Today we’d like to introduce you to Brett Etzel.
Hi Brett, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have always had a passion for the visual arts. I learned to draw before I could write my own name. In the 7th grade I fell in love with performing arts and made it a goal to be in every play I could throughout middle and high school. I had always been a big movie buff since childhood and had big dreams of being a Hollywood actor.
When I turned 19 I moved to LA to pursue that dream, though I was not prepared for the challenges that would be present in the industry. Unsatisfied with my time in the city, I returned to Arizona and decided that if I were to fulfill my dreams of acting in film, I may as well take matters in my own hands. I spent the next few years acquiring a camera, lights, and the various equipment I would need to make my own movies.
While spending time working at my day job in a warehouse of an online flooring distributor, the management team caught wind of my aspirations and decided to move me into the office as the resident photographer and videographer for the website. During this time, I took all of the product photos, and was given to make some really fun, and somewhat indulgent product videos and commercials. This position was instrumental in my development, and I learned so much more than I felt I ever would in film school.
After about 5-years in this position, my ambition and taste for the website videos were no longer congruent with the expectations of the management company. Refusing to compromise my seemingly boundless integrity and just make “flooring videos”, I left the job.
In attempts to find a comparable position, I manage to secure employment as a newborn photographer at Chandler Regional Hospital. whiles this kept me behind the camera, and had it’s benefits, it ultimately was unsustainable form of employment for me.
From there, I moved into working in Hospitality, a benefit which kept me from the unemployment line, but also had quite a bit of freedom so I could continue to film and take photos in my spare time.
Like many artist, I have found it very challenging to monetize my passions, so my photography is mostly about the art. Finding the perfect moment to capture a frame that tells a story.
I also continue to pursue my own film projects and have even won some awards with the short films my friends and I have created.
As of last year, I have returned to the stage as well, after a 12-year hiatus. My first show back even granted me a Best Actor nomination in the AriZoni Excellence in Theatre Awards last year. I have been in multiple shows since and am currently starring in a production of Over the River and Through the Woods, at the Don Bluth Front Row Theatre in Scottsdale Arizona, opening May 14th and running through June 20th.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In my experience, ambition will never not be tested. From scheduling conflicts to unexpected bills, to self-doubt, there will always be challenges to face. Only a couple weeks ago, my father passed during the last week of performances of a play that I was in and also assistant directing. During which I was also in rehearsals for my current show, as well as working full time.
The way I look at it though, there will always be a good reason to stop. It’s easy to convince yourself it’s not worth it and you should just give up. But I can’t do anything else.
If I didn’t have the ability to express myself, I would die. I wouldn’t stop living, but I’d never be ALIVE, you know?
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I feel as though the greatest invention that humankind has ever conceived was storytelling. It teaches us to be brave, to love, take risks, and to always believe in yourself. This is what draws me to filmmaking, acting and photography. A chance to tell a story.
As an actor, my proudest moment was last year. I had stepped away from the stage for 12-years. In that time, I allowed life to get in the way, and there was always a reason not to return. One day, an audition for a show called Leading Ladies crossed my path. The audition sides were hilarious, and I had a take on one of the lead characters that was strong and that I knew I could deliver. I got the nerve up, and even fought the urge to chicken out, and ended up being cast immediately in the first round of auditions. It was a dream role with a dream cast. We were nominated for several awards by the AriZoni Excellence in Theatre Awards, including a best actor nomination for myself. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything and that show and my participation in it has continued to benefit me.
As a filmmaker, finishing a project is the most rewarding experience. the only difference between an aspiring filmmaker and a filmmaker is finishing the damn thing.
As a photographer, the rewards are measured in microseconds. being in the right place at the exact right time and choosing your moment. When that shutter clicks on the perfect frame, there’s nothing else quite like it!
How do you think about happiness?
I think for every creative, there is a constant struggle between “I know that I can do this” and “I am delusional garbage that can only make garbage”. The volume of these voices vary at will, and are sometimes even in a frustratingly uncertain harmony with one another. However, in those rare occasions that the “I can do this” voice is slightly louder, and you are able to execute your desire and prove your instinct was right, it’s like the universe itself is speaking to you and telling you that you are right where you need to be.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/desertgiantimages
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@blankcitypictures
