Today we’d like to introduce you to Findlay Brown.
Hi Findlay, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m a proud Canadian, born in Toronto but raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Growing up, a career in entertainment never crossed my mind – I enjoyed tv and movies, but I was far more dedicated to studying and sports. It didn’t help that my parents set firm screen time limits, despite my dad being a tv producer himself. With those oppressive (totally justified) rules, two younger brothers, and a cottage in Minaki Ontario, my love for film and tv didn’t blossom until my late teens.
By then, I had enrolled in business school at McGill University in Montreal. Following my first passion, I was lucky enough to play on the varsity football team as a kicker/punter. It’s shocking how much thought and practice goes into kicking a ball in a straight line. Midway through my four years of sporting “glory”, I had an epiphany: I hate business school. I still decided to finish my degree because I’m deeply stubborn, but I switched my minor to film and started working related jobs over summer breaks.
Covid lockdowns stole what would have been my senior year of football but gave me the opportunity to do something I probably should have earlier – actually try to make something. In the summer of 2020, I decided to a short film should be that thing. Deftly sidestepping all logic and reason, I settled on writing a comedy starring children. With a shoestring budget supplemented by help from family and friends, The Flexed Arm Hang began principal photography on August 29, 2020. After wrapping on August 29, 2020 (I said the budget was small) and a few months of editing, which included somehow convincing Cat Stevens to license me one of his songs, the film was ready to go.
To my surprise, people seemed to like it, and it had a run through some medium festivals, winning a few awards along the way. With that small taste, I was totally hooked. After graduating from McGill in 2021, I applied to the USC and the American Film Institute. The choice between the two best film-producing programs in the world was a daunting one, made somewhat easier by USC rejecting my application. Two years on, I’m a few months away from graduation, ready to enter the workforce, citizenship allowing. If your film or TV company does Visa sponsorship, call me.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road to where I am now certainly has not been smooth. From abandoning the steady career of a McGill business grad to the loss of what was supposed to be my final football season, to taking on massive student debt, to my current fears about post-grad work and ability to stay in the country. There have been more personal difficulties too, but this doesn’t feel like the place to go into those.
Despite all that, the road has been enjoyable. I’m lucky enough to have a wonderful family, a career I’m passionate about, and Apple Venus by XTC on Vinyl. In the grand scheme of things, I have absolutely nothing to complain about.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am, ostensibly, a film producer. However, as enjoyable as that role has been during my time at AFI, I don’t think I’m cut out for a life of an independent producer and hope to pursue a career in development post-grad.
Answering what sets me apart from others without sounding like a raging egotist is difficult, and I commend Voyage for the hard-hitting question. I will say I’m most proud of my work ethic and that I’ve always showed respect and kindness to those I’ve worked with. I think I give pretty good script notes too.
Any big plans?
I’d love to start my career somewhere I can work on projects that excite me, with people who challenge me and I can learn from. Despite my Visa concerns (call me), I think that’s a real possibility, which is more than I could have hoped for a few years ago.
One piece of advice I’ve gotten a few times that’s rung true is to work with friends as much as possible. At AFI, I’ve been able to collaborate with incredibly talented people who I also really get along with. Having experienced the opposite, I know how much of a difference having the right personalities during development or on set can make, especially with something as collaborative and intense as filmmaking. I know at the beginning of my career, I probably won’t be able to have too much choice on who I work with, but it’s something I’d like to aim for as I get older.
I’d also like to be able to carve out some more time for things I love that have been somewhat pushed aside during the hectic past few years – joining a sports league, playing instruments, and going to the movies.
At the end of the day, what’s next for me really comes down to what career opportunities present themselves. I hope I can rise to whatever challenges I’ll face or at least get lucky once or twice. Nonetheless, whether it’s in LA or elsewhere, I know this is what I want to do, and that sense of purpose is a wonderful thing.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @findlaybrown7
