life of Paul, a musician navigating the challenges of the modern music industry. The narrative aims to capture the tension between youthful aspirations and the pressing realities of adulthood. I also write a lot of short fiction and my stories have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best Small Fictions and appear in the Florida Review, X-R-A-Y, Necessary Fiction and many other journals.
In the advertising and branded content sphere, I’ve had the privilege of working with global brands such as ESPN, FanDuel, NASCAR, Condé Nast, Fox Sports, BBC, the U.S. Open, Resy, and Anheuser-Busch. As far as highlights, I was honored to write and produce the US Open’s tribute video for Serena Williams’ retirement, which was narrated by Oprah and aired in the stadium and on ESPN throughout the tournament. I also had the opportunity to write and produce the launch trailers for The Last Dance documentary series about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls for ESPN.
What distinguishes my work is an unwavering commitment to collaboration. The best stories are the ones we tell together, born out of trust, empowerment, and a whole lot of persistence. And my goal is to be as immersive and character-driven as possible, grounded in the belief that the most impactful stories evoke genuine emotions and foster lasting connections.
Reflecting on my career, I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve managed to build, both personally and professionally. I’m fortunate to have worked with some incredibly cool and talented people, people who I’ve been fortunate to learn a lot from.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A lesson I have to re-learn every day, and one that I will probably be learning for the rest of my life, is that no amount of success/achievement/validation/whatever, will truly fulfill you. As I writer, I have to wake up every day and put my butt in the chair because I love it, not because of any outcome I hope to grasp. And damn, is it hard. But, as a creative, I think it’s a fulfilling challenge.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being creative is when you lose yourself in the process itself. It’s an ineffable thing, almost impossible to really explain or grasp. But when the work is flowing, whether it’s a piece of fiction or a scripted piece for a client, and everything else drops away…I mean, that’s why we do this, right?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bgillen.com
- Instagram: beegillen
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendangillen1
- Twitter: beegillen
