Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Simone Brazzini. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Simone, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

When Covid hit, I was two weeks into rehearsal as the lead in the play “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” This was one of my dream roles, playing a character on the autism spectrum, with a stellar cast, and a fantastic autistic director. The loss I felt when the show ended before it began was insurmountable. The entire human race experienced grief like no other, and it weighed deeply on me. In the face of uncertainty, and with a bit of desperation to portray a neurodivergent character, I decided to write my first feature film.

“My Name is Blue” was my way of clinging on to hope; that one day the pandemic would end, and I would be able to star in the film I had written. Three years and many drafts later, I have finally reached a point in my writing that excites me. I’m not sure if scripts are ever truly done, but I am proud of what I have created and eager to share it with the world. I’m currently a quarterfinalist for Final Draft’s Big Break competition and have received acclaim on The Black List and WeScreenplay. Producing a movie is never easy, especially when it’s your first, but this story I’ve created means the world to me.

I’ve never had the chance to see myself, every aspect of myself, on screen, and with this film, I strive to make that a reality. I’m still in the early stages of looking for investors and producers, but I’m determined to succeed. I don’t want to give too much away, but essentially the story is about a non-binary, neurodivergent, Latinx teenager named Blue who has an affinity for the color blue and an obsession with Jack Jones, a recently canceled actor. Blue decides to sneak into Jack’s truck, and the two embark on a cross-country journey of forced dreams and the impossibility of escaping the past. It’s a coming-of-age tale, a road trip film, a family drama, and it’s all driven by the central character of Blue. While not autobiographical, Blue faces many mental health challenges similar to those that I’ve gone through, and the opportunity to share that with people through such a personal lens offers a level of authenticity that I know audiences crave. I truly hope I am given the chance to live this dream soon.

Simone, 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?

Hello readers, my name is Simone Brazzini and I am an actor, filmmaker, writer, creator, and adventurer. I’ve been acting my whole life, specifically since the age of two in my preschool’s show of “I’m a Little Teapot.” Since I’ve been acting from a young age, it’s hard to say what got me started, I think it’s always been in my DNA. I love performing and creating, as someone on the autism spectrum, it’s my way of understanding the human experience. Although I wasn’t diagnosed until the age of 18, growing up on the spectrum had some particular difficulties. I constantly struggled to connect with people and form relationships, I never really knew how to exist well with others. But when I was acting or creating, something inside clicked. In those moments I felt whole, and I never wanted it to stop.

As I got older, finding opportunities for myself became a bit more difficult. Latinx roles, trans roles, non-binary roles, neurodivergent roles, they’re all hard to come by on their own let alone intersected, so when I graduated from school, my wife and I founded Vibes Video, a production company centering BIPOC, LGBTQ, and Neurodiverse voices. For me, this was a way to take charge of my art, to establish myself as someone who was to be taken seriously in the industry, and to hone in on the stories I wanted to tell, all while advocating for those who felt similarly.
One of the biggest problems in the film industry is lack of representation and I am a firm believer in intersectionality as a solution. I strive to find the ways that we as humans and storytellers can bring our differences together in celebration. What sets me apart from others, what I believe makes each person amazing in their own way, is my (and their) unique perspective. I don’t focus on the ways in which society wants to label me as something “outside the norm,” instead I channel my energy into uplifting what makes me one-of-a-kind. The cross-section of my identities doesn’t just set me apart, it motivates me, and I hope to inspire this in others.

Outside of my creative endeavors, I like to call myself an adventurer. I love to rock climb, hike, and travel around the world. Some of my favorite places I’ve been to are Amsterdam, Greece, and Hawaii. It’s important to me to take time away from work, even if my work is something I love. Rest and self-care are huge priorities, so exploring all that life has to offer is my favorite form of nurturing that side of me.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

This question sort of ties into what I am most proud of in my life: my resilience. As I stated earlier, growing up wasn’t easy. The anxiety I felt simply trying to be was overwhelming, exhausting, and debilitating. Because of this, my emotions tended to get the best of me, and as a result, I was labeled as someone who was “too much.” In other words, I had no chill. I remember in my theater class, at the end of the year, we would have these joke awards that we gave out and I won the “Chill Out” award. There were a few years where even in my acting and creative circles I second-guessed myself because I constantly wondered if I was being “too much.”

When I was eventually diagnosed and things began to click, I finally had the words and tools to help myself. In no way was it an immediate shift, it took several years, a pandemic, and an additional diagnosis to get me on the path of unlearning my innate self-belief of being “too much.” But ultimately, with the support of my family and friends, years of therapy, and the determination to succeed, I made it out on the other side. I no longer believe I’m “a lot”; in fact, I don’t believe anyone is. We’re all products of our environment, both internal and external, and when we’re able to use the right tools to cultivate our uniqueness, the potential within ourselves is limitless. I’m grateful everyday that I’ve learned to harness this power inside me to both better my craft as an artist and to uplift my community around me.

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

My immediate goal as an actor, creator, and founder of Vibes Video is to tell inclusive stories authentically. Whether I’m self producing my own work or collaborating with other artists, regardless of genre, authenticity is what drives each project. I aim to cultivate a space where everyone can be who they are fully and use whatever that may bring as their superpower.

If we’re talking long term goals, then my mind starts to delve into dream territory. I’m a big dreamer; I’m also a big believer. I have developed a strong self-confidence (or maybe delusion) and with that I strive for the absolute best in my life. I see myself writing, producing, and starring in my own movies and TV shows, backed by studio funding. I see my trans and non-binary characters not just showcased in mainstream media, but loved by audiences.

When I go on runs, I allow my mind to go off as well, and in these moments I see myself at the Oscars, Cannes, TIFF, Emmy’s. In a world where anything’s possible and dreams come true every day, the only question I ask myself is: why not me? What’s the best that can happen? And that’s the path I head toward.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.simonebrazzini.com / www.vibes-video.com
• Instagram: @simonebrazzini / @vibesvideoproductions
• Youtube: @vibes-video

Image Credits
Abbi Chase Leah Geisler Nico Atler Michael Brosilow