Beatriz Browne
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“ I’m a non-fiction Producer and Director.”
I'm passionate about merging the documentary style with traditional narrative elements & tools that are available to us as filmmakers. Producing can be a vague term that is often self-defined, but my days can consist of anything from developing ideas, to deep research, pre-production, being in the field, overseeing post-production, and aiding in the distribution + afterlife of the film — and I thoroughly enjoy each step as I always find something new to learn.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I wish I could say something along those lines of 'I was dog walking and one day ran into Wim Wenders who offered me a gig'. But the reality is I actually switched careers a few times before I found my passion, and I kept being thrown in different fields not by choice but by circumstance. The only mutuality between those careers is that I have always stayed within the "storytelling" field. Since I was a kid I had been working on commercials and TV Shows, I then originally came to New York for theater, went to school for it, but I wasn't very happy. I did dog walk, babysit, PA'd a lot, and then I decided to go back to school for film and media, which landed me an internship as an editor.
My managers and bosses always encouraged me to try new things and gave me an open space to step out of my comfort zone and eventually that led me to produce. I guess a shorter version of that is I was slowly placed in different positions trying to make a living until I was placed in one I truly enjoyed; simply by being open-minded to learn new things.
How do you stand out in your field?
Humility, perseverance, and a passion for humanity. You have to be comfortable in the uncomfortable and reaching out to all sorts of people. You have to love being human because that helps your subjects open up to you and trust you with your work. And most importantly, you have to be grateful to be given the trust to tell someone else's story.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
I am working on two documentaries, one feature and one short (yes I barely sleep). My feature is further along in the process, about an independent bookstore in NYC that is one of the last cultural heritages of its neighborhood and is being persecuted by the scary real estate industry.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
I love well-composed things. Wes Anderson is an easy example of visual work that is entirely thought out and it illustrates that every on-screen detail matters. I am a perfectionist, so I like everything within a frame to have meaning, but I also want it to be as close to real life as it is; a paradox per se. I enjoy just turning on the camera and seeing what happens. I seldom stage situations/sets to suit my visual needs, but when I do, you bet there's a reason behind it.
WE ALL HAVE MULTIPLE SKILLS OR WORK IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD FOCUS ON MORE?
Film Photography. I wish I could spend hours working on point-and-shoot scenarios, and really learning more about the technical aspects of it.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
Time Management! After long hour days on and off the set, all my body wants to do is get under the blankets and listen to ocean sounds. I need to have more of a routine so that after work hours I can spend some time working on personal projects.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
I love doing everything, but definitely the errand work (sorry future hire) such as laundry, food shopping, cleaning -- and someone who can work out at the gym for me? Hello future scientists???
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
Tough one. I am trying this new thing where I need to be more mindful of the present and not allow my past to beat me up. I am certainly an over-thinker, but if I absolutely had to tell myself something I would say: Dream big, but live better.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
I would love to hear from Documentary directors what their personal process throughout a project is like. Every little detail. I always want to know how I could be doing better, and these guys (and gals) are storytelling geniuses. I would love to pick their brains to see how they maintain organized and flow through the story.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
I'm working on my first feature about the way I was raised as a Third Culture Kid.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
Something to do with travel. I am in love with learning about exotic cultures, languages, and people. I would love to be able to incorporate that into my work.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Email me, or DM me on Instagram or twitter! Extra points if you open up with a cute dog video.
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Keeping my ears open and always listening for inspiration (yes, that includes eavesdropping).
This member profile was originally published in February 2019/ Updated July 2023.