"A lot of documentary makers are looking to tell stories about things that are wrong with the world so they can make those things better. I’m the kind of filmmaker who is looking for the things that are right in the world."
I enjoyed chatting with Thero.org about everyday heroes, the power of being heard, and our not-for-profit The Rising Heroes Project.
Read the interview at: www.thero.org/theroworthy-brett-culp
25 years ago, my cousin Matt & I saw The Monkees in concert. We became obsessed! We sang their songs in performances we created for our family. We used my Dad's video camera to recreate scenes from the TV show.
Last night, we saw The Monkees perform again, in the same venue we first experienced them when we were 14.
It's rare that you have the opportunity to feel exactly the way you did when you were young, but it happened to me last night. I remembered the joy of being young, acting silly, & sharing fun with friends. And the past gave me fuel for the future.
If you are feeling tired or a little lost, I recommend going back to the places that inspired you as a kid. You may rediscover the light you need for the journey ahead.
Loved speaking for the Association of Fundraising Professionals in Tampa!
We laughed, cried, and inspired each other as we talked about storytelling and being Everyday Leaders. Such a joy to see their spirits to help the community.
Honored to be able to share my heart with them.
Education is an incredible gift, and I believe it’s about MORE than our own personal development and success. Education helps us reach our potential so we can give something beautiful to the world.
This was the essence of the Graduation Speech I shared two years ago. I think it’s a valuable message for all of us as we make daily choices about how to use our skills, time, and resources.
After filming for a corporate project today, my hands were full as I rolled 2 big equipment cases through the lobby of an office building. I was headed toward the exit, and a woman I didn’t know was walking about 20 feet in front of me. She was moving quickly – clearly on a mission - and talking on her phone as she pushed a door open to let herself out. Then, while outside the building, she leaned over without breaking stride and pressed the button that automatically opened the double doors.
I thought, “That’s strange. Why did she press that button? She’s already outside!”
Then I realized… She pressed it for ME.
It didn’t cost her any time. It was just an awareness of the needs of someone around her.
And I remembered how many good people there are in the world. And I smiled.
I was recently interviewing a business leader for a short film. We were talking about building environments that inspire passion, creativity, and teamwork. She said, "We want the business to do more than make a profit. It should be a JOYFUL GLUE that allows people to feel connected to each other while accomplishing an exciting mission together."
This week, I've been thinking about how every part of my life where I interact with others can be Joyful Glue. Although it's wonderful to have a long list of successful projects, if those accomplishments didn't build deeper connections & relationships, they were missed opportunities.
I am now inspired to bring this perspective to everything. In work, family, & every kind of community, I think there is always an opportunity to unify & build an uplifting connectedness.
It is my desire for everything I do to be a Joyful Glue!
I'm officially announcing my candidacy for President of the United States of America!
My platform is based on:
Even if you choose not to vote for me on Election Day, please make this your personal platform for the next 6 months.
I love you all. ❤️💙❤️💙
Sincerely,
The only candidate using heart emoji
"We have the tools & the skills to make a real difference in the world!"
Loved speaking at the InFocus conference in San Antonio, TX.
Four years ago, I was in Texas filming with Kye who was still in treatment for leukemia. I asked him what Batman would do if he had cancer. Kye responded, "He would fight it. Like I did."
Our film Legends of the Knight celebrates the superhero that lives in all of us. If you need a reminder of your heroic potential, watch the film this week on Netflix, iTunes, & Amazon.
And I can't wait to continue inspiring rising heroes around the world & supporting charitable organizations with our next film Look to the Sky.
Several months ago, I was commissioned to create a series of short films for the 100th Anniversary of a successful family-owned company called Meritex. I was excited to watch the films play at last night's special event in Minneapolis.
During production, after filming 22 hours of interview footage, it was clear how important this guy named Harry was to everyone.
At 92-years-old, he was the patriarch of the business & the heart of the family. I recommended we create a special tribute film for Harry & then present him with a custom piece of artwork: Harry & his grandchildren in the style of his favorite comic strip. As his 14 grandchildren grew up, Harry regularly mailed each of them Peanuts comic strips he cut from his morning paper along with handwritten notes.
I was honored to be part of this inspiring, emotional moment last night in Minneapolis as hundreds of family members, friends, & business associates celebrated this kind, funny, humble, soft-spoken man from St. Paul. Although my calling is very different from his, I hope to one day leave a legacy like Harry.
Thanks to Steve Goad for bringing this amazing artwork to life & to Ryan Hanson for inviting me to contribute to this project.
A new video about seeking & sharing the good in each other.
When Prince performed at the Super Bowl, it was an absolute downpour. An all-day rainstorm.
The show manager asked Prince, "Are you OK to perform?"
Prince replied, "Can you make it rain HARDER?"
And his performance of Purple Rain that night was an expression of passion, commitment, & artistry.
Loved chatting about real-life superheroes, overcoming personal struggles, & our upcoming documentary films on this episode of The Art of Manliness!
A few weeks ago I recorded a video of myself talking about a superhero film. Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/rKRmMQaLZz8
Many of the reviews for Batman v Superman were negative, and online discussions quickly became a battlefield. For some reason, I felt compelled to share my personal response to the film. In my mind, the only goal was to discuss a movie.
The clip I posted broke nearly every ‘rule’ for online video:
At 18 minutes, it was far too long.
It was visually boring. No slick effects or editing. Just one guy talking with no additional shots or camera angles. It was probably the simplest video I have ever produced.
There were no funny cats, cute kids, or clever click-bait. It was just me. Talking. For 18 minutes.
But, within 3 days the video had over 100,000 views across multiple platforms. It has more than 1,600 comments on YouTube. Famous people shared it. It has been subtitled into multiple languages and reposted, and I gave my heart-felt blessing for people to do it.
After 3 week of reflection, here’s the MOST IMPORTANT THING to me about this experience:
In life, I often feel like I am surrounded by voices that are trying to control my behavior. Politics, marketing, work, social media. These voices want to shape my behavior by manipulating me with fear, pride, and desire.
My continual longing is for connections that are REAL. I don’t want to be managed, I want to truly see people and be truly seen. I think the best comes out in me when I am able to live and work in environments where I feel safe to be myself. And I instantly love people who show me their heart and encourage me to show mine without judgment.
Although it wasn’t my plan, I somehow managed to create an 18-minute glimpse of this. And people felt invited to join. Not simply to talk about a movie but to celebrate the real opportunity we have to show weakness, embrace brokenness, and gain strength from each other. In this kind of space, we can uncover the highest potential in our own lives and for the world.
For the past 3 weeks, I’ve been dreaming about what we could accomplish together if we committed ourselves to creating loving environments in our families, our workplaces, and online. And then we chose to share our hearts authentically and openly within those safe settings.
In a world like that, I believe all of us would be free to become the superheroes we were born to be. I want to keep contributing to spaces where we can be real together. Thanks for continuing to join me!
Yesterday morning, my son Judah flew on an airplane for the first time. It was also his first experience watching the sun rise.
He said it was the best day of his life.
So Judah recommends trying something new this week. Or maybe 2 something news.
Today is my son Logan's 14th birthday.
When Logan was little, he once defeated me 8 consecutive times at the board game Chutes & Ladders. Upon sensing my frustration at the crushing losses, he offered to intentionally lose to make me feel better. He said, "It doesn't matter to me whether I win or lose. I just like it when we play together."
For the last 14 years, it has been my honor to 'play' with this kid. In wins & losses. In happiness & sadness. In success & disappointment.
For me, the celebration isn't simply about what he has accomplished. It's that we have been able to do it together.
I love you, my son. I am proud of who are you. And I can't wait for us to continue to grow together.
Happy Birthday, Logan!
An hour of discussion including my boys and lots of Q&A.
I was recently on a late-night flight into Los Angeles. I had an entire row to myself so I laid down to take a nap. I was still asleep, horizontal, & without a seat belt when the plane landed. We touched down with a big bump & a jarring stop, and I rolled forward, face-first into the gap between the seats. I woke up startled & for at least 5 seconds I had no idea where I was. My shoulders were wedged between the seats, & I couldn’t move.
For a few moments, I panicked. I felt trapped, alone, & overwhelmed. Then, I remembered the real situation: “It’s just another adventure. In a few minutes, everything will be fine. This is one silly experience in a larger, beautiful story.” And I laughed out loud, although no one could hear me because the plane was loud & my face was jammed into the floor.
I eventually twisted myself free and smiled as I thought about how much fun I would have telling this story. Now I’ve just told it to you, and in the sharing, perhaps we are smiling together.
If you are feeling dazed & overwhelmed today, please don’t lose your faith. I know it hurts, but one day you will share your story, & we will smile together.
Today I had interactions with multiple people who have been experiencing pain in ways that I didn't know existed:
I was reminded of the hidden battles many of us are fighting every day. And I re-committed myself to offering more grace & less judgement.
Whatever you are struggling with today... I want to be a person who hurts along with you. You are so loved. And you are not alone.
I was frustrated tonight when we found an envelope in our mailbox that should have been delivered down the street. I felt so inconvenienced while walking 6 doors down to deliver it correctly. Then, I rang the doorbell & made a new friend.
I hope the postal employee makes another mistake tomorrow.
