Inspirational Women In Hollywood: How Director Paige Irene Bruns of Affinity Insight Pictures Is Helping To Shake Up The Entertainment Industry

…My job as a storyteller isn’t to tell you what to think, but to pose questions and create scenarios that give you something to think about which I find to be incredibly motivating.

As a part of our series about Inspirational Women In Hollywood, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Paige Irene Bruns.

Paige Irene Bruns is an award-winning screenwriter and director. After graduating from Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida with a BFA in Film, Paige took her skills to the next level when she founded Affinity Insight Pictures in May of 2020. Affinity Insight Pictures is a Michigan-based film production company that draws on narrative storytelling to tell thought-provoking, hard-hitting stories that portray some of the harsh realities of both societal and quotidian struggles.

Most recently, Paige’s work includes the short drama film, “Anchor” which she wrote and directed and can be viewed on YouTube. Paige’s next project includes a new series.

Paige has been recognized by film festivals worldwide, earning nominations and wins in several categories including the Young Filmmaker Award, Best Director, Best Narrative Short, Best Woman Short and Best Short.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

I grew up in West Michigan which was a really great experience. I was always surrounded by art and storytelling which I attribute a lot of my passions to today. From a very early age, my parents made sure that I was exposed to as many different things as I could be, including theater. I was very involved in local theater day camps and productions which I think really jump-started my love of storytelling.

At the age of three, I first discovered The Wizard of Oz and instantly became mesmerized. I was completely enthralled by the world the filmmakers had created and I took on the characters myself. I would run around the house convinced that I was Dorothy. So much so that I refused to respond to my own name. I guess this should have been my first clue at the direction life would take me.

As I got older, that love of storytelling continued to grow and my mom and I started crafting stories together. We created a character and every night we would come up with a new adventure that she was embarking on. It was such a fun experience to share with my mom and it really got my brain thinking about how to craft narratives. Even back then I shed my own emotions and stepped into the story world, entirely.

Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?

Looking back, I think I always knew that I wanted to do something in entertainment. However, for a while, I was focused on a completely different side of the industry. I was very intrigued by acting so I chased that for a few years but as I started going through the audition process, I very quickly realized that I was not cut out to be an actor. Being in a room full of people, or on a set where everyone’s eyes were on me all the time was something I was never going to adapt to so I decided to take a step back from pursuing acting professionally. I was still heavily involved in my high school’s theater program — I was very passionate about acting, I just wasn’t ready for the high-pressure situations that come with the profession.

Not too long after I stepped back from auditions, my theater director approached me with an opportunity to direct a one-act play. I remember being so confused as to why he thought I would be a good fit for that as I had no experience behind the scenes but I ended up agreeing. That was the first time I was exposed to the world of directing and I absolutely fell in love with it. There was no turning back after that!

Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

I’ve been fortunate enough to have had some pretty unique experiences over the last few years but one that still makes me giddy thinking about is the time I met Damien Chazelle at the Toronto International Film Festival. I went into the week determined to run into Damien as I really admire his work and I knew he was going to be there. I wanted to get his advice on building a career as a writer/director.

I think everyone around me thought I was insane for having this goal but I didn’t care, I was dead set on making this happen. I had all these ideas and plans for how to secure the opportunity but nothing was working. The last day we were there, I had just about given up. We sat down for lunch in the hotel lobby and in walked Ryan Gosling, who had been in the movie Damien was there promoting. A little while later Damien emerged from a back room. I couldn’t believe it, I had been trying all week to run into this guy and the minute I let the idea go…there he was.

I bolted over to Damien, letting Ryan Gosling walk right by me after exchanging awkward eye contact — my friends and family still give me a hard time for that. Damien was so incredibly kind and took a significant amount of time to speak with me. It was truly a moment I’ll never forget so thank you, Damien!

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I don’t know if this counts as a “funny” mistake but it was definitely a huge learning experience for me as a new filmmaker. On the set, there are several different departments and each one has their own little jargon that they use to communicate. Because you’re completely surrounded by it day after day, it’s not difficult to pick up on. This was something I knew about and was aware of, so the first time I went through the filmmaking process as a director, I made sure I was up to speed on the different terminologies. However, for some reason, the thought never crossed my mind that post-production positions would have an entirely different vocabulary. I started working with a composer, which was an incredibly exciting experience but I very quickly realized that I had absolutely no clue how to communicate with him. I didn’t know the right terms to describe certain things and I struggled to figure out just how much creative freedom to hand over when it came to the score.

I found myself pretty much giving him total artistic range with little to no input as to what I felt it should sound like. As you can imagine, that is both exciting and overwhelming on both ends of the spectrum. When I got the score back, it was a completely different feel than the film we had made which ultimately stemmed from my lack of direction. Because I didn’t know how to communicate through the proper terms, it made the process ten times harder for everyone involved.

Looking back, it was an innocent mistake but in the moment I felt as though I had failed. It really taught me the importance of finding balance and sharing creative involvement. It’s okay to give input early on, it doesn’t mean you’re squashing their creativity. It just means that you have a clear vision of what it is you want, which is a good thing — that’s your job as a director!

It also reinforced just how vital it is to learn the ins and outs of every single department. The better you understand exactly what everyone does, how they communicate and how the process works for them, the more effectively you’ll be able to collaborate.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

There have been many people who impacted my life over the years in ways that ultimately led me to where I am today. The most important being my parents, who have been nothing short of encouraging and supportive my entire life. However, outside of my immediate family, there are two individuals who have really made a significant difference in my life…Mark Parry and Victor Simpkins.

My junior year of college, I was diagnosed with Lupus which was a very overwhelming and confusing process that seemingly came out of left field. I was battling severe joint pain, weakness, fatigue and chest pain almost constantly. It was something that I knew little about and never expected, let alone during the most chaotic and demanding period of my college career. At the time, Mark and Victor were my teachers for “Project” which was an incredibly arduous yet exciting, hands-on class in which we were making short films every weekend.

Both Mark and Victor went out of their way to extend support and help me navigate through the semester in any way that they could. They really fostered a sense of stability during a time filled with unknowns.

On top of that, Mark and Victor have always supported my aspirations and continuously pushed me as a storyteller. As someone who tends to tackle pretty intense topics rooted with big ambitions, having that sense of belief in the vision and intent while still pushing me to further the story, makes all the difference.

When I think about the impact they have had on my life, it makes me quite emotional because I am so grateful for the compassion, guidance and effort they put forth in making sure I not only got through that semester but did so in such a way that would force me to grow as both a storyteller and as a human being. I would not be where I am today without Mark and Victor.

Actually, funny turn of events, I still work with Victor! He recently joined our Affinity Insight Pictures family and I am incredibly excited he’s part of our team. He continues to push my creativity and storytelling which is something that I really value and appreciate.

You have been blessed with great success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?

One of the biggest realizations I’ve had over the last few years and something that I am constantly reminding myself of is that vulnerability leads to authenticity. As a storyteller, I am completely immersed in the emotions and mental arcs of my characters, which is something that I used to be absolutely terrified of. I am constantly putting myself in the shoes and emotions of other people — oftentimes, individuals that are living lives and experiences that are far different from my own.

Creativity is a very private thing until it’s not and by allowing yourself to surrender to every element of the story, you’ve all of a sudden made it very personal which makes the idea of sharing it with anyone, let alone the entire world, a bit daunting. At the same time, it’s what enables you to tell an authentic and truthful story. Acquiescing those emotions gives you the ability to craft characters that reflect real human beings and at the end of the day, storytelling is all about relatability. We all want to see a piece of ourselves in the characters we watch on our screens. Focus on capitulating to the process and when that fear of failure creeps in, go back to the thing that inspired you to tell the story. There’s a reason you were so passionate about it in the first place.

What drives you to get up every day and work in TV and Film? What change do you want to see in the industry going forward?

There are so many things that drive me but one in particular of which I’ve recently become more aware and appreciative of, is that writing and directing have really given me an opportunity to be exposed to things that I would never experience in my day to day life. It’s opened my eyes to situations and circumstances I otherwise knew little about. For me, my work has fostered a deeper perspective and appreciation for people and the curve balls life tends to throw, which is something that I really value.

We are so receptive to what we see on our screens and I think that’s part of what makes storytelling such a powerful art form. My job as a storyteller isn’t to tell you what to think, but to pose questions and create scenarios that give you something to think about which I find to be incredibly motivating.

In terms of what changes I want to see within the industry, I would hope that stronger work-hour regulations and time off could be implemented. Having a sense of balance is so incredibly important and it’s something that we don’t currently have within the industry.

You have such impressive work. What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? Where do you see yourself heading from here?

I am currently in the development of a drama series that tackles the opioid crisis and how it trickles down, infiltrating small towns across America. From there, you can expect more deep-rooted emotional narratives that portray some of the harsh realities of both societal and quotidian struggles. I have so many stories running around in my head so there is definitely a great deal more to follow.

We are very interested in looking at diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture and our youth growing up today?

Diversity in entertainment is hugely important and it’s something that I strive to have front and center when it comes to my cast and crew. There are countless reasons why it matters to diversify entertainment but these are three that I think should be at the forefront of every storyteller’s mind.

1. It creates new and broader opportunities
2. Encourages inclusion
3. Relatability

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

1. You can’t do it all yourself

When I first started writing and directing, I had a tendency to feel as though I had to do everything myself (writing, directing, cinematography, editing, color correction, sound design, production design, etc.). I felt that because the story started with me, it had to end that way too. Crazy idea, I know. It’s good to know the ins and outs of each position but there’s no reason for you to carry the weight of an entire production. In fact, it’s impossible. The hardest thing you’re ever going to have to do is learn to trust other people with your baby, which is essentially what this thing you’ve written is but it’s inevitable. When you try to tackle everything alone, the project is going to lack somewhere because you spread yourself too thin and weren’t able to dedicate your full attention to what it is you were really trying to accomplish.

The reality is that filmmaking is a team effort and honestly if you ask me, collaboration is the best part. I absolutely love connecting with my team and hearing their ideas about something we’re working on! At the end of the day, I’m only one person and I only have my experiences and perspectives to draw from so having that collaboration is everything.

The good news is that the industry is full of tremendously talented people. Take advantage of the opportunity to work with others and learn from them!

2. Writer’s block is inevitable — it doesn’t reflect your talent or skill

Writer’s block, as any writer will tell you, is one of the most frustrating parts of the job — and it’s inevitable. I used to think that in order to be a successful writer, you had to have everything picture-perfect from start to finish. I thought being stuck meant you didn’t know your characters or the goal of your story well enough. The truth is, you could spend years in development, crafting and getting to know your characters and still end up with writer’s block — it’s not a measurement of your abilities, it’s part of the process.

3. Being able to identify your actors breaking points is everything

As a director, you are the actor’s biggest advocate — it’s your job to create a safe environment that sets them up for success. If you think about it, you’re essentially asking your actors to emotionally expose themselves in front of a room full of people, sometimes for hours at a time.

Filmmaking is a very tedious process and we’re filming scenes for several hours, which is tiring no matter what the nature of the sequence is but when you’re dealing with heavy emotional moments, everything is heightened.

Understand that while they are acting, the emotions are still very genuine and it’s never going to be more real to anyone than it is in that moment. Being able to identify when your actors have given you everything they have and then being prepared enough to take a step back is everything. The second you see they’ve hit that point and you ask for another take, you are no longer their advocate. Your job as a director is to be there to support and help guide them, not to override them.

4. Simple concepts run deep

It’s easy to fall into the mindset that you have to have this extravagant narrative to create a meaningful project which often comes with a tremendous amount of pressure followed by a sensation of “what am I doing here?” I’ve found that when I start to feel that doubt going back to the basics helps to refocus everything.

Remind yourself of the intent. Why are you telling this story? What about it interests you? What is the goal? What do you hope to accomplish by writing it? You know your characters better than anyone — use that to your advantage. Ask yourself: How is he/she feeling? What does he/she want? What do they need? What are they thinking? How would he/she feel about this happening and how would that present itself within their actions? Who are they at their core? How does what is happening change/complicate/affect that?

Going back to the basics helps me to make the most effective and honest plot decisions that are true to my characters and the story’s intent. Ironically, it often leads to new ideas with strong ties to the core goals and motives.

Taylor Sheridan is a great person to study when it comes to simplicity and depth within storytelling. He is a master at taking a relatively straightforward concept, diving in deep and creating something incredibly thought-provoking.

5. Be prepared but be willing to throw it all away

On the set, every second counts and things are constantly changing. As a director, it’s vital that you come in with a strong game plan but I can almost guarantee that no matter how much detail went into your preparation, things will shift and fall apart on the day. Be willing to take your plan, throw it away and make a new one as problems arise. One of the best skills a filmmaker can have is the resiliency and the ability to restructure on the spot.

Can you share with our readers any selfcare routines, practices or treatments that you do to help your body, mind or heart to thrive? Please share a story for each one if you can.

Being one hundred percent honest, this is something that I am still working on trying to master. I am so passionate about what I do that I tend to become entirely immersed in the world I’m creating and I forget to take a step back and breathe. That being said, there are two main things I have implemented into my routine in order to allow my body, mind and heart to thrive.

First and foremost, exercise. Depending on what stage of the filmmaking process I’m in, it’s not uncommon for me to be at my computer the majority of the day. Building in time to get up and move is hugely important. I’m currently doing the 75 hard challenge with a friend of mine which has been a really good challenge for me both physically and mentally. However, when I’m not actively doing a program such as that I like to get outside and walk for at least forty-five minutes a day. I’ve found that the fresh air really helps reset my creativity and reignite the flow of ideas and problem-solving skills.

The other big thing for me is skincare. I am meticulous about my skincare routine. As a writer, I absorb the energy, emotions and mental arcs of my characters. I am constantly putting myself in the shoes of other people which when you’re dealing with such deep-rooted, emotional content, can be incredibly draining. At the end of the day, taking that time for myself to wind down, almost like cleansing that energy and emotion has really helped me to separate my own feelings from those I carry on behalf of my characters.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

There’s a quote from Walt Whitman that goes “I have learned that to be with those I like is enough”. It’s such a simple phrase, yet it’s one of the most thought-provoking and true combinations of words. I feel like we’re all so accustomed to leading such fast-paced lifestyles, that it’s easy to find ourselves caught up in the pressures of daily priorities, without ever pausing to think about the beauty that surrounds us.

For me, this quote is a constant reminder that at the end of the day, the only thing that matters are the moments you spend with the people you cherish most. When I look at my life, my most prized memories, and the ones I hold closest to my heart, are the moments I spent surrounded by those I love.

These words and the thought that lingers behind them has stuck with me over the years and is something that I live by. It’s definitely made me more conscious of being present in each moment and it’s given me a greater appreciation for the little things in life.

Is there a person in the world whom you would love to have lunch with, and why? Maybe we can tag them and see what happens!

Taylor Sheridan. I’m a huge fan of his so having the opportunity to sit down with him would be such a dream. He’s a masterful storyteller with a strong ability to craft narratives that carry a unique balance of simplicity and depth, which is something that I really respect and admire. I’d love to pick his brain about all things storytelling!

Are you on social media? How can our readers follow you online?

I am! You can find me on Instagram @paigeirenebruns.

This was so informative, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!