Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke Linsalata.
Hi Brooke, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
As a kid, I was always daydreaming about my stories, so I started writing them. I used to make comic books of my stories at school, and kids would buy them. I was always at home writing or even at school writing about my stories. I could see my stories created into films. At age ten, I went to a film camp that helped me create a movie from start to finish and found myself. I went to that film camp every summer until I was 18. Then, I worked as a staff at the film camp for two years. I started writing screenplays and became serious about acting at fifteen, which was another career I dreamed of working in. I starred in plays and musicals throughout high schools, such as Doc in West Side Story and Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast. I was captain of the improv team in high school and was a member of ACI, a county improv for Howard County high school. I then moved on to Howard Community College and was on the improv team in theatre. I’m grateful for improv and theatre because they helped me with my film career. I applied to Full Sail University after community college and graduated with a film degree in 2019. After college, I realized that to get to where I wanted to be, I couldn’t just sit around and wait for it. I had to do it. So I rounded up some friends and decided to start making movies.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
It has not been a smooth road. I’ve always loved film, and I’ve always loved the creative aspect of it, and as my parents were going through a terrible divorce, my mom put me in film camp. From there, it just showed me how many films would be a part of my life. It allowed me to share real life from my side of the story with others. It’s not been easy along the way because I had to come up against things I didn’t want to remember, talk about, or share with others. But I found that there’s healing in every film that I’ve been creating. The hardest part of making any film is the financial aspect. You know you have a great story that could change lives, but you don’t have the funds to create the film. So you must be creative in raising funds for housing, equipment, food, crew, cast, locations, wardrobe, art, props, editing, marketing, and sound, and then placing your films into festivals. The biggest thing I’ve learned is to understand the relationships between you and your crew, contracts, negotiating, and your leadership role.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a director, screenplay writer, and actress. Being a native Marylander, I love working and filming in Maryland as it has so much to offer. It has a little bit of everything to make a great film, city, town, mountains, beach, all seasons, etc. I want to say what sets me apart from others is my creative vision and my ability to include everyone in the filming process, known as collaboration. It’s a massive part of who I am to see that I’m looking for the interactions and feedback from my cast and crew in the pre-production, production, and post-production phases. I also think I have a natural eye for film. I can visualize every aspect of my story coming to life within me. Film sets can be very crazy at times, and as a director, you have to know your crew and your cast to help them be comfortable in their roles so they can be great at what they do. I try to bring humor, positivity, humility, and strength to set each day. As a director, you need to have that strength because you’re dealing with so many personalities, and you want them to become a family, even after you’re done filming. I think the biggest thing I’m most proud of is that I have great family and friends that help me do what I do. I make films, which I’ve always dreamed of doing.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My mom deserves all the credit; not only is she my producer, but she’s the one who reminds me of who I am. If I need to be grounded or stuck, she’s always there to help. We work great together as a team with BellaMoon Films. When I need a day off to clear my mind, she says let’s go on a road trip—just finishing up my first feature film. We are already onto the next movie, a music video. I also have fantastic family members and friends who are very supportive by donating their time, their strength, funds, laughter, and resources. You will find most of these individuals in my films, whether in front of or behind the camera. Many have never acted before, but you would never know because they are natural.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brookelinsalata.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellamoon_films/
- Other: www.bellamoonfilms.com
Image Credits
Adele Bellofatto
