Interview With Actor, Writer, Director Jared Bratt

It’s been a few years now since I have seen Jared Bratt’s psychodrama, Streamer, and I still find myself thinking about scenes from that movie. It is a raw, genuine and haunting depiction of loneliness and the need for a connection. Taking on the roles of editor, writer, director and star for Streamer, Bratt poured his heart and soul into this piece. It’s obvious upon watching how deeply personal this project was for himself. You can read another PopHorror writer’s review of the film HERE. The film obviously struck a chord with her, too.  

Now that Streamer has made its way around festivals, Jared is ready to focus on another project entitled Bleu Dream, a complicated, engrossing character study of folks on the fringes of society. In Streamer, I learned that Bratt has an ability to not only convey utter loneliness and despair on screen, but also on paper,which I first noticed while reading the Bleu Dream screenplay. I sincerely hope more people discover Bratt and his work and see his full potential. 

We were more than happy to have the opportunity to chat with the Canadian filmmaker about Streamer, flawed characters, inspirations and his next project, Bleu Dream. 

PopHorror: First of all, congratulations on your film, Streamer, making its round on the festival circuit. How has that been for you?

Jared Bratt: Thank you. Making the rounds with Streamer on the festival circuit has been a great eye-opening experience. From screening the first possible cut of the film we could complete to screening the final version, I feel very lucky that I’ve been able to see how the film plays for various types of genre audiences, whether it be more of a horror-based or art house crowd. Our film transcends being confined to just one label of genre, so it’s been really interesting to see which type of audience has best embraced our flick. Along the way, I’ve also been fortunate to take part in some truly indepth Q&As, and it’s been a great high to see some authentic love for our film within certain communities. While Streamer is rich with context to chat about – be it the unconventional production process or the themes and ideas going on within – the interview is only as good as the interviewer. So when someone responds to the film, and they really seem to get it and dig it.. Of course, the festival run has been quite validating for myself as a filmmaker.

PopHorror: What was the biggest lesson you learned making Streamer?

Jared Bratt: While I consider the entire year and change of shooting Streamer – and the following two and a half years of fine tuning the edit right up to eventually acquiring distribution a couple of months ago – I’d say one of my biggest takeaways is patience. Having the patience in doing what it takes to end up with the best possible film. Having the patience to talk things out and do what’s best for the story at hand. And then, having the patience to hustle the completed piece and the drive to make sure that we reached our endgame with it. For us, that meant acquiring distribution and getting the film officially out there. Streamer will always be a reminder to me of what it means to NOT settle if the satisfaction isn’t there. Do what it takes to make sure the best possible film is made, no matter how long it takes.

PopHorror: You were kind enough to share Bleu Dream with me, the film you’re prepared to make next. Bleu Dream has a lot of complicated emotions and circumstances; no one is truly an innocent person. Did you set out to have such flawed characters?

Jared Bratt: Yes 100%. I love that you’re asking me this question, because even though the story features protagonists going up against the clear antagonists of the story, it’s definitely every bit of my intention to show that ultimately all of these characters are damaged goods. No one is clean. It’s my goal to make the tagline for the film, “Save the animals.” These are characters who are flawed, broken, and just trying to survive the jungle. 

PopHorror: Streamer was very moody with little dialogue, which helped me understand the loneliness the main character was experiencing. Do you feel Bleu Dream will be in the same vein of dark, brooding storytelling?

Jared Bratt: While Bleu Dream is an ensemble piece by comparison to Streamer’s character study design, I think Bleu Dream keeps a nice balance between minimal and more stylized dialogue depending on which characters we’re following throughout the narrative. Bleu Dream is certainly still dark and brooding – and there are many overlapping elements with Streamer – but I also think it will simultaneously be the opposite of that film, too.

I see Streamer as a film about being stuck. Not going anywhere. Bleu Dream is about letting go and moving on. Once two specific characters reunite and essentially form a whole – they become this in sync duo – Bleu Dream really should adopt a pace and aesthetic that ties into this idea of a relentless progression forward. The Safdie brothers’ Good Time [2017] and Kathryn Bigelow’s Strange Days [1995] are major influences on Bleu Dream, and as dark and brooding as those films are, they’re also really fun entertaining watches, so I do want that feeling of taking that trip or going on that ride to be prevalent within Bleu Dream as well.

PopHorror: What direction would you take the score in for Bleu Dream?

Jared Bratt: I’ve been keeping a playlist of music influences for the film. There’s everything from synth to distorted grunge to ambient style electronica… basically, any form of music that serves to enhance the atmosphere of the film. I have this idea that the music/score will also help establish the relentless progression forward that I spoke about earlier. Music is just as much a part of my life as film, and in terms of my daily life, music is just this constant force. Like Streamer, I want the score to be another character in the film. 

PopHorror: Do you have a writing process?

Jared Bratt: I think I’m figuring out what that might be, and I’m always honing it. I definitely like to think things through a lot before I start writing, but that doesn’t mean doing outlines or heavy preliminary work. I just like to stew in my own thoughts… maybe listen to music while I stare at a blank page. Think of dialogue… Usually, it’s having an idea for a scene that sets me on my way to actually getting stuff down on the page.

With Bleu Dream, it really started with having the seed of an idea for an early scene that finally gave me that spark to start writing something new. I didn’t have the whole story in my head at that point. I like to discover what characters are going to say and do as I write, too. And while I’ve come back around to writing solo with Bleu Dream, I’ve used a great deal of input and feedback from fellow filmmakers who have helped me out draft-to-draft. That’s something I’ve never done before but would be happy to do again.

PopHorror: Who are some of your inspirations?

Jared Bratt: While I’ve got those top 5 inspirations I’m sure, my family is first and foremost. 

PopHorror: If you could sit down and have a conversation with anyone, living or deceased, who would it be?

Jared Bratt: Right now, if I could sit down for a convo with anyone, I guess Quentin Tarantino, Danny Boyle, Keanu Reeves, Ethan Hawke or Gary Vaynerchuk would all make my day.

PopHorror: Where can folks follow you and your projects? 

Jared Bratt: You can rent or purchase our psychodrama feature film, Streamer, here and follow us on Facebook. For myself and any Bleu Dream updates, hit me up on Instagram @brattjared.