We recently connected with Tracy Lynch Britton and have shared our conversation below.

TRACY, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One of the toughest things about progressing in your creative career is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

I am one of 3 girls and went to all-girl Catholic schools in The Washington DC area. I never had to compete with boys for anything. I never thought my desired career in show business would be easy, but I was always taught if you’re smart, you work really hard, and are a good, kind person – You WILL Succeed!
I was a very good student and was awarded 5 college scholarships.
My girlfriends from High School became highly respected and successful Doctors, Lawyers, architects, business owners, and scientists.
I was a child actress I started acting/singing and dancing at a very young age – I loved theater – but movies were my passion.
I went to film school at Loyola University in New Orleans (my favorite city in the world!) and I did very well in their directing program.
After graduation my professors told me I had to go to Los Angeles if I wanted to make movies – so I did.
But what I was shocked to discover was this: No one would hire female directors. There were a rare few female directors who ever got hired and never for action or Sci-fi or big comedies.
I was told time and time again that women could not handle the pressure, could not “think on their feet”, that the crew would not respect a woman, and that actors didn’t feel comfortable taking direction from a “girl”.

When I interviewed to try and get an episode of a TV show – over and over male producers said stuff like “Well, we hired a female director last season – she wasn’t very good” – translation:- so now we won’t hire another woman – period.
But I wouldn’t give up. I would say to myself “They are going to have to shoot me to keep from directing!”
Luckily, I’m Irish and I come from a family of writers, my grandfather mother, and sister are all EXCELLENT writers – we Irish are natural storytellers – so I began to write scripts.
My first TV movie script led me to a staff writing job at CBS and eventually, my writing impressed an Indie film producer – and he hired me to write and direct a VERY low-budget action film. The film’s budget was 65 thousand dollars – but it made 8 million. I got paid 2 thousand dollars total – and it opened the door for me to FOX TV because they were impressed I was able to make an Action film that cheap so they hired me to direct AMERICA’S MOST WANTED which was a fantastic gig – where I learned so much more than film school!

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 was always the kid in the neighborhood who would gather the other kids together and say: “LET’S MAKE A SHOW!”
( I watched a lot of old Judy Garland/ Mickey Rooney and all the Shirley Temple movies on TV when I was a little girl and they made it look so fun and easy.
I always wanted to entertain people – make them laugh or cry or want to sing and dance – to touch their hearts and minds.

I also have never missed an Academy Awards show since I was 6 years old – (It’s my “SUPER BOWL” !)
That year I saw Tatum O’Neil ( who was a spunky little short-haired Irish girl like me) WIN AN ACADEMY AWARD for Best Supporting Actress for “PAPER MOON ”
SHE BEAT ALL THE ADULTS!

From that moment on – I have never waivered from my goals.

I think I am most proud of myself – for never, ever giving up.
I have had doors slammed in my face again and again and I just keep going.
I know I have the talent and tenacity, and I also know when I do get jobs – people really like working with me – even if they start out skeptical.

We laugh a lot on my sets. I come prepared, ready to rock it. I am extremely collaborative by nature and filmmaking really thrives on the collaboration of many, many talented people coming together to work as a team.
I am fast and friendly and am known as an “Actors Director” and I’m a nationally known acting coach in between writing and directing jobs.
They call me “the Kid Whisperer” as I am particularly great with kids.

I always strive to be the kind of director I would have wanted when I was a kid – someone who is kind – but always pushes me and gives me confidence to reach for more . Actors rely on directors to bring out the best of their best and I love developing that trust. And producers like me because I come in on time and on budget!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My career was finally starting to take off – I was directing a lot of TV for DICK CLARK PRODUCTIONS, BAYWATCH (the only female director ever hired in 12 seasons – because David Hasselhoff fought for me for a year!) MELROSE PLACE etc..
But – then I got Breast Cancer and had a double mastectomy and couldn’t work for 2 years.

Two years without a directing job is death in this business – and no one cares if it was a serious health issue –
They forget about you.

But a female friend of mine was an editor at Paramount for THE DOCTOR PHIL show and she said “I know it’s not a scripted show with actors which is what you love to do – but it is DGA – I could put in a good word for you?” and I said:
“YES PLEASE!”
So with her recommendation – I did 5 seasons of that show – until somehow the show was able to wiggle out of being DGA and I couldn’t do a non-guild show ( it took me 15 years to get into the DGA!) so I had to quit.
Once again I began writing scripts. I just kept going.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is the same now as when I was 6 years old – and it’s never been about money.
Like Tatum O’Neil – I want to win an Academy Award.
In 97 years – there have only been 2 female directors who have ever won an Oscar.

I want to stand on that stage, in a sparkling evening gown, with a gold statue in my hand, and thank all the people on my team and who have supported and believed in me in the long, long years – when I never gave up.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tracylynchbritton.com
• Linkedin: Tracy Lynch Britton