Today we’d like to introduce you to Charri Brummer.
Hi Charri, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have entered into a phase in my life where my mantra has become, “Why Not”. It is a glorious place to be at this age because I no longer worry about barriers or what I should or shouldn’t do. It is exhilarating and terrifying all at once. The hopes are endless, and dreams don’t expire, so here I am.
I have spent the last 30 years in the field of social work having served children, families, and victims of domestic violence. Working in mental health and as a therapist has taught me so much about the human condition, challenge and resilience. I have watched people bounce back from adversity, heartbreak, and illness and find a way to move forward. Their endurance and courage have been an example to me for so many years.
It was because of my work over the last 30 years, that I decided to begin writing. I wanted to write about challenge and hope. Having always enjoyed writing for my own personal consumption, I already loved putting words to paper. I tried sitting down to write a novel in the past, but I kept getting caught up in all the dialogue. Most recently, it dawned on me that a screenplay would allow me to indulge in dialogue while still allowing me the space tell a story the way I wanted to.
Having been an actor on and off for the last 30 years, I had experience on set and truly loved the film industry. I spent most of my time with “character acting” and loved to go big and bold in my portrayals. I also loved voiceover work in which I could use just my voice to create characters and stories in a different medium. Taking my love and experience in the acting world and merging it with my world of mental health work, I believed that I could bring stories to life on the screen. Following my new mantra, I decided, “Why Not?”
I sat down and without another thought, I wrote my first feature screenplay, a paranormal thriller. I was able to bring the human condition and trauma to the page and combine it with characters and a storyline involving thrills, paranormal anomalies, and ethical dilemmas. I plan to move forward with the screenplay and seek production in the near future.
In the meantime, I wrote a 40-minute short screenplay called “Dazy Girl” about love, loss, and hope. Following my new mantra, I decided to enter it into a few film festivals and, low and behold, it won Best Short Screenplay at two film festivals and was a final nominee and selection in two more festivals. Continuing with my “Why Not” attitude, I produced the film with a wonderful cast and crew. “Dazy Girl” will be in film festivals beginning this fall.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Is there actually such a thing as a smooth road? If so, I am not sure I had the road map for that one! Living, breathing, learning and growing are often not a smooth process. My journey through my career as a social worker, actor, and writer came with challenges. At my age, I have come to the realization that challenge is another word for opportunity. Sometimes we choose to take the opportunity and sometimes we don’t.
Seven years ago, I was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy. This is condition that paralyzes the facial muscles and usually isn’t serious. It often goes away in a few months without treatment. However, my recovery was not so quick and easy. The swelling causing the paralysis continued for many months and actually destroyed my vestibular functioning in one ear. I lost all sense of balance and was unable to walk or function. Talking was difficult due to the paralysis as well. My life as I knew it was over. My new normal was something I had to embrace.
I spent several weeks and months learning to walk again. First with a walker, then a cane, then on my own. The eyes, ears, and brain learned to adapt over a period of time to compensate for the broken parts that make up one’s ability to successfully balance and move. I participated in both speech therapy and physical therapy to regain my ability to stand, walk, sit, drive and do daily activities. Although I am still unable to run or participate in many physical activities, I count my lucky stars every day for what I can do. I was left with partial paralysis in my face as well as synkinesis. Challenge begats opportunities. I did not let this stop me, and I pushed forward. Nothing was going to force this ol’ lady to stop pursuing her dreams.
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 am proud of the fact that I am a woman in her late 50’s who is not letting illness, physical limitations or others define who I am and what I can do. My mantra of “Why Not” may sound simple to some, but simplicity beats complexity any day of the week. Life is complicated enough, so it’s important to find simple practices or bits of wisdom to fuel yourself every day. You deserve to be safe, happy, and triumphant in whatever you pursue.
I am also proud to have established Ruby Elephant Productions to help me in the production of my screenplays as well as others. My work moving forward will include more screenplays, productions, a novel, and a self-help book, because why not?
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I think the word “risk” gets a bad rap. Most people associate risk with danger, which sometimes it is. But other times, risk doesn’t involve harm or jeopardize safety. Sometimes risk simply means facing the potential for something unpleasant or unexpected to happen in lieu of the end result you are hoping for. There is usually another side to risk as well, which means the potential for something good when all is said and done. Sometimes it is necessary to face the possibility that someone could not like you or something you have created. You have to be willing to fail in order to try and reach your goal. Failure is not the end. Failure is one stop along the journey. Just keep moving.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charribrummer
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FCNb4aodc/
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7489347/
