Life & Work with Brandon English of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon English.

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’ve always loved storytelling, whether it was through performing, writing, or directing. I grew up in a Filipino-American household where family gatherings were full of music, food, and a lot of humor, so I think that shaped my sense of creativity early on. I started out as an actor, mostly in theatre, which gave me a strong foundation in understanding character and story from the inside out.

Over time, I discovered my love for voice acting and directing, which opened up a whole new world for me. I’ve been working for almost five years as a casting and dubbing director for major streaming platforms, and that experience taught me how to collaborate with a wide range of artists and bring stories across languages and cultures to life.

I’ve worn many hats in the industry, from acting on stage to producing short films to leading artistic initiatives in theatre companies. At the heart of it, my journey has always been about telling stories that matter to me and creating space for others to do the same.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I think most creatives have been on the struggle bus. This industry is a constant up and down. I always jokingly quote Heidi Klum on Project Runway when she says, “Sometimes you’re in, sometimes you’re out.” One of the biggest disappointments in my acting career was booking my first TV show, only to have the offer rescinded because I wasn’t in the Union at the time. That really stuck with me for a while because I had finally achieved something I’d always wanted, only for it to be taken away.

It didn’t make sense to me at first. I thought, if I was the right person for the role, why did it matter if I was in the Union or not? We all need to start somewhere, right? But it ended up teaching me a bigger life lesson: so much of this career is beyond my control. We never really know what’s going on behind the scenes. In some ways, that has brought me comfort, knowing that not everything is up to me.

What I can control is where I put my energy. For me, that’s preparation, creating space for myself and others, and not taking life too seriously. Don’t get me wrong, you should always do your best, but you can’t put so much pressure on yourself or blame yourself if things don’t go your way. After all, it is a privilege to be an artist, and I’m here to enjoy the journey.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love that my work has a lot of flow. As a multihyphenate, I’m never bored. I like to think of myself as an octopus, with different tentacles reaching into all kinds of creative areas. Some days I’m acting or directing, other days I’m writing or producing. This variety keeps me inspired. I’m also the current Company Manager of Ammunition Theatre Company, which allows me to support other artists while continuing to create my own work.

I’m proud of the projects I’ve written and produced, like my short films “bakla” and “kuko.” I’m also proud to have recently played a Filipino character in the short film “Manongs” by Colin Galeste. Right now, I’m developing my full length play “Tara!” which is loosely based on my experience competing in Filipino pageantry. My work often focuses on brown narratives, and I’m passionate about telling stories that center voices that are often overlooked.

I think what sets me apart is my ability to move between different roles while keeping a strong sense of story and community at the heart of everything I do. Whether it’s on stage, on screen, or behind the scenes, I want my work to feel alive, specific, and full of heart.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
One of the biggest risks I’ve taken was choosing an artistic path. I’m one of the only people in my family to do it, and while it’s not unheard of for Filipinos, it’s still a gamble because the industry is still figuring out how to truly include us. There was no blueprint, so I had to fully bet on myself. I mean, just last week I was doing an internal play reading with actors, writers, and producers, and I was only one of two POC creatives in the entire room. Moments like that remind me why taking the risk matters.

To me, risk is saying yes to the thing that scares you and excites you at the same time. It’s trusting that your voice belongs in the room, even if the room wasn’t built with you in mind. Every project I take on is a little leap of faith, but I’d rather jump than stay still.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://brandonenglish.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonuniverse/

Image Credits
Astronaut photo from “Manongs” taken by Daniel Sun (Instagram @sunmcflicks)