Meet Brian Butler | Actor, Writer & Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brian Butler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brian, how do you think about risk?
I’m instinctively drawn towards risk, especially when it comes to seeking out or producing creative projects. Without risk, there’s usually boredom for either the creator or the consumer (or both).

I don’t actively seek out risk just for the sake of it, but the ideas that draw me in are generally challenging in some way, and risk at least signifies the possibility of doing something inventive. Even if it fails, that’s better than being forgettable.

There is a limit though, and it’s usually easy to tell when something is too risky without enough thought or calculation put into it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
There’s a lot that doesn’t set me apart from others: the tenacity I have toward being an actor and filmmaker is shared by many talented people I have met and worked with over the years.

But what does set me apart is my taste, for better or worse. Like in the risk section, I put a lot of value in making and seeking out bold opportunities; projects that come from a personal place and expressed by the creator in a polished, unique way.

I’ve sought out a life as a performer and filmmaker for most of my life. But I started making a focused, concerted effort about a decade ago, after college, when I began to seriously start thinking about my perspective and experiences and applying them to my acting and film endeavors.

The transition from making movies by myself in my room to collaborating in a large unit was tricky to navigate at first, particularly in expressing what you want to see rather than figuring it out on your own. But it makes you a better communicator, and experiencing the discipline it takes to bring a film to life helps you filter out the ideas that are really worth the effort of pursuing and the time commitment.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Old Town Temecula: I love this place. Feels like an old western town, but so many great restaurants, bars, and ice cream/candy shops.

Balboa Park is obvious, but I’d love to walk around, get a drink at The Prado or Panama 66 and probably see a 50-minute science doc (probably narrated by Leo DiCaprio) in the IMAX dome.

University Heights: My wife used to live here, and one my favorite stretches of land in San Diego is that last block at the end of Park Boulevard: Red House Pizza has great beer and amazing sriracha cheese sticks; Small Bar has great cocktails and food; Park & Rec (formerly Bourbon St.) is still lots of fun. There are a few other cool bars and coffee shops, and Diversionary Theatre is a short walk from there.
And then there’s the gem that is El Zarape.

Since we’re in the area, we’ll probably end up hitting up Adams Ave (Ould Sod, Rosie O’Grady’s, Blind Lady Ale House, Triple Crown Pub) and North Park (Bar Pink) and head on over to Kindred in South Park. I guess we should pace ourselves..

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The first time I started feeling a strong sense of family and community in the performing arts was when I entered the theatre department at San Diego State University.

Many of us were close outside of performances and spent a lot of good times together, and that energy will stay with me as something to strive for in my working life.

So I dedicate my shoutout to all my college theatre buds at SDSU and BADA, as well as the budding San Diego filmmakers I began working with around that time. And to the MCIT Studio, where some great breakthroughs were made after my college training.

Website: http://brianpbutler.com

Instagram: @brianpeebutler

Twitter: @brianpeebutler

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brianbutlerofficial

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/brianthebutler

Image Credits
Rob Padilla, Niko Eden, Daniel N. Butler