An Inspired Chat with Brayden Smith of Hollywood

Brayden Smith shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Brayden, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is a normal day like for you right now?
Nothing is really “normal” for me right now. Is it for anyone else? I’m in the middle of forcing myself out of my comfort zone and becoming an influencer, an online personality. I hope to build an audience as a filmmaker and make some relationships that will help me finance projects. If you’re a person reading this article, thinking to yourself, “Well wait a minute. I have money sitting around and I want to walk a red carpet! How do I become an investor?” You reach out and get some lunch, with me, or your local filmmaker.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
After bouncing around LA for nearly 13 years, my time is coming to an end. That’s great news, for me and Hollywood, because my leaving might just save us both. You see, Hollywood has a problem. A big one. It stopped making stars. When you think of the big actors, ones you’d buy a ticket for any movie they’re in, you might think of their biggest roles. The billion-dollar box office, worldwide spectacle. I think of their first few. The ones that introduced them to their favorite director. The films that were made by a dreamer, and filled with actors who were struggling in LA. These films built Hollywood and launched the careers of stars. Where do you find those roles now? As an undiscovered talent, you’re met with LA casting calls that require massive online followings, or credits on films that outperformed their expectations. So I’ll try to pick up that slack by dedicating my efforts as a producer to low-budget films. Award-winning short filmmakers deserve a chance at a feature film and so does new talent in front of the camera. I still want to make projects that get people thinking, get their emotions heightened, and heart rates elevated, but I want to make something new. Hopefully, people are tired of watching the same people in the same movies and will start to follow and support new creators.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that didn’t give a sh** about anything except my survival. I didn’t exactly have a comfortable childhood, and growing up too quickly has unique challenges. One of the mindsets I took into college, mostly because I was terrified and didn’t want to show it, was that I just didn’t care. I was going to try to live life to the fullest because I felt, in a lot of ways, that I had already won. I survived my childhood and was in an LA film school! What could go wrong?! I answered that question a few times and made a few wrong turns. Luckily, time heals all wounds so I’m here for 6 more months, and then I’m on to better things.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I’m not sure if there was ever a time I haven’t felt like giving up. Truthfully, it is an exhaustive journey filled with tiny glimpses of success. Mostly it’s people telling you no, or telling you one thing to your face and another to your collaborators over lunch. I keep going because I know what movies and TV shows did for me. They helped me learn about new people and new perspectives. They introduced me to ideas, good or bad. Movies changed me and showed me there was more to the world than just my tiny life. If they could do that for me, maybe I can do that for people watching my films. If not, I hope I can be a new force in the entertainment industry that takes care of his cast and crew, providing opportunities to people who otherwise may not get it.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The BIGGEST lies, because there are many little lies told every day in entertainment, are these: You have to be in Hollywood to make in Hollywood. Simply not true anymore. This town is dying, and has been since before I got here. Over the next 6 months I will try to extract every last drop from the fruit that’s left in this town. The second, is that you have to have stars to make a successful film. Roger Corman and Hallmark TV would like a few words, but I firmly believe that Hollywood just got lazy. While the marketing execs may have “forgotten” how to market these types of films, I did not forgot how well they used to do it.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing? 
I think I will regret that I didn’t do exactly what I’m doing now, but ten years ago. I was so afraid of what people would think about me as a college student. I never wanted to be an actor, I never wanted to be in front of the camera in general, but it’s my fear that’s holding me back. If all you’re worried about is what other people will think of you, it’s time to take that leap. Be your best you and do it with all your effort.

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Image Credits
Makenzie Hart

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