Today we’d like to introduce you to Brett David Stelter.
Hi Brett David, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started making films in middle school when a friend and I decided to make the first ever video yearbook for our 8th-grade class. Everyone loved it and it was at that moment I knew I wanted to keep telling stories. After graduating Ohio University, I moved to Charlotte, NC for a few years but ended up quitting my job and moving to Los Angeles with $276, three boxes and a one-way ticket. I’m originally from Long Beach, California so to me it felt more like a moving home rather than an unknown move to Hollywoodland. After seven years of writing, producing, acting and doing photography in LA I wanted to venture out and explore Austin and the growing artistic community I kept hearing great things about.
Alright, 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?
Navigating the entertainment world is tough but I’d best describe it as peaks and valleys. A week before my first play in Los Angeles, I broke my foot and was on crutches. Since it was my first time doing theatre and there was no understudy, I refused to drop out of the production. The director wrote the broken foot into the play and it actually played very well and it actually helped create a more interesting character. My mentor and co-star Michael J Pollard passed away during the production of my film ‘Bobby Bishop’ which was very tough. However, to have his last on-screen performance be in my film is something very special to me. Since there’s so much outside of your control in life, I’ve learned to enjoy the peaks when you can and try to find the silver lining in the valleys and power forward as best you can.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a member of the Screen Actors Guild, writer, producer and photographer. I’m very proud of all of my projects since they’ve all added value to my life in different ways and taught me different lessons. I wrote and produced two short films that have screened all over the world and won best experimental film at the Screen Power Film Festival in London. However, my most recent project, ‘LAsting Impressions’ is a black and white photography book that I published consisting of 81 images from Los Angeles County only during the COVID lockdowns. Even though it was a very tough time I tried my best to capture messages of hope and inspiration for people in order to see a silver lining and share a sense of community. A portion of the proceeds of the sales of the book go to charity. The book is available on my website, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I feel very fortunate and blessed to have crossed paths with some very talented and supportive individuals throughout my journey. I’d have to say one of my biggest mentors and friends was legendary actor Michael J Pollard. We’d sit and talk every weekend at the Motion Picture & Television Fund for hours about acting and the film industry. He’d tell me stories about working with Warren Beatty or Robert Redford, palling around with Janis Joplin, and about an Orson Welles elevator encounter all while listening to Frank Sinatra or Bob Dylan. I’ve also been fortunate to work with a very talented friend and a filmmaker over the years, Jonathan Reyes. He’s cast me in three of his own films and helped me write, produce, direct and edit my own film as well. His collaboration and advice has been very beneficial and important to me. I hope to work with him more in the future.
Pricing:
- $50 hard back cover
- $40 soft back cover
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brettdavidstelter.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bdstelter/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bdstelter
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bdstelter
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU-FgspHpPDwULkhmdFQqAQ
- Other: imdb.me/brettdavidstelter
Image Credits
Claudia Pinotti Greg McNeal Michael Bezjian
