Meet Bo Barrett | Film Director

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

Hi Bo, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
“FUCK EVERYBODY!”

Whoa! Aggressive, Bo. Yes, but necessarily so. That’s an affirmation? It sure is. I had spent a decade doing what I was “supposed” to do, listening to advice, listening to negativity, trying to carve out some sort of creative career for myself. And it wasn’t going well. I was at a breaking point. The walls were closing in. Out of nowhere the little voice in my head who does always seem to know best, screamed FUCK EVERYBODY! And just like that, I was free to go about this creative journey without worrying what anyone else thought. Not doing it to please anyone, or impress anyone, or follow anyone’s way of doing it. Fuck Everybody is just to say, do you. Do it all your way, do it all for you, and do not worry what a single person thinks. It’s not about them. It’s your life and it’s about you.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Ohhh. How to answer this.. I’m an artist who likes to express through art, who is very bad at talking about said art. I was an actor for a long time, but secretly I knew I was actually a director for most of that time. I like human beings. I like to understand what makes them the way they are. In that way, my acting background has become my ultimate tool as a director. Whether I’m telling a story about cheerios or a person in grief, I’m interested in exploring the truth of what a character is processing in the moment. And making sure that truth translates on screen and affects the audience, if even in the tiny way, is my mission.

Does that make sense? Maybe, probably not. I want to move you, make you cry, laugh, uncomfortable, make you want to dance. Make you want to live. Make you feel seen, in this great big World. That’s what art is all about, isn’t it?

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Love this question!

When I go to a new city, especially if I’ve got a week. I like to live like a local.

Stay in an Airbnb in Los Feliz, if you can. I hear there are nice hotels around there now too, but I don’t know them well enough to recommend. It’s the most walkable neighborhood, in my opinion.

Breakfast: Little Doms, All Time, Tacos Villa Corona, repeat.
Lunch: Yucca’s, mustard seed cafe, Yucca’s again.
Dinner: Back to Little Doms. It’s a completely different experience for dinner.
And Messhall (Say hi to Pack behind the bar for me)

Hike to the observatory. Catch a show at the Greek.

But Bo, we have to see other parts of the city beyond Los Feliz. Of course! Here’s a laundry list of the real Los Angeles bangers.

Get into the Magic Castle, some way some how
Go to the Dodger Game. Eat a Dodger Dog.

EATS and DRINKS:
Speranza
Philippe The Original
Hermosillo
Angeleno Wine Co
Pinks

I could go forever..

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I feel like my answer to the last question means I can’t mention a person here, so I’ll recommend a book. IGNORE EVERYBODY by Hugh Macleod. Which was first introduced to me by my good friend and fantastic writer Benjamin Christopher, so I guess I’m mentioning a person after all.

Ok, while we’re just breaking all our own rules, let’s give Benjamin the credit he deserves. He was the first person to encourage me to direct. And sort of force me to do so. I owe a lot to this dude. Thanks Ben

Website: https://www.bobarrett.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobarrett/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobarrett4/