Meet Brian Mcdonald | Author, speaker, and story consultant

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

Hi brian, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I never considered another career aside from a creative one. I don’t think you can choose to be an artist. Maybe you can. I think there are people who choose not to be artists, but I don’t think there are people who choose to do it. It seems like it’s something you’re born with. At least, it seems that way to me. I never considered it as anything, particularly special, just the thing I enjoy doing.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

As a story consultant, what sets me apart is my belief that everyone is a natural-born storyteller. My role is to help people recognize that within themselves, rather than putting myself at the center of the process. Many in my field may take a more self-centered approach, but I focus on empowering others to teach themselves the art of storytelling. I believe stories are profoundly important to our species, and I teach and work from that foundational idea.

I’m incredibly proud of the fact that I have a career at all. Over the years, I’ve faced countless rejections and had many doors slammed in my face, but I’ve managed to carve out a successful career regardless. One of the most gratifying aspects of my work has been getting to know and receive praise from people whose work I admired growing up. Hearing them say they enjoy my work is an amazing feeling.

Interestingly, I never set out to have the career I have today. Growing up in the 70s, I dreamed of being a writer and director, with a particular focus on directing. At that time, many of my idols—like Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas—were all writers and directors, so I thought I needed to do both jobs to succeed. Becoming a director in Hollywood, especially as a person of color, was incredibly challenging. I kept honing my storytelling skills in hopes of breaking into the industry. Over time, I became known as an expert in story, and studios and video game companies began seeking me out to help shape their narratives.

In many ways, my career happened by accident. It took me a long time to appreciate the career I have because I was so focused on what I wanted but didn’t achieve. Sometimes, it’s still a struggle, but I’ve learned the importance of recognizing where I am and what I’m being recognized for.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve been very lucky when it comes to having mentors. But a person who is there for me early on is a man named Bruce Walters. I called him because he had an animation company, and I wanted to learn about it. I was 13 at the time. I asked him if I could come see what he did, and he said yes. We hit it off, and he asked me to come back whenever I wanted to. That became my first job. I would go there after school and work with him on commercials and other things, doing motion graphics and sometimes visual effects. It allowed me to see some of my work on television early in my life. I understood that people made this stuff and that it was not a pipe dream to make a job being creative. I understood that people made this stuff and that it was not a pipe dream to make a job being creative. This, among other lessons, one of the most important things I learned from Bruce was I am forever grateful to him for taking in a 13-year-old kid.

Website: https://writeinvisibleink.com

Instagram: @BeeMacDee

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/brian-mcdonald-6031265

Image Credits
I have the rights my pictures. They were taken for me by Jonny Ashcroft, Deliaha Lovejoy and Ziggy Mack.