Meet Sean Branney of Glendale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Branney.

Sean, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Our story is an implausible one. Back in the 1980s I invited my high school friend Andrew Leman to come play a game inspired by the writings of H.P. Lovecraft, the father of gothic horror fiction. Forty years later, we run the largest Lovecraft organization in the world. We’ve produced motion pictures, audiobooks, musicals, and lots of other strange and fascinating stuff inspired by Lovecraft. We run a brick and mortar store here in Southern California and travel to far corners of the world to participate in events connected to this fan community.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Our business is a niche one, and especially back in the pre-internet days, it was very challenging for us to find our customers. Producing independent films with very limited budgets is a challenging process. When big movies run into production issues, money will generally provide a solution. But for small films where additional funding is simply not available, it becomes necessary find creative solutions to such problems.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We make and sell a variety of products connected to H.P. Lovecraft, most of which we conceive, design, and create ourselves. We have one many awards for our independent motion pictures. We’ve also produced some highly acclaimed audio books and audio dramas of HPL’s works. We enjoy a reputation for creating high-quality products that are both inventive and fun. While our business is very niche, no one else in this community creates the kind of consistently excellent products that we do.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’d suggest that one find other established people who’s work you admire. Reaching out politely is a good plan. You’ll also likely get a better response if you are offering something rather than requesting something. “I’d like to volunteer on project X” is a better approach than “will you teach me how to do x”. The best networking opportunities can really vary depending on your field.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hplhs.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovecraftsociety/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hplhs
• Twitter: https://x.com/hplhs?lang=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/shoggothsean
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/h-p-lovecraft-historical-society-glendale

Image Credits
HPLHS, Inc.