By: Bret Love [Article published in Cayman Skies Magazine]
Brian Braggs, who was born and raised in the city of George Town on Grand Cayman, is currently hard at work on Waking The Sea, which follows a Wall Street executive who returns to Grand Cayman after a long absence when his mother dies. Filmed in New York, New Jersey and Grand Cayman, the movie was inspired in part by Caymanian history and culture. Braggs recently sat down with us for an interview to discuss his background, influences and dreams for the future.
At what point in your life did you realise you wanted to go into show business?
I've always wanted to be an actor from a very young age, but I thought it would never be possible.
Were there any particular actors whose careers influenced you?
I really appreciate the craft of actors like Samuel Jackson, Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman and, more recently, Jeremy Piven. I particularly like the success story of Harrison Ford [who was 35 when Star Wars came out], which goes to show that you can be a successful actor regardless of how old you are. Once you're focused, anything is possible.
There aren't exactly a lot of internationally known celebrities from the Cayman Islands. How did your family respond when you told them you wanted to go into acting?
I guess they initially thought I was a bit crazy, or maybe a bit of a dreamer. But I guess they were right about the dreamer part, and sometimes dreams do come true! But nevertheless they still believed in me and encouraged me to go for it.
Where did you go to learn your craft?
I learned quite a bit just winging it on the stage in Cayman. I taught myself at first, trying to get as much stage time as possible. I eventually started to travel to L.A. quite a bit to get proper training, taking private lessons and group classes with Howard Fine Studios, Bobbie Chance and David Kagen's School of Film Acting. All in all, I learned some very valuable traits.
What advantages and disadvantages have you experienced in your career as a result of your Cayman background?
Accents have never been a problem for me, so I guess having the ability to either blend in or stick out by switching accents at the right time could be a plus. But the Caymans' geographical distance from Hollywood is quite a challenge: It would obviously be much easier to pursue a proper acting career if I actually lived there.
How would you describe your character in Waking The Sea?
Charles is a bit of a recluse who finds himself caught between two worlds while trying to figure out what's right for him. He has a whole lot of soul searching to do as he battles with several issues from his past, which he's been avoiding for some time. Playing the role has definitely been a challenging but adventurous experience for me, as I've had to dig deep to conjure up an intense mix of emotions to bring the character to life.
Your director, Tim Kelly, also has ties to Cayman. How would you describe Tim's approach as a director?
It's very different, yet very effective. He's really creative, and isn't afraid to think outside the box. He didn't even tell me I had the lead until months into talking with me about my character. He's all about the research — books, past movies, YouTube clips…. You name it, he's got it in his arsenal. He's very thorough, and he wants to ensure his actors are well prepared and have a full understanding of what he expects from them. I truly respect his way of thinking.
You recently did some filming in New York and New Jersey. How does shooting a movie in the U.S. compare with filming in the Caymans?
Other than the weather, it's probably a little more hectic filming in the U.S. just because filming in Cayman can be so laid-back and hassle-free. For one, there are less people to get in the way in Cayman, so the sets can be more controlled. The experience [of shooting in the U.S.] was great though, and I really enjoyed working with Tim and his crew.
How do your friends back home feel about your efforts to 'go Hollywood'? Do you get any good-natured ribbing?
My friends think it's cool and are all rooting for me. In fact, they're telling me to hurry up and get famous so they can quit their jobs and we can hang out like the guys on "Entourage"! (Laughs.) I've been given the nickname "Hollywood," so I've gotta make something out of this movie business in order to keep that name.
What do you miss most about the Cayman Islands when you're working away from home?
I'm never really away that long, but when you film in cold places like New Jersey in February, you start missing the sun just a bit. Other than that, and family and friends, and good food, and the beach and my mom's fish stew... nothing! (Laughs.)
What are your goals for the future, both for this film and for your career?
I would love to continue acting and make a career of it, but we all know that's not an easy task. It's one of those 'easier said than done' situations. Right now I'm going to focus on Tim's film and see where my projects this year take me, then go from there. I'm very fortunate to have these opportunities and I'm going to give them everything I've got! At least then I can always say I did my very best when I was given the chance.
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