Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryan Young.
Hi Bryan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I was 18 and my student financing fell through, I spent all the money I saved to support myself in film school to build a spaceship in my mom’s backyard.
With the help of my friend, co-writer, and co-director, we shot an entire feature film in that set and made it into some festivals with it. I took a detour into documentary film (called “Filmmaking Gold by the New York Times”) and then, as I worked steadily in that industry, I began writing short stories and novels. I realized film wasn’t the only medium I was interested in and worked on comics, short stories, novels, and movies. I’m a storyteller.
They tell you every “overnight success” is ten years in the making, but I feel like I’m slow at it and it’s been more like twenty. But it all started inside that spaceship.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s not always a smooth road.
Especially when you’re trying to support a family on the income of an artist. We live in a society that wants all of its entertainment for free, but the people who make it need to love it so much that they should just do it out of the kindness of their hearts instead of being paid for it.
It’s always a struggle. Buy that book. Pay for that service. Support your local artists, writers, and craftspeople and we’d all struggle a lot less.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a storyteller. I write novels and have written stories in the BattleTech, Robotech, and Shadowrun universes. I tell in-universe non-fiction in the form of encyclopedia-like details in universes like Star Wars and Doctor Who. I make movies.
I love telling stories in whatever format I’m able to. I’m most proud of telling stories that speak to people and doing my part to make the world a kinder place through art and story.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
My favorite childhood memory was seeing Return of the Jedi for the first time on the big screen. I was almost three years old and it is genuinely my first memory. That one screening changed my life and set the trajectory for the last forty years.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.swankmotron.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swankmotron
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bryanyoungfiction
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/swankmotron
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKoVhxmKCeZo6SH_OsQIqxA
- Other: https://bsky.app/profile/swankmotron.bsky.social
