Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryan Hadley
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in Longview, Texas, and since I was in high school – I always had friends telling me, “Man, you’re such a character. You need to try film acting.” So I took night classes for film acting in 2014 and absolutely loved it, realized I was finally home with a career and with who and what I was born to be (a film actor). At the same time, I began to notice how steeped and deep the business was in professional politics. Moreover, the politics took away from the beauty of making cinema. So, I decided to make my own films by casting actors I met along my early acting journey: Austin independent films, acting classes and I was a featured extra twice on ABC’s American Crime. Out of necessity at first, I had to be a one person band making my movies. I casted, wrote the script, shot the film, directed, performed as a lead actor, edited, chose the music for the film, and even made and make my own film posters. Now, all of that detail is a beautiful strength and I also truly and thoroughly enjoy helping actors down their path and publicizing their work and helping them connect with other “big” friends in the business, whether they want to stay in Austin or move to LA. Speaking of, I decided to create the Academy of Independent Motion Pictures to help make Austin “THE THING” for movies! Particularly, I want to see independent actors and filmmakers get a growing and big award and publicity for making something out of such a little budget, from the dirt road up and with their own hands! I’m sorry but big budget films are NOT independent films.
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?
It has been a mixed road of bumps and turns and smooth, also. Smooth in that the actors I’ve met and befriended and become film family with along the way are truly like family, and we lean on each other for help and just to talk, at times. It’s been bumpy in that I didn’t begin my film career until I was 43 years old. That’s a solar system difference than starting it right out of UT and when you are 22 years old, for example. And I also had three little kids to help raise and pay for, naturally, when I told my wife, “I’m going to become a film actor!” Honestly, it was a struggle too when I created my own film path: I didn’t do it thru an agent and I didn’t do it by schmoozing key players in Austin, and you know there’s nothing wrong with that if that’s your thing but it’s definitely not mine and so I had to create everything on my own. Thankfully, that process has also given me great strength.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Fellow actors have told me I am a very rich character actor and I’m very thankful for that and for their kind words. I do everything on a film and for it and with the help of my fellow actors (film family). I’m most proud of my film works: All Way Bent, He Be She Be, Dans La Ville, The Haul Across Aswan and Urbs in Horto (begin filming this month) and for my film company, Blossom Tree Communications & Fried Films (FriedTalk.com) and for creating the Academy of Independent Motion Pictures and The Percy with the help of 5 other great humans who hold great vision in wanting to recognize the very best in independent film artistry, no matter the backing or budget.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
As busy as I am, I love taking a Saturday and Sunday afternoon nap.
Contact Info:
- Website: ThePercy.org FriedTalk.com
- Facebook: The Academy of Independent Motion Picture Awards
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theacademyofindependentmotionpictures
Image Credits
The Academy of Independent Motion Pictures
Blossom Tree Communications, llc
