Daily Inspiration: Meet Brian Navarro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Navarro

Hi Brian, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always wanted to work in film since I was kid. I think it was working with groups and creating something that drew me to this industry. I’ve noticed I’ve always naturally adjusted to things that involved working together with people and socializing. This industry just looked so cool as a kid and really i just wanted to be able to say I was apart of it and now I am. A lot of people get lucky and get started in film because they have some sort of family connection or money to be able to make films here and there. I never had that. Not a single relative that I know of is part of the film industry and honestly that made me even more eager to want to do it.

I started in my junior year of High School in Van Nuys. I was excited to have a film program at that school and I was blessed to have such an awesome film teacher. It was his way of teaching that really sparked that ambitious side of me. He never put any limits on us, and if there ever was, we learned to bend the rules and I think everyone connected with that. I successfully produced and DP’d a feature film with my best friend in my second year that did amazing at the yearly film festival (along side a lot of short films).

It was at my high school where I learned of a film program outside of the school called Film2Future, where i was able to connect with industry professionals such as Rachel Miller, Tony Yacenda, and lots more who were able to mentor me and guide me through the professional world. Thanks to them I was able to work on a lot of commercials ealry on with companies as big as Buffalo Wild Wings, Uber/Uber Eats, Valspar, and etc.

Outside of commercials, I also started working non-union independent projects within the grip department and later on within the electric department and starting gaining some experience. I also started attending West Los Angeles College as a student in Hollywood CPR where I am now finishing up my classes to be able to finally start acquiring hours to be able to join the local 728 union as a set lighting technician. So far it’s been super awesome!

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’s never a smooth road for anyone. I was lucky. And I will always be grateful for what I have and the connections I’ve made. It’s hard to join the industry in the first place especially with an already very competitive environment. To want to work 12 hour days (sometimes more) for months straight on a movie or show… well you gotta be a type of crazy. And no one has it easy. I’ve had a lot of challenges along the way, one of them being a huge lack of resources. Sometimes to just want to make a name for yourself is too costly. There is no paid work in the beginning because no one knows who you are. And you have to work and gain experience to be able to get hired for paid work. It’s a loophole. I learned that friends were the key to making it. To be able to make it successfully you must make friends. There were more struggles I faced, but none of them were as important as that one. I think having that experience early on is a perfect trial by fire, to really test yourself and figure out if it’s something you actually love doing. I found out that I did.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Los Angeles based Gaffer, Best Boy Electric, and Set lighting technician working within the film industry. I specialize in all things involving electricity on a film set including running power to lights and for the whole production along many other things. I’d love to think that I’m known for my energetic personality on set. Some good laughs never hurt anyone right? I think it’s very important to keep spirits and moral high during any shoot just because of how stressful it is- it’s easy to act in ways you never intended. I’m proud in my ability to never stray off my own path. No matter how stressful or how bad it gets I know that I won’t be doing anything else but film. And I know I’ll make it to where I want to be one day.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Many think that being “successful” in film means working in big marvel films and working with big time people. I think that’s just one of the things you tell yourself because you don’t know yet. You should know that you define your own success. No ones gonna magically come up and ask if you want to work in film, so don’t wait for someone to hold your hand because no one is. The truth is you’re the only person that has a say in whether you make it or not. And true success comes when you’re having fun and realize that you’re working a job that others only dream about—and with friends! Start with making movies with some buddies and have fun. Film will always be film, and if you like it you’ll make it eventually.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bavabeen?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Naren Sareday