Brent Deal
January Filmmaker of the Month
Filmmaker Bio
"If Bruce Brown and Warren Miller had an illegitimate love child, that child would be director Brent Deal." - random quote on the internet.
Filmmaker Interview
Tell us your backstory. How and why did you get into filmmaking? My dad worked in advertising and wrote the line “milk it does a body good”. I used to love at the dinner table he would say “I’ve got an idea” and then 3 months later that idea would be a tv commercial that the whole World could view. From those moments, I’ve always enjoyed the idea that you can pull something out of your head and share it on the screen.
What films have been the most inspiring or influential to you and why? I was lucky enough to work with Tony Scott for 6 years. I had moved on by the time that he did “Man on Fire” but I remember the story. Tony heard about children being abducted in South America, cancelled the commercial shoot he was on and got on a plane with his writers and started writing. From the plane he called his friends, the cast of Man on Fire and got them on planes to meet him and start shooting. They would shoot a full day and Tony and his team would write the rest of the movie while the crew rested. It was truly a passion project for Tony, and for that reason the movie is incredibly inspiring to me.
How many films have you completed? What is your favorite project you have worked on and why? I’ve completed 5 full length documentaries and 3 short films. My first one H2indO is my favorite cause I proved to myself that I could actually do it. But Doc vs Parkinson’s is the movie I’ve wanted to make my whole life. I always wanted to do a movie that actually meant something to the world, Doc vs P is that movie. I’m proud of it and if I never get to do another film I am content.
Where do you get your inspiration from? I’ve always been very loud in proclaiming that I only want to do films that exalt the power of the human spirit. I get my inspiration from the greatness I see in people.
What is your favorite aspect of film production? The moment I see it clearly in my head, I know where I’m going, the production is just following and capturing that path.
Why did you choose to submit to the Breckenridge Film Festival? What do you look for in a festival where you hope to show your film? Doc vs Parkinson’s is my 3rd film at Breckenridge Film Fest. Breck is completely devoted to making the filmmakers feel special. Rare in festivals, I admire that about the team at Breck.
What are the next project or projects you are beginning work on? I just finished a short film called “From what I Sea” that takes a look at the extraordinary life of waterman Dave Kalama. I’m halfway done with another called “Stay Sideways” about an ex motorcycle racer who hadn’t been on a bike for 50 years since he got blown to with in an inch of his life in Vietnam. He raced 4 months ago, I’m editing the film now.
