Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Braden
Hi Heather, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was scouted as a model at age 14, moved to NYC on a contract and have model currently for clients and also worked behind the scenes as an assistant, and worked my way up in a dozen rolls for the next 10 years to 1st camera assist for renowned directors and photographers, and producers before going on my own as a commercial photographer, director and producer leading thousands of global brand ad campaigns in 20+ countries.
After being based in NYC for 20 years working both behind and in front of the camera as talent and working on indi films, commercials and fashion photography, music videos and ads I took 5 years off having by children and writing films and series concepts, and the spent 1 year in LA before relocating to southern Utah during 2020 where my father retired. (I had been visiting for 7 yrs already and then realized I enjoyed the slower pace and nature and wanted to finally launch my micro film studio: Dust Devil Films, which is a collaborative collective of passionate storytellers and filmmakers. We have 12 projects slated for southern Utah and another 10 in various stages of development, as well as a sister commercial media company, Focus Media.
Our long term goal is not only to tell visually entertaining stories for film and tv but to offer workshops and training for everything between acting for film and tv to behind the scenes work for the community to be able to be part of the fun in the future.
We are currently filming a drama about a girl who is half Native American and half pioneer descendant who becomes lost in the wild and has to save herself.
In May we begin a indi feature film inspired by true events and hope to make 1-2 this fall as well, all in SW Utah utilizing epic vistas, local lore creating everything from modern westerns to sci fi action Adventure!
Our film collective and micro studio is different as it’s a team effort from start to finish and together we have over 80 years professional international experience.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Filmmaking and tv storytelling isn’t for the faint of heart. There are constant bumps which is the nature of any live event production but we are finding our people and those who click with the same “let’s make it happen” positive attitude which is what is the glue that holds us together when the projects hit snags. As a long time working model many didn’t and still don’t take me seriously. Being a producer and director for decades in fast paced and high action NYC on hundreds of different productions a year, often on locations I’ve seen everything so for myself I stay calm under pressure but for younger generations without that intense big city experience on set it can be intimidating. It really takes special personalities to really make a great teammate and I really look for that quality in partners and not so much on experience.. so finding the right people takes time but otherwise we have had a lot of very positive responses and people seem excited to have to movie magic in the area!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I attended 2 of the best art schools in the USA (art center in Pasadena and FIT in NYC and learned all my basics about photography but working my way up for 7 years on top sets of major directors and photographers who had ultra high expectations and some tuff conditions taught me more than I could have gained on small productions so that was amazing that I managed to work my way up to 1st assistant and 1st AD and then go on my own as a female. In 20 years in NYC I only worked ever under 2 women and only met 1 other assistant. Things are slowly beginning to change but the statistics are bleak for women in film, even these days and very low numbers as assistants behind the camera so I’m proud I worked my way up all those ranks and really had to be better to be equal. It was very hard but luckily I tall as many men and strong. I didn’t really believe I could make the jump to female director in films as it’s rare (today only 3 women have ever won best director at the Oscar’s in over 100 years and very few ever nominated)
But the door is cracked finally.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
To work under the top mentors that exist, internships, assist the top of any industry (I worked for free for 2 years in NYC) and then do what you need to do to make the jump on your own, and make art. Take the risks, and don’t listen to most other people. Follow your gut and instincts and be faster than everyone else. People will notice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.dustdevilfilm.com
- Instagram: Dustdevilfilm
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherbraden?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1173944/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
