2013 Journalism and New Media graduate Brynn Elliot Watkins is a lady with many hats.
After graduating from Lipscomb, Watkins moved from Music City to pursue a fashion career in the Big Apple. She now is doing wardrobe styling for films and editorials, as well as running her lifestyle site, Being Elliott. She also is doing fashion consulting for brands, interior design projects and personal styling.
“There’s never a dull moment,” Watkins noted.
In addition to her fashion and lifestyle career, Watkins also does some film work “on the side.” Watkins recently collaborated with her husband, Aaron Craig, a filmmaker by trade, who started We Are Films. On a whim, the couple decided to submit their film that they shot on her family farm for inclusion in the Cannes Film Festival — and they got in.
Watkins said finding out that they were going to be attending Cannes was an awesome and surreal experience.
“We were thrilled for sure,” Watkins said. “Cannes has always been a dream, and we are so glad we were able to attend. God provided the opportunity, and I was thankful for that!”
The short film is titled “Speak of the Lights. The story line centers on “a young boy who goes missing after a mysterious light appears. The town bands together to find out what happened.”
“It was a very small cast and crew, but we all had an awesome time working together,” Watkins said. Watkins said she and Craig had always wanted to collaborate as a couple and thought this was a great opportunity for both of them.
“We both did a little bit of everything, including writing and developing the concept. He did all the camera and cinematography, but we both wrote the script and directed together.”
The couple chose to shoot the film on the family farm Watkins grew up on.
“I absolutely love my family’s farm, Watkins said, adding, “it wasn’t a tough decision to film there.”
Watkins said they knew they wanted a location with open land and great scenery, so they thought it made perfect sense to film in her hometown — a place that means so much to her.
“I’ve always been wildly inspired by the farm,” Watkins said. “I miss it. I love the open air and big skies — seeing the stars.”
Little did they know when they begin filming on the farm, though, that this film would become their ticket to the prestigious, invitation-only Cannes Film Festival. The Festival is held every year in Cannes, France and originated in 1932.
Watkins said attending Cannes was a very magical, yet incredibly fast-paced experience.
“We were very busy. Very busy,” Watkins said. “I didn’t think it was for me at first but seeing the films at the premieres made up for it.”
It’s easy to see that even so early on in her life, Watkins is having a very successful career.
Looking back, Watkins said if someone had told her when she was a student at Lipscomb of all the opportunities she would have, and all she would be able to accomplish in just a few years, she thinks she would have been surprised.
“I have been very blessed with the projects and jobs I have had the ability to work on, especially at such a young age,” Watkins said. “I’m humbled.”
In terms of what’s next for the blogger, stylist and filmmaker, Watkins said she has some work-in-progress ideas.
“I’m currently working on a few projects for my site as well as having other secret projects up my sleeve (working with musicians included – so back to the Nashville vibe!) . Stay tuned!”
Although Watkins isn’t sure what the future looks like just yet for future film collaborations with her husband, she said she isn’t going to “leave the possibility off the table just yet.”
Reflecting on her own career thus far and also what’s in store led Watkins to share some wise words and advice for aspiring filmmakers.
“Be willing to work for free at first,” Watkins commented. “Filmmaking needs to be fueled by pure passion or you won’t make it. You have to be willing to really put your heart into projects and work, work, work, work, work at it — grunt work included!”
Watkins and Craig’s short film “Speak of the Lights” is not yet available to the public, but Watkins said she will be releasing it soon on her site Being Elliot. Until then, you can view the trailer.