We were lucky to catch up with Maxwell Bruner recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Maxwell, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Risk. It’s something anyone in a creative profession, especially acting, has to get comfortable with. One of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken was deciding to move to Los Angeles and leave everything I’d ever known behind. It wasn’t easy and it certainly wasn’t always fun, but in my experience, the biggest risks often lead to the biggest rewards.

I officially moved to Los Angeles on September 4, 2021. I boarded that American Airlines flight with just $117 in my checking account and a very clear sense of purpose: I wanted to be an actor. There’s something to be said about the kind of person who makes a decision like that. Some people call it brave, others call it stupid, and honestly, I think it takes a little bit of both.

Starting over in every aspect of life a new city, new friends, new job, new home was overwhelming at times. But when your dream meets your ambition, it creates a kind of momentum that pushes you forward even when things get hard. That momentum has kept me going and I’ve never looked back.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m an actor based in Los Angeles, California. My name is Maxwell Bruner, and I’m 24 years old. Like many people here, I’m a transplant from a town called Bowie, Maryland. I began my journey in cinematic arts with the intention of working behind the camera. That was the plan, at least, until I met a good friend who persuaded me to pursue a career in front of it.

I signed up for a casting service, and while I’m not usually one to believe in fate, I will say that the very first project I applied for, I booked. My friend put in a call to a producer on the show, and that’s how I landed my first role on Euphoria. Once I stepped onto a working set, I knew this was exactly where I was meant to be. The dedication and passion for storytelling I saw from the entire cast and crew was infectious, and it inspired me to commit fully to my craft.

Since then, I have trained extensively, from on-camera work with Sheri Shaw to character development classes with Nathan Basel, and finally rounding out my training at the Ruskin School of Acting. In June, I signed with Aqua Talent, and in July, with Dreamers Management. From that point forward, I have kept moving, growing, and pushing forward in my career.

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

At the heart of my creative journey is a simple but powerful goal: to tell stories that connect with people on a human level. Acting, for me, isn’t just about playing a role it’s about stepping into someone else’s shoes, finding the truth in their experiences, and bringing that truth to the audience in a way that makes them feel something real.

I want to create work that resonates long after the credits roll. Whether it’s sparking a conversation, offering a moment of escape, or helping someone feel seen, my mission is to use my craft to bridge that emotional gap between story and audience.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the ability to create something that resonates with people in ways I may never fully know or see. There’s a special kind of fulfillment in knowing that a performance, a scene, or even a single moment can connect with someone emotionally, make them think differently, or help them feel understood.

I remember watching movies with my mother. She would take me to these Oscars showcase screenings in Maryland, which at the time felt like the closest a kid like me could ever get to Hollywood. I can still picture myself sitting in those theater seats, completely transformed by what I saw on screen. That feeling that emotional jolt from the stories I understood and even from the ones I didn’t .

If I’m ever lucky enough to give that same feeling to another sixteen-year-old kid sitting in a theater next to his mother, watching a movie he may not even want to see, and somehow change his perspective, then it will all have been worth it. Storytelling, to me, is the most powerful tool we have to connect minds and hearts, and if I can do that for even one person, I’ve done my job.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https;//instagram.com/maxwellbruner/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maxwell.bruner.71/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxwellbruner/

Image Credits

HEADSHOTS by JIM