Daily Inspiration: Meet Travis Brown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Travis Brown.

Hi Travis, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started out writing, producing, and directing stage plays across Delaware, which I did for about 10 years. That season was incredibly fulfilling, and I found great success connecting with fellow creatives and building a strong community around the work. But deep down, I always knew my true passion was filmmaking.

To sharpen my skills and take the next step, I enrolled at Delaware Tech, where I was introduced to video editing and camera work. Although the communications program was more journalism focused at the time, I was able to leverage those foundational skills to begin transitioning into a filmmaker. After graduating, I continued my studies at Wilmington University’s Studio Production and Digital Filmmaking program, which was much more hands on and film focused. It was there that I truly honed my voice as a director, writer, and producer. Because I knew I wanted to also produce, I went on to earn my master’s degree in Marketing Management at Wilmington University as well.

In 2015, I took a major leap of faith and relocated to Los Angeles. That move remains one of my proudest moments. I started out as a Production Assistant on a feature film and eventually worked my way up to the producing team on several feature films, which allowed me to travel all over the United States and even to Scotland twice.

I co-wrote, produced, and directed The Norwalk Witness, a short film that went on to win multiple awards at various film festivals. Most recently, I released A Lion’s Game on April 22, a film I directed, co-wrote, and produced. It was distributed by Gravitas Ventures and is now available on Prime Video, Apple TV, cable, and DVD/Blu-ray. It has been a long and meaningful journey, and I am grateful for every step that brought me here.

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?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Like many independent filmmakers, I have faced my share of challenges. Getting A Lion’s Game made was one of the most difficult things I have ever done. We started filming during the height of the COVID pandemic, which brought a whole new layer of obstacles. Things like testing, social distancing, and added costs made production especially tough, particularly for an indie film.

Despite the setbacks, we stayed the course and completed principal photography. It took us four years to fully finish and release the film, which was a test of both endurance and faith. There were moments where the road felt uncertain, but the resilience, passion, and commitment to seeing the vision through is what carried us.

It has been a journey of growth, creatively, personally, and professionally. Every challenge along the way has helped shape who I am as a filmmaker today. I just hit my tenth year here in LA, and I am incredibly proud and grateful that I have stood the test of time through every obstacle and setback and still have that passion and that fire to make movies.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Although I write and produce, my primary focus and what I am most known for is directing. I love the creative process of shaping performances, telling visual stories, and bringing a script to life on screen. That is where I feel most at home and most alive as a filmmaker.

What sets me apart is that I also have a deep understanding of the technical and business side of filmmaking. Having worked on the producing teams of several feature films, I learned firsthand what it takes to logistically and successfully manage a film set during production. That experience has been incredibly beneficial to my own projects.

I know how to budget, how to schedule, how to hire crew, how to draft deal memos, and how to manage many other responsibilities typically handled by a production coordinator or unit production manager. While I do not necessarily want to take on those roles myself, having a solid understanding of how these skilled positions operate helps me hire the right people and communicate clearly across all departments.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I absolutely believe that risk is a necessary part of growth, especially in a creative field like filmmaking. Every major step I have taken in my career has involved some level of risk. One of the biggest was leaving everything familiar behind and moving to Los Angeles in 2015. I did not have a clear roadmap, but I knew I had a vision and a calling, and I was willing to step into the unknown to pursue it.

Filmmaking itself is filled with risk. Every time you start a new project, you are putting time, energy, and resources into something that has no guaranteed outcome. But I have learned that calculated risks, guided by preparation, faith, and purpose, often lead to the most rewarding outcomes.

I do not view myself as reckless, but I am not afraid to take a leap when I believe the potential reward outweighs the fear. Taking those risks, whether it was self-funding a feature film or stepping into leadership roles, has helped shape who I am and has opened doors I may not have accessed otherwise.

Contact Info:

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