Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley & Amber Bracken Afterglow Productions.
Ashley & Amber Bracken, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
We grew up on a farm in the small community of Leeds, North Dakota (population 500!) with our parents, Richard and Melody. Living in a rural area gave us the opportunity to try a little bit of everything. We participated in sports, played in the band, joined every club we could, and sang in the school choir.
Every summer, we auditioned for the nearby Fort Totten Little Theatre, igniting our passion for storytelling. For years we shared the stage with our mother and some of our closest friends, experiences that deeply shaped our love of the arts.
Being a child in such a rural community gave us a strong sense of independence. We had the freedom to run wild in the fields, play outside until the sun went down, and explore our imaginations just as long as we were home in time for dinner with our family.
Growing up in Leeds taught us the true meaning of community. Whether it was working together on stage, playing side by side on the volleyball court, or helping shovel a neighbor’s car out of a snowy ditch, we learned the importance of showing up for one another. We’re grateful to have been raised in a place that shaped who we are in meaningful ways and gave us a good foundation for what was to come.
In 2006, Ashley moved to Los Angeles to complete her theatre degree at California State University, Northridge. Amber earned her degree in theatre at Minnesota State University, Moorhead, before joining Ashley in LA in 2011. We shared a small, crowded apartment on Lincoln Blvd in Venice and lived off of box macaroni and cheese as we pursued our dreams. Ashley’s first industry job was as a production assistant for press junkets. She freelanced in production for several years, and when Amber came to LA, she joined her in the press junket world.
We both continued acting—Amber performed in theatre productions around town, while Ashley produced and starred in several feature films. As we pursued acting, our careers in press junkets and marketing simultaneously continued to grow, leading to exciting opportunities, including traveling the world as freelance creative partners with Netflix and more.
Spending years in the industry made us realize change was necessary. We were missing the sense of community we were so accustomed to back home. The entertainment business needed less bullying, less fear-based leadership, and more female representation in key roles on set. We knew the only way to help create the change we wanted to see was to be bold enough to create a place where we would want to work. We wanted to illuminate content and creators who incite optimism, inspire imagination, and ignite the heart. With that mission in mind, we founded Afterglow Productions, a company dedicated to fostering a more inclusive, joyful and empowering environment in the industry.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Afterglow Productions had its humble beginnings in our kitchen “office” in March of 2020, born in a time when human connection and empathy was more important than ever.. We were full of excitement to start our own company, ready to take on the highs and lows, though nothing could have prepared us for what came next.
Within weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic turned the industry upside down.
As actors, we were taught you need to be “comfortable being uncomfortable.” That mindset became our lifeline. With no background in online production, we pivoted fast– learning everything we could, leaning into the unknown, and taking a massive leap of faith.
And we didn’t do it alone.
The people who showed up for us—who helped us grow, create, and push through the chaos—were, almost entirely, women. Friends and colleagues who believed in us before we truly understood what we were capable of gave us the gift of their trust and hired us. Their support was more than encouragement, it was a reminder of the values that shape everything we do.
Of course Covid wasn’t the only obstacle to hit the entertainment business in the last few years. We have made it through the pandemic, two strikes, and now stand with our beautiful community in LA as it begins to rebuild after the devastating fires.
But one of the most profound challenges we’ve faced was the sudden loss of our beloved dad in 2022. Nothing could have prepared us, personally or professionally, for that kind of grief. Yet again, our people showed up for us in the biggest way and proved the incredible power of community. We felt so supported and cared for during that unthinkable time, it’s truly something we will never forget.
All of these experiences from uncertainty, to heartbreak, to resilience, have reminded us time and again that we are so much better together.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We are a female-driven company led by sisters Ashley and Amber Bracken, specializing in media and press events both nationally and internationally. At our core, we’re committed to building a team and community rooted in optimism, an energy we aim to infuse into every event we produce.
With our home base here in Los Angeles, Afterglow has led productions across the U.S. and throughout South America, including projects in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. Alongside our trusted core team, many of whom bring over 30 years of industry experience, we are always pushing creative boundaries to produce impactful interviews and unforgettable event experiences.
From pre-production through post-production and final deliverables, our clients can count on a hands-on, detail-driven team fully dedicated to bringing their vision to life. We specialize in boutique press junkets, actor-on-actor interviews, company town halls, livestreams, virtual and in-person press conferences and panels, behind-the-scenes content, on-set interviews, EPKs, social rooms and event sizzles—and we’re always excited to collaborate on more creative, outside-the-box projects.
We are most proud of the carefully curated crew that we bring to each project. With these artists, who are more like family, we have done incredible work together. One of our favorite collaborations has been our creative partnership with Netflix during their annual FYSEE event. For the last three years, we’ve had the great opportunity of recording panels and special interviews with some of the most remarkable artists in the world. Helping share their stories and bring their projects into the spotlight has been an incredible honor — and some of our best work yet.
Our ultimate goal is to continue to work in press events, while being able to produce our own creative projects. Storytelling has been our passion since our days back home in North Dakota, and we would love to help bring unique and heartwarming stories into the world.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
We love to learn from incredible women any way we can, not just to become better business women, but better people. From Malala Yousafzai “I Am Malala” to Brene Brown’s many amazing books, we are constantly ingesting inspiring stories. Glennon Doyle’s “We Can Do Hard Things” podcast is one of our favorites, and currently listening to IMO with Michelle Obama.
One of our greatest resources in life, however, is our real life girl friends. We are so insanely lucky to be surrounded by incredible women who we can laugh with, cry with, draft that email with, brainstorm that story with, wonder “can we do it all?” with.
Stories of women showing up as their full authentic selves – vulnerable, messy, loud, sensitive, strong – remind us that there is no one way to lead. The fact that we can look to each other for inspiration and support on this wild ride is the greatest resource there is.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.afterglow.productions
- Instagram: @afterglow.productions
Image Credits
Nicole Murphy
