Meet Brock Kingsland | Director & Producer

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

Hi Brock, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Well, for starters I wouldn’t advise most people to take the same risks I have, at least not in the same way. For example, I drove across the country without any prospects of work, let alone shelter or much of a savings, in a car that was quickly falling apart, when I was 20 years old.

Less than a year into my LA tenure, the car was gone and I had to work super hard to recuperate. I volunteered on student films all over the city to learn my craft. I road busses that would sometimes stop running for the night. This at times, left me stranded in less than desirable parts of town until the morning. I kept this up long enough to buy an old Ford pickup truck. That allowed me to transport production equipment and created more work opportunities. Eventually, I did well enough to quit my day job and become a full time filmmaker. However, that road was far from easy.

Risks should be calculated and well thought out. At least that’s how I’m choosing to look at things in my early 30s. A lot of plans don’t go the way we intend them. Yet, we should at least try to set ourselves up for success. Some people seem to admire my resiliency. It’s taken a lot of trial and error to survive this long. I’ve often had to ask myself, how bad do I want something? I think people should be honest about how much they’re willing to sacrifice, to achieve whatever it is they’re after. I’ve forgone a lot of time with loved ones and sometimes, even flat out put my own wellbeing behind others or my career in the past. Those are all definitely relative to the kind of risks I’m willing to take now.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am kind of a jack of all trades, master of one — myself. I haven’t followed any traditional career trajectory.

In my directing portfolio, I think I’m most proud of this documentary I did called, Life of Chris Ryan. It’s thematically in the spirit of Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory. It features the self titled motocross racer, Transworld Motocross’s editor-in-chief, and others. I shot this over a 2 year period. The process just kept evolving from a one man band with a GoPro, to RED footage with a full film crew on a soundstage. I’m also fond of this little hybrid animated/live action music video I did for a punk rock band, out of Denver. It was a really pleasurable experience collaborating with my animator on that one. There have been a variety of other projects sprinkled throughout the years too, including a commercial shot in Atlanta. That was also a good learning experience.

My producing work has taken me as far as Nashville, as well. Currently, I have one short film on the festival circuit, that we shot locally in Beverly Hills. The Dinner Party was directed by Jenna Ushkowitz and stars Eric Nelsen (1883), Carl McDowell (Ballers), Nana Visitor (Star Trek), and more. As one of several producers, my direct responsibilities included budgeting, assisting with casting while also communicating with agents and managers, sourcing vendors, and helping facilitate paperwork/permits.

Past crew experience, predominately in camera and lighting, kept a roof over my head for many years and also taught me quite a bit, along the way. I have lit feature films and even dodged kicks in the octagon from a UFC champion while camera operating. Those jobs allowed me to work with just about every major media outlet and brand imaginable in some way or another — Apple, Netflix, HBO, Buzzfeed, Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, etc. I’m really fortunate to have been a fly on the wall for so many really incredible works.

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.
In the past, I’ve taken friends to 71Above. Their food is amazing and I selfishly love heights so that’s a bonus. Casa Vega is a solid staple and it’s pretty historic. You can catch a glimpse of it in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Can’t go wrong with the chicken enchiladas. I encourage folks to support their local street vendors too. The Al Pastor tacos here are the best anywhere.

I also like introducing folks to LA’s hidden door venues. Pacific Seas is pretty cool. Dirty Laundry is fun. Hotel Cafe is great for intimate live music. All sorts of phenomenal local acts pass through there. Every once in awhile you can catch a surprise performance from a celebrity guest dropping in, to work out new material. I caught John Mayer and Zane Carney there once.

Generally speaking, I’d say skip most of the well known tourist attractions. Universal Studios is pretty cool for warm butterbeer with a shot of fireball on an LA winter night. Standing where Einstein and astronomers stood discussing the theory of relativity at Mount Wilson is a lesser known, more meaningful gem though. I’d also recommend strolling through The Huntington Library’s gardens if you’re looking for something spiritually freeing.

When I feel like I need to escape, without straying too far, the San Gabriel Mountains have the best local hiking spots around. Sequoia and Joshua Tree are right around the corner too. I’m also usually down for a spontaneous adventure, as well. I was fortunate enough to catch the Dalai Lama speak at The Forum. I’ve also flown over the city in a helicopter for a doors off birthday experience.

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?
I need to give a quick shout out to Alyssa Ponticello and her husband David Levine for introducing me to the Shoutout LA series (@alyssanponticello @davidlevinephotography).

From there, since Shoutout LA’s mission is to encourage individuals to spend more of their hard earned dollars with small businesses, independent artists, and creatives. I think the following two people are appropriate recipients of my gratitude.

Bearsun (@iambearsun) — Here’s a person literally sweating and bleeding for their community. Although this is a character, a real person who has tried to keep their identity anonymous, has walked from LA to NY and ran marathons for charity in this rather large, very hot mascot outfit. Charity fundraisers have ranged from supporting those with disabilities to combating climate change. They spread love and compassion through their art during all of it. Merchandise sales directly subsidize that art and provide a means for them to take time off from work to accomplish these stunning endeavors in the first place.

Christian Gonzalez (@xtngnz) — Christian is a really sincere, hard working, creative who currently juggles 3 different business ventures. He runs Sadboycrew, an emo friendly clothing line, birthed out of his experiences touring the US with various rock bands. The mission statement isn’t too far off from Shepard Fairey’s Obey line. Neither of these guys want you to obey or be sad. Christian’s has simply fostered a community that was already downcast and tried to give them purpose. He frequently hosts artist meetups with fans and friends just for fun. They sometimes offer free photo shoots and overall provide a place for camaraderie while welcoming new recruits to the movement. He also runs The Bleach Cafe, a one of a kind custom garment outlet, and The Seventh Sense Visual Media (entertheseventh), his flagship creative agency.

Last but not least, I want to dedicate all of my blessings and none of my short comings to my wonderful family and friends that continually inspire, encourage, and lift me up when I need them the most. Thank you.

Website: https://linktr.ee/Brockkingsland

Instagram: brockkingsland

Image Credits
Allen Ho, Jason Lehel, Brock Kingsland, Josh Pafchek