Actress and filmmaker Karen Bryson, MBE, chatted about her short film “Monochromatic,” which she wrote and directed.
She opened up about being honored with an MBE by King Charles, and she furnished her advice for hopefuls that wish to pursue acting, and her definition of the word success.
‘Monochromatic’
“Monochromatic” is her directorial debut, and it is set in 1970’s England.
On her experience doing “Monochromatic,” she said, “It was truly amazing. From the seeds of an idea in my head to having a discussion about that idea with our fantastic producers Shakyra Dowling and Lorraine Bhattachary.”
She continued, “From putting those ideas down on paper, re-working and tweaking the script to reflect what was possible technically, the amendments on the script never stopped. Then searching for our cast. Watching audition tapes and trusting my gut. Getting a crew together along with the producers. I’ve always known the importance of a talented, dedicated team, which I feel is reflected in ‘Monochromatic’.”
“Being an experienced actor, I had previously always told other people’s stories, which I still enjoy, but then being able to tell a story that I created. The very thought that the story might, in some way, provoke thought and spark real conversation around racism…Invaluable!”
“The whole process was a steep learning curve, but I enjoyed every single second,” she said. “I loved the shoot days working with the team and of course our incredible actors. Despite some hairy moments whilst we were filming, being in the moment and problem solving on the spot (in hindsight) was strangely satisfying, sometimes resulting in better moments of story telling than originally planned.”
“I can’t tell you the number of times I shed a tear or two at the wonder of it all,” she said. “Weird analogy, but we collectively birthed a short film baby. ‘Monochromatic’ will always be my first born. I’m sure I’ll learn to love all my subsequent ‘babies’ equally, of which I hope there will be many.”
Being awarded an MBE by King Charles
She discussed being award an MBE (Member of the British Empire) by King Charles. “That felt brilliant,” she said. “”Especially for my parents, my father had passed away at that point, I’m sure he was watching me on that day. But my Mum, Pearl, who like the character Bev, in ‘Monochromatic,’ came over to the UK in the 1970’s as part of the drive to rebuild a post war Britain (Windrush).”
“My parents worked hard and got their heads down and taught us anything is achievable with hard work and determination, despite the odds. My mum
particularly nurtured and encouraged my creativity. Receiving an MBE for Services to
Drama was as much for them as it was for me,” she said.
Advice for hopefuls in acting
For young and aspiring actors, she encouraged them to “get involved.” “By that, I mean take an active interest and participate in local acting classes and groups. See what you’re made of,” she said.
“It’s all very well thinking you want to be an actor because you ‘could’ become famous; it’s not all glamour trust me it’s often the very opposite. It’s lots of hard work, real focus and we can’t forget the main thing – talent,” she said.
“Oh, and a good dose of luck. So, if an aspiring actor dreams about it and doesn’t action those dreams, practically…Maybe rethink it! It’s an extremely competitive field to get into,” she added.
“My answer isn’t meant to be negative, it’s serves as encouragement to those reading this who are talented, determined and focused. With that I wish you every success. You’ve got this… now fly,” she said.
Career-defining moments
On her career-defining moments, she said, “To be honest, my defining moments keep changing. In the beginning of my career, in theatre mainly, I couldn’t quite believe I was being paid to work with other professional actors telling a story in front of a paying audience.
“Now, it’s making this film with a truly dedicated team of talented creatives, as a writer/director. There were also many other moments along the way, too many to highlight, she said.
“I would love for my ‘defining moments’ to continue to evolve because that would mean I’m continuing to grow, learn and progress as a
creative in this industry,” she elaborated.
Success
On her definition of the word success, she said, “Success as a word means something different to me now, I’m all grown up. Yes, recognition by an audience, for doing what I love to do, is still always great. But now success takes on
another meaning for me.
“Success is about having the ability to keep learning and growing. To continue being creative and sharing that creativity with others, in the hope my work can touch even one person. Success for me is having the luxury of being able to do what I love
as a career and that, for me, is a blessing,” she said.
Closing thoughts on ‘Monochromatic’
“The theme in ‘Monochromatic’ isn’t simply a story of yesteryear,” she said. “The parallels between the penultimate National Front march and the opposition protest in Wood Green London 1977, to 43 years later and the global BLM protests in 2020, are shockingly similar.”
Bryson remarked, “The one thing I would want a viewer to come away with (and it will be different depending on who the viewer) is, my answer is not about creating division but instead a recognition we are all different. And that is to be celebrated. If you are Black or Brown, I hope you are not negatively triggered on thoughts of your own experiences, but know you are not alone.”
“For others, watch with an open heart. This is what racism can look like. Every Black or Brown child will have their innocence lost and have a moment of realization, just like Grace,” she said.
To learn more about actress and filmmaker Karen Bryson, MBE, follow her on Instagram.
