Meet Stephen Michael Brown

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

Stephen Michael, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Self-confidence can come from family and mentors and those with whom you surround yourself at work and in the community. As someone who reviews movies, I know the more films I see and the more I reflect and write, the better I will be at my craft. Having parents and a brother who always cheered me on, friends who encouraged me and teachers, coaches and community leaders who nourished my passion for the arts and writing helped bolster my ability to feel good about what I can say about the world of moviemaking. My senior thesis director at the University of South Carolina Honors College helped me devise a way to learn more about my particular point of view and perspectives by studying those who have come before me. So you can gain self-esteem by learning your history; in my case reading essays and articles by Pauline Kael, Roger Ebert, Andrew Sarris and others who have loved and critiqued films has given me a firm foundation to explore my own way with words on the subject! Now I am part of critics’ groups, and friends in the industry are a part of building our collective knowledge and elevating the art.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m about to embark on the tenth year of my SilverScreenCapture.com website devoted to the medium of movies. The site has remained streadfast in its capsule critiques of new theatrical and streaming films, although sometimes I get carried away and write a whole lot more. This past year I’ve been accepted into several movie journalist groups including the Southeastern Film Critics Association and the Atlanta Critics Circle. Along with two wonderful friends Jose Alejandro Acosta and Christopher Wagnon, we have also started a video/podcast examination of movies with deeper meanings that stir the soul. The pilot episode of “Seeing is Believing,” by Oculos Media Productions, focuses on faith themes behind the #Barbieheimer phenomenon.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
It’s been important to constantly hone my craft including writing about types of movies I haven’t seen before. I’ve lately been keen on foreign and horror movies among my usual repertoire. Never doubt your point of view; it matters, and people will respond to your authenticity above all else. And choose your partners well. I have been very fortunate to work with kindred spirits in movie critique, podcasting and in my primary job as a public relations practitioner. For those just gaining a foothold in your industry or passion area, always surround yourself with people who want to creatively connect and elevate each other’s art. But call an audible if someone is dragging you down too.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents always exposed me to books, theatre, film and art and encouraged me to form my own opinions about various works in all genres. Both of my parents are retired teachers and have instilled the notion to never stop learning! To this day, they are “thriving seniors” traveling, visiting friends, giving back in their community and catching lots of movies and performing arts. Being interested in lots of disciplines can help make you very interesting as well – and Jon and Nancy are always at the heart of it all.

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Image Credits
All photos courtesy of Stephen Michael Brown

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