Meet Barrett Burgin | Film Director

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

Hi Barrett, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?

From the time I was a young child, I was often lost in my own world of drawings and stories. This passion for creativity wasn’t just a phase; it’s been at my core as long as I can remember. Knowing that my fixation with storytelling and art would never go away, I felt the natural path was to turn it into my career. After all, when you’d do something even without getting paid, it’s clearly more than a hobby; it’s what you’re meant for. Turning this deep-seated love into my job has been my plan since I was young. For me, financial success is just a way to keep doing what I love, and staying true to that has worked out pretty well for me so far.

I think when you want to make a living in the arts, it’s very important to know how to make and follow a plan. There are plenty of opportunities in a creative career, but so many talented artists don’t consider important factors for sustainability, such as finding an audience, financing, distribution, evolving trends, or training to follow formalist conventions and rules. They just want to create. While I think that intuitive creativity is wonderful, your scope and influence can be really limited without understanding how to execute the logistics. So for me, half the fun is strategizing in an ambitious way. That’s the career side of it, which can provide all the same fulfillment and financial opportunity as starting a business or seeking a promotion.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

What’s always kept me busy is taking big swings. Generally, I think it’s important to challenge yourself and attempt the projects that intimidate you the most. I look for this in content as much as in scope, which for me has included blending niche religious themes and mythos into universal stories. That has kept me very busy the past several years, and it’s keeping me busy now as I develop my next feature: a gothic western horror film set in 1800s pioneer Utah.

I don’t wait for permission to make my films. In my college film program, the general expectation was to wait your turn at the chance to direct a senior capstone, which was funded by the university. While this is an invaluable educational experience (and one I was lucky to participate in myself), I didn’t want to wait four years to start directing my own work, and I’m not sure that’s what the university was even encouraging. So I raised several thousand dollars and dropped an intro film class to make my first short film, “The Next Door.” This decision created a lot of opportunities for me, leading to far more collaborations than if I had just waited to be noticed. A couple of years later, I directed my first feature-length film, “CRYO”, which was filmed the summer before my senior year. I’m extremely proud of that work because it’s technically a student film, and we sold it to a national distributor, Saban Films. It played in theaters across the U.S. and is now on various digital platforms. All of this happened because I chose to act rather than wait for someone to give me permission.

My journey hasn’t been without its challenges. It can be difficult working with such tight resources, but it also teaches you to get the most out of what you have. Creative collaboration is also tough. Many times someone I’m working with doesn’t see things the way I do, or might not even respect my perspective. Despite this, I’ve found ways to be a team player so that the film gets finished. Not everyone is going to like you, and that’s okay. What’s important is treating people with respect and listening to their ideas, while also staying true to your own vision as a director. Doing so ensures you work with the right people. Never think you’re the smartest in the room. A team always outdoes an individual in creativity.

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.
Salt Lake City is truly one of my favorite places in the world, probably because its the perfect blend of many wildly different elements. It’s a bit paradoxical. The tension between a powerful religious institution and a liberal metropolitan counterculture makes it a wonderful space for creative exploration. It’s got skyscrapers, but some of the best ski slopes in the world are a 20 min drive away. With its unique and fascinating history, the beautiful mountain vistas, and a robust arts community, Salt Lake is a wonderful place live and work as an independent filmmaker.

I frequently give friends and family members tours of the surrounding areas. If you are a film connoisseur, look no further than an arthouse film at the Broadway Theater, followed by a dinner at the Copper Onion next door. If you love history, there are all kinds of tours on Temple Square and the surrounding buildings such as the State Capitol or the Beehive House. For interesting experiences outdoors, I love taking people through the Swiss-themed town of Midway, or to the Sundance Mountain Resort (featuring both scenic tram rides and film editing bays). It’s really impossible to list all the places I’d love to take someone in Utah, because I’ve done that very thing several times — we usually make an itinerary with A, B, and C columns so that the trip is tailored to their interests. Reach out if you are in Utah, and I’ll find something for you!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The path I’ve taken in my life and career owes a great deal to the encouragement and support of so many. Firstly, my education at BYU served as an indispensable foundation, offering me the privilege to learn from outstanding mentors and professors. I’d like to extend my gratitude to Jeff Parkin, Tom & Courtney Russell, and Dean Duncan for their invaluable guidance.

A supportive family makes all the difference. I’m immensely thankful to my parents. Their unwavering belief in my creative pursuits and their confidence that I’d flourish in the arts was pivotal. That resounding acceptance of my chosen vocation has spared me any pressure of trying to earn their approval. It’s also been beneficial to share an industry with my wife, Jessica. I have been lucky to work alongside the love of my life on every film I’ve directed. As an accomplished producer and production manager, Jessica’s contributions have been indispensable, both logistically and emotionally.

Similarly, the faith of childhood friends has been an incredible driving force. For instance, Cameron Bard, a lifelong friend, consistently voiced his belief in my potential in the filmmaking world. Knowing someone you deeply respect and admire has such faith in you is a profound motivator; you don’t want to disappoint.

Growing up in a minority religious community has also been a wellspring of inspiration. The narratives and values I grew up with continually feed my creative spirit. I’ve been influenced by the works and thoughts of intellectuals and artists within this realm, particularly Terryl Givens. His book, “People of Paradox”, resonated with me. It paints a vivid picture of the complexities of belonging to a close-knit conservative community and the inherent tensions therein. It’s reinforced my conviction that there’s room within my cultural heritage for unconventional, broad minded artists like me, who are intent on exploring these paradoxes.

So, to all these individuals, institutions, and experiences that have believed in, shaped, and inspired me – I dedicate this shoutout. Their impact has been immeasurable.

Website: burgindie.com

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