We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chet Brewster a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Chet, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

My taking a risk started by getting fired from my regular job I had for four years after I graduated from college. I could have tried to find another regular 9 to 5 type job in production at a television station, but there weren’t many tv stations hiring at the time. Plus, my dream, my focus, my commitment to my vision was to direct entertainment television and film. I loved live productions as well like music concerts, award shows for television and standup comedy specials. So I took a huge risk on myself to stay focused on my directing dream and worked at my craft very hard to be known as a talented, relevant and capable director of multiple genres.

Chet, 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?

I wanted to be a director since I was seven years old. I used to make up skits for my friends to act in in the neighborhood I grew up in and stayed with that focus in mind from grade school to high school to going to one of the best television performing arts schools in the country, Emerson College. In my senior year at college I met a recruiter for CNN and within 7 days of graduating, relocated to Atlanta to begin my career in television. Working on live television and knowing the world is watching made me feel confident that I can direct a live broadcast and not be intimidated. Thus I created DavenStar 1 Entertainment and became one production source for all your entertainment needs.

I learned over time that if I learn the “how to do” technical aspects of production, and some editing skills, I could be more valuable as a director because I would have a better understanding how you get from concept to creation. That knowledge helps to separate me from most other directors. Plus my love for telling stories is very strong. It does not matter if it is a corporate live event to a television sitcom series to an award show to a movie, I can tell a story from any of those genres.

There are a lot of things I could be most proud of, but the one thing that stands out to me is my reputation inn the industry and how I can influence and inspire people to follow their dreams and not even know it. Short story, I am associate directing a multicam tv sitcom and I introduced my self to the co-creator, co-executive producer of the show as well as the star of the show and told them my first name only. He then proceeded to ask me my name if it was like “Chet Brewster
and I told him I am Chet Brewster. He then proceeded to tell me he was influenced to do what he was doing today since he was 6 years old because of seeing how I directed the first nine Tyler Perry stageplay DVDs and made them look like a television show sitcom style shoot. He said he always remembered the guy who was the video director and now after 20 years he is actually working with the guy that inspired him. I was humbled as well as shocked as well as honored and proud to be an inspiration.

I also work really well under pressure. The most pressured production I have ever directed was the 2022 World Games opening and closing ceremonies. So many challenges arose throughout that production, but one of the key things that helped me get through it was the production team I assembled. They were long time associates of mine in the industry and their years of production experience proved very valuable to help us navigate through a uniquely, complicated and stressful international production.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Covid forced not just myself, but the world to pivot. I am known as a “gig worker” and the options for my survival was limited when the world first shut down like the 1951 movie “The Day the Earth Stood Still”. But being versatile in directing and having some editing skills allowed me to use those skills in the virtual world. Directing virtual meetings set in studios or virtual panel discussions. Fortunately, I had already closed my brick and morter office before Covid hit to allow me to save money and work virtually.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is to stop being the best kept secret as a director. I have directed productions both domestically and internationally. I have done a lot over the years, but there is still more to do. I use inspirational quotes to keep me inspired, like “Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be” John Wooden. That and continue what I did while my parents were alive, continue to make them proud of my achievements until the day I can walk up on an Emmy or Oscar stage to receive my awards and thank them.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.davenstar1entertainment.com
• Instagram: @davenstar1ent
• Facebook: Chet Brewster/facebook.com
• Linkedin: Chet Brewster/Linkedin.com