We were lucky to catch up with Brittany Thomas recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Brittany, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on thus far is my most recent documentary that I had the privilege of making with my friends and releasing it to a wider audience. I discovered an artist one day while I was bored at work and started getting into their work; and along the way I met some people online who were into the artist just as much as I was. We were in an online community together and some of us talked to each other so much that we took our shared interests offline and developed genuine friendships off of it. Along the way, we also became close with the artist as he was about to headline his own tour for his debut album. Then and there, I decided I need to make a documentary of how he and his art has brought all of these people together in such a heartfelt way.

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?

I always describe myself as a twenty-something year-old, curious professional who is steadily trying to build a multi-disciplinary media portfolio. I first realized I loved visual storytelling when I took my Video Production class in college around 2017-18. That is where I realized I loved editing. Once I took my Visual Storytelling class, is when I realized I could tell any story I wanted as long as I had something to say or show— with the right angle. From there I started to take my course work more seriously, checking out cameras from my university so I could self teach and give myself a way to practice and learn more hands-on. I want to give the average person a voice, the working class. I am big on trying to uplift those who want to make or show off their art more but are limited due to lack of access or lack of time because they are trying to survive and support themselves by working jobs that aren’t conducive to their artistic side. In 2025, I am aiming to launch the series I want to make that showcases different types of people in their respective mediums doing what they do in a real, up-close and honest way. I want to start locally in Houston and then work my way to the rest of Texas and eventually everywhere. If there is someone with a voice or passion and they feel like they are in their beginning or early stages, I would love to showcase it. I love asking people questions and making them think and I believe that makes for a great interview. I want to indulge myself in their process as I help them to document a slice of their life.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

The thrill of risks or going for that one thing you need to feel complete with whatever you’re creating. I was getting some footage for my TV News course over a local propane explosion. Although unsafe, I felt that me and my project partner needed to have certain shots that professional journalists probably wouldn’t have been able to do because they answer to someone and the social and criminal politics of the situation. I crossed the yellow tape and got the footage of the food truck that exploded. Even though I got cursed out by the property owners, I felt like me and my project partner had the best news package that week because I was willing to take that risk and still have a more compelling story than that of a local news station. It made me feel like I was able to provide viewers with honest and raw evidence of a story that impacted a community. The rush is what excites me and I love being able to provide a story that people may not have considered or a perspective that was left unturned. Trust your gut, if something feels incomplete, don’t be afraid to speak up or reassess what you’re doing. Taking that risk could change something drastically.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I’ll keep my answer local to Houston. Having grown up here and having the privilege to work a couple of years and see the development of the Houston arts and creative scene; I see that there are so many creatives right in our backyard. However, there isn’t an outlet for your everyday creative or the resources to bring like minded individuals on a grand scale isn’t widely known to everyone out here. I hope that I can be one of those people to help bridge other creatives together. I’ve been in the rooms and auctions thrown by non-profits that are bubbling in Houston funding the scene, but those events are usually reserved for the donors; or those who are out of touch compared to the people on the ground actually creating the art. Then there’s a disconnect with bringing those resources to the masses because no one knows about it or there is a bad marketing strategy trying to get those resources to the artists. I think there needs to be events for your everyday creative where it’s not intimidating and has no barrier to entry. That way folks could meet a potential collaborator or give people the access to resources which builds a local network and community. I’m currently in the process of becoming a part of a network that could help with this! That would greatly help people be able to support each other in a more accessible way. We could essentially community our way into a more supportive, connected and thriving arts scene and ecosystem. For the first time in Houston history, it would feel like there is some cohesion.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brixxany__/
• Twitter: https://x.com/brttnnyy
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BRIXXANY1

Image Credits

Drew Gonzales (@gunzls.shots on IG)
Michael Thervil