The Dirty Filmmaker: An Interview with Alexa Berry and Brianna Rose Endrina

Team OR DIE TRYING sat down with the dynamic duo behind The Dirty Filmmaker (@DirtyFilmmaker) to learn more about their mission, series, and cross-continental #dirtybadass partnership.

ODT: We’ve had the pleasure of meeting you both in person, and you are incredibly down to earth, ambitious, and inspiring. You pour everything into empowering each other and other filmmakers. It’s infectious. What motivates you?

Alexa: Definitely each other. We’re constantly not only pushing ourselves but reminding one another how grateful we are. Never downplay the power of gratitude.

I also think what motivates us, is our strong belief that anyone can achieve anything. My favourite motto is “If Oprah can do it, so can I?” – or actually having just finished reading “The Virgin Way” it’s more like “If Richard Branson can do it…”  We think empowering people is the only way forwards. When people help each other achieve their dreams, it leaves you with an incredibly powerful feeling. It’s addictive and it’s our fuel for everything.

Brianna: We’re so happy you think we’re infectious, and inspiring! I feel like, if I were to be described by only two words, those would be the two I’d strive for…so THANK YOU!

I 100% agree with Alexa, whether it’s a project we’re working on together or individually, we’ve built such a well-rounded relationship that everything we do, comes back to each other. It’s amazing. Our professional relationship is a healthy competition between two very driven women, who only want to see each other succeed.

ODT: How did you two meet initially?

Alexa: We met our first ever day of college in Los Angeles. We were in class together for our first year. I initially thought “Wow! This girl’s kind of cool. And I like her boots!”. Our friendship escalated from there.

Brianna: “A picture says a thousand words,” isn’t that the saying? Well I’ve got one that pretty much sums up the start of our friendship. But, because I know my #WorkWife so well, I’ll save it for when we’re on Ellen.

ODT: Alexa, you’re in London and Brianna, you’re in Atlanta. How does your cross-continental working relationship work?

Alexa: With lots of caffeine, lots of skype dates and complete and utter trust! Although we may both be slight control freaks (something we’re working to rectify) we both trust that the other one knows what they’re doing and that if we disagree, it’s never personal and met with the highest amount of respect.

Brianna: There is a funny joke, “You know what kind of Ships don’t sink? Friendships.” I think this, in a weird way explains how we continue to collaborate whilst being on different continents. We have to make sure we aren’t just checking in with each other about business, but also making time for our personal friendship as well. It makes having to switch that business mind-set on, so much more organic and enjoyable. It continues to strengthen our foundation of trust, honesty, and loyalty.

ODT: Any unique struggles with the time difference?

Brianna: Not so much the time difference as it is with the connection via Facetime. As frustrating as it is, it can also be quite funny. Especially the faces that it’ll freeze on…I may have a few screenshots saved in my phone. Again, I’ll save those for when we’re on James Corden.

We actually have this really awesome method for chatting if our connection is weak. Get a pen and paper, this is noteworthy. So, we will call each other via facetime, mute ourselves, and then voice call each other using Whatsapp. This way, we can still see each other, but also hear each other if the connection starts to fade. Genius. Kudos to my #WorkWife for that one.

Alexa: There is a running joke with my friends when I’m out grabbing a drink with them because it’ll get to a certain point in the evening and my phone will start pinging like crazy. They all simultaneously say “Ah! America’s awake!”. Aside the fact that yes, it would be easier if we were in the same state, let alone country, that is not an option right now, and so we make it work because we want to.

ODT: Tell us about The Dirty Filmmaker. What are you looking to achieve with the site and are there plans to expand it beyond it’s current blog format?

Alexa: The Dirty Filmmaker is our first step into establishing an online platform for filmmakers; to help aide and inspire them.  When we created our own web series “Dirty Talk”, we had never tackled a production of that magnitude before. We felt like there wasn’t a platform to help filmmakers and inspire them saying “you can do this”. So many times we heard people telling us why it wasn’t going to work out and why we shouldn’t do it. And it almost derailed us completely.

We wanted to create a community for filmmakers to help pick them up; to aid them in their productions with tools, information and resources, to give them a helping hand, and to remind them just how much of a #DirtyBadass they are!

Brianna: We’re aiming to be the One-Stop-Shop for Millennial Indie Filmmakers. Our current focus is on No, Low, and Micro-Budget Filmmaking. An area of which we have had lots of personal experience with. TDFM (The Dirty Filmmaker) is an informative platform, an inspiring platform, and it is only the beginning of what we are doing to encourage a positive and more proactive Independent Film Movement.  

We are currently expanding beyond the blog format, and heading into the Post-Production stage of our Vlog, which is an accumulation of Interviews, PSA’s, and Inspirational Videos that will feature fellow Indie Filmmakers; a few of which involve the Women of “Or Die Trying.” So, stay tuned!

ODT: What is a #DirtyBadass?

Alexa: Anyone and everyone!  A #DirtyBadass isn’t specific to the film industry although we definitely tailor it to filmmakers. To us, a #DirtyBadass is a person who goes after what they want and doesn’t let fear get in their way. Instead of listening to all the voices around you saying “you can’t do this,” we want you to listen to the voice saying “GO FOR IT!”. And if you can’t hear that voice, we’ll happily roar it for you! 

ODT: How are you both #DirtyBadasses?

Brianna: We help to inspire each other daily, to fight for what we want, despite society’s stigmas or misunderstood judgements. I can wholeheartedly say that we are both so passionate about creating the careers we envision for ourselves.

Alexa: Because even though we’re not perfect, and know we never will be, we won’t let that get in the way of our aspirations and goals. There are so many obstacles out there; we won’t let ourselves be one of them. And we want to inspire others to do the same.

ODT: You also have a series out called “Dirty Talk” that is making it’s way through the festival circuit. What is your series about? Does it coincide with The Dirty Filmmaker, or is it it’s own separate project?

Brianna: “Dirty Talk,” is a comedic, female driven, Web Series. The show centres around three roommates who naïvely embark on a risqué business venture, in hopes of it rectifying their financial situation. It’s about young women, discovering who they are through means of sexual exploration.

The female community is often chastised for being sexual. We are placed in boxes based off of society’s version of what we should look like or how we should act, and even the jobs we should have. Amy Poehler said it best, “It takes us years to unlearn what we have been taught to apologize for.” The female community is tired of feeling “Dirty.” We want to feel confident in who we are and comfortable in our own skin. We deserve that.

Alexa: The Dirty Filmmaker is definitely its own project, created by separate people. Though, we do pull a lot from our own experiences on the blog, many of which are Dirty Talk related. (One embarrassing moment shared on the blog titled “Boobs! Just Boobs” comes to mind.)

ODT: What’s next?

Alexa: Good question. We could probably write you an essay on this! Aside expanding and building The Dirty Filmmaker up to be the platform that we want and know it will be, we’re establishing our production company “HenHouse Productions”, with an incredible and wonderful team of filmmakers and creative geniuses!

Brianna: Oh, so many things! We’re constantly creating.  Every Facetime chat we have, we come up with new ideas for The Dirty Filmmaker, Dirty Talk and countless other projects we’re developing, to go under the “HenHouse Productions” umbrella. We’ll keep you in the loop! Follow us on any or all of our social media sites for updates!