We recently connected with Bryan Thompson and have shared our conversation below.
Bryan , appreciate you joining us today. Everyone has crazy stuff happen to them, but often small business owners and creatives, artists and others who are doing something off the beaten path are often hit with things (positive or negative) that are so out there, so unpredictable and unexpected. Can you share a crazy story from your journey?
When I returned from my deployment in Iraq I had an idea for a movie that I just couldn’t get out of my head. I had done some commercial modeling and acting, but had never created my own project. I met an independent filmmaker who had produced a short that I enjoyed and asked him to become my production partner. Together, we began to create the script for the film…the first script I ever wrote. As I started the fundraising process, I realized that most people just thought it was an impossible dream that I had. Nobody wanted to invest, especially if there was not Hollywood talent or a recognizable face in the film. My vision was to hire Tony Todd (famous for his role as “Candyman” and in the “Final Destination” films) but I knew I would need a lot of money to make that happen. I decided that the best way to convince investors was to create a concept trailer that would knock them off their feet and make them want to give me money. I planned to use a local actor. Two weeks before it was time to film the concept trailer, my partner got cold feet. That was my turning point. I decided to go ahead and make the trailer without him, despite having no earthly idea how to make it all come together. I found a crew and found new locations. I paid for everything with my own money. It turns out that a member of my crew had a personal relationship with Tony Todd. She had been in touch with him and told him about the project and he had asked her why we were filming the trailer without him. In the end, we worked out a deal and Tony Todd became the first celebrity that I hired for a film project. This was an instant boost to my credibility as a producer and gave me the momentum and courage to keep going.
Bryan , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a creative with an international business background which has allowed me to access unique commercial spaces and given me a special world view that impacts my creative process at every phase. I have written, produced, and directed 10 feature films which are in distribution and can be seen on multiple platforms including NBC’s Peacock, Tubi, Amazon Prime, Redbox, Vudu, Hoopla, Vizio, Roku and Crackle. The genres of these films are various. “Valentines Date” is a romantic comedy, “Dirt” and “Rogue Cell” (1 and 2) are action films, “Easter Someday” is a children’s fantasy, “Comedy House Party” is a standup comedy special, “Thanksgiving with the Carters” and its 3 sequels are family comedies,
In addition to Imani Films, I operate the Miami Web Series Festival. Miami Web Fest is the film festival for web series that started in 2014, offering both in-person local events and online experiences for worldwide audiences. The event is designed to create a work-play environment, attracting Miami’s vast and multicultural community of arts enthusiasts. For attendees, Miami Web Fest is a “window into the future” of new media, allowing the general public to see independently produced shows before they are discovered by television networks and media entities. It’s also a chance to network with the new emerging stars at some of the most exclusive venues in the city.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
When I began Imani Films, I was focused on making action projects because action, military, and government stories were all that I knew. However, after I got my first distribution deal for Rogue Cell 1, the distribution company Maverick Entertainment offered to invest in a new movie in a completely different genre. They wanted a family comedy about Thanksgiving, based on the fact that there were almost no Thanksgiving movies in the market at the time. I realized that I was at a crossroads, so I decided to stretch my mind and expand my horizons. The result was “Thanksgiving with the Carters” a story about a family that believes the season of gratitude isn’t complete unless you surprise your family with something positive and unique. In this particular Thanksgiving, the family surprises include some very unwelcome surprises. This was a major pivot for me and I’m very glad I did it. It allowed me to see that I was capable of more than just one genre and the film was a major success. Since then, I have intentionally transcended genre limitations and allowed myself to always think far outside the box.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the keys to my success was unlearning the concept of “staying in your lane.” Most people don’t have the benefit of benevolent nepotism in Hollywood, so the barriers to entry are enormous. That’s why so many people with great ideas never actually execute on those ideas. This applies to many industries and facets of life. To get a job, you have to have a job. To get a job in a certain field, you have to be working in that field. So, how do you get experience if everyone that could give you a chance wants someone with experience? The answer is, you must be willing to blaze your own trail. As the phrase implies, blazing one’s own trail is very much like walking through the woods and choosing to walk through the prickly brush instead of staying on the beaten path. It’s going to hurt more. You might get poison ivy and you might get bitten by hidden critters (I have been bitten plenty of times on my journey), but in the end, you have a more direct route to your goals. That’s why I say “stay in your lane” was the lesson I had to unlearn. My lane would never have led me to my dreams.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.imanifilms.com
- Instagram: @bryangthompson
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bryan.Thompson.007
- Twitter: @bryangthompson
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-ghCyzdrpZoxiY309cvONw