Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandy Austin.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My story begins from one of my earliest memories of discovering my creative side. In elementary school, we had a book section in the classroom for reading time. One day, I was motivated to create my own book. I wrote a Mystery, illustrated it, folded it and proudly added it to the book section for other kids to read during reading time! That initial love for creative writing never ceased, only grew. When I realized there was no easy path towards a career in Creative Writing, I again started to curate my own. In high school, I wrote my first novel and started creating a book of poetry that I self-published two years later.
I found it challenging to not see any college options for what I wanted to pursue. I struggled to justify paying for classes for a major that I had no interest in. At the time, the only option being Journalism, which I can’t stand. So I decided to move to my favorite city, New York and started working on my second novel. Due to establishing better connections and resources in New York, I linked with Harlem Bookfair Publishers, who showed interested in my novel ‘The Other Man’, and published it.
I was ecstatic with my accomplishment, but I wanted to see a more definitive career path for myself. The book was just the beginning, but I was ready to take the creative writing to the next level and even started looking up how to teach myself Screenwriting. Simultaneously, I found a creative writing program at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia and got accepted. My initial thinking was that the program was for creative writers, which it was, but come to find out, it was for creative writers with an interest in writing for television and film. I was kind of shocked and a little intimidated, but also very excited to learn another level of creative writing and one that I was already on the path to learning on my own. After four years, I graduated with a BA in Writing for Television and Film and a newfound niche!
I’d always loved TV and Film but never even fathom that I could bring my writing to life using these mediums. Once I had the knowledge and learned the skill, to make it work I felt like I had to go out to Hollywood and fall in line with the rest. The summer after graduation, I had an internship at a well-established production company, where I got a first-hand glimpse at what it meant and what it took to run the production side of things. As a Screenwriter, I was in a very small part of an overall big picture. As a Black woman writer, I felt like I was in an even tinier bracket. One with only room for a few less than a handful each decade, if they were lucky. With the gentle encouragement of some of the Executives where I interned, I decided to move to Atlanta. I was considering the move for personal reasons but with Atlanta becoming ‘the Hollywood in the south’ it seemed only right to give it a shot.
I made the move to Atlanta in the Fall of 2015 with a newfound wind behind my sails! After all, other black filmmakers were doing big things here; maybe there’d be a chance to link with a company that understood my plight of feeling underrepresented. Despite the efforts of tapping into local productions, I still felt stuck. Now in my 30’s, I felt like I put in the time and was ready for the results. I knew that having to work a 9 to 5 would be a part of the post-college journey, but it felt as though being a part of the creative world was becoming unreachable. Instead of waiting for a chance, I decided to follow my heart. I always talked about having my own production company and now felt like the time.
By February of 2016, I’d established branD Productions, LLC with the intent to create content written and produced by women. Our first project was actually a web series produced in Philadelphia and written by my fellow alumni. Though I was unfamiliar with other areas of the production process, my many years of experience as a manager, combined with my drive taught me all I needed to know to step beyond my role as a writer. I served as Executive Producer and we were able to successfully produce five episodes.
Last year, I decided to recreate the production process from pre-production to post, here in Atlanta. With all the projects I’ve had in my past, it was nice to be able to sit down and create something that would be on screen. This was a project close to my heart because it told about the story of a masculine-lesbian mother-to-be, something that I’d yet to really see on screen. It reminded me why I began writing in the first place – to be able to use my imagination and form something new to contribute to the world. My short film, which featured my directorial debut, titled ‘Two 4 One’ was released in October of 2018. It has since been officially selected for multiple Film Festivals and is still being screened today!
Through trials and tribulations. Ups and downs. Loss and gains, I am proud to say that I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. I look forward to the future of branD Productions, as I challenge myself to get better, further grow my team and continue to create art that can impact and shape all of our lives in a positive way!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The challenges of starting a business in a huge industry without much more than a dream of making it happen can stack up quickly. Not having the funds to put towards projects and having to work hard to get things done. Working a full-time job to pay bills while trying to utilize any remaining time and money to complete projects. Doing a lot of the job(s) yourself. Losing relationships for all sorts of reasons. You name it, I’ve been through it. But the key is to never lose sight of what it’s all for in the first place!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about BranD Productions LLC – what should we know?
BranD Productions is a Black woman-owned and operated Television and Film company. Our first two projects were both centered around LGBTQIA subject matter and have been successful among many communities. We aim to turn our lens towards marginalized groups of people, who don’t often get their stories told accurately or from them directly. Our goal is to continue to add relatability to every story we tell, to show the world the commonalities we share among our uniqueness.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Being honest and transparent. Knowing when to admit that I don’t know something and seeking out the right resources to gain the answers. Never giving up.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brandproductionsllc.com
- Email: brandy@brandproductionsllc.com
- Instagram: @brandproductionsllc
- Facebook: brandproductionsllc
Image Credit:
Amari Ross, Queen Mitchell, Quinn Floyd, Michelle Block
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