Today we’d like to introduce you to Brad Forenza.
Hi Brad, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My creative identity is that of a writer-performer-director-producer. I’ve always written and performed in plays, and I guess I’ve always directed and produced, as well. For a long time, I saw directing and producing as means-to-an-end: administrative roles I had to do to help my independent projects (with shoe-string budgets) chug along. I now realize, however, that directing and producing tap into an administrative skillset that the creative acts of writing and performing don’t, necessarily, tap into on their own accord. Being a director/producer gives me perspective as a writer/performer that I otherwise wouldn’t have. The opposite is also true: Being a writer/performer makes me more insightful (and economic) as a director/producer (in my humble opinion, anyway).
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a researcher with a creative brain, I’m in love with my current project (Slice of Life: An Americana Docuseries) and the ways in which the original content helps illustrate the nuance of our American tapestry. Analogous to research: Sometimes I approach a documentary inductively, wherein I have B-roll footage of something beautiful or dramatic, and I’m not really sure what the narrative is (or will be) to wed the footage together. Other times, I’ll approach a project like deductive research (theory-testing), where I know– more or less– what my guide posts are for storytelling. The simple story behind production for Slice of life, is that—sometimes—I started with B-roll footage of something (a place or an event, perhaps), and found a subject later (inductive); other times, I was more proscriptive in my approach and knew exactly who I wanted to interview and what questions I wanted to ask them (deductive). Either way, the project is a really wonderful celebration of all things Americana, in honor of her 250th birthday.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m the writer/producer of many things. Throughout my career, I’ve written editorials, journal articles, and even speeches for politicians, public figures, and community leaders.. I’ve also written roles, via original scripts, which have been interpreted by EGOT-winning talent (like Gretchen Cryer, Francois Clemmons, Joe Gilford, and Sarah Saltzberg – all of whom- and more- appear as themselves in Slice of Life). While my best-known project is likely an anthology audio drama (Around the Sun), my current project- which this interview is structured around- is the aforementioned docuseries (Slice of Life). Because it’s a docuseries, it (ironically) features no writing at all, but- as I’m learning- there is still a narrative structure to follow. And there, again, the project feels similar to research. As i’ve noted before: It’s all art!
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I measure success in a host of different ways, even though we tend to think of success only as a dimension of notoriety or wealth. I’d be naïve to say those two definitions didn’t track with me at all (they do0, but I also think there’s more. I do think artistic success and personal happiness—the lives one touches through their work; the greater goods one pursues for others as opposed to themselves—matter equally as much, even if they’re under-emphasized and harder to measure than financial or commercial success. Richard Vetere, who appears in the Varacalli Spirit episode of Slice of Life, talks about elevating one’s human experience as a barometer for success. Richard does that in his work, just like Grammy-winner Julie Gold does the same through her compositions (Julie appears in Slice of Life: Harbor of Hope, which helped to anchor the series around Independence Day). Both are highly decorated and prolific writers, and I think both would agree that success is different for everyone.
Pricing:
- Slice of Life streams for free on Vimeo and YouTube
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aroundthesunpodcast.com
- Instagram: @bradforenza
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bvoyllc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bvoyllc
- Other: https://linktr.ee/bradforenza
