Meet Bryan McBrien | Former Hollywood Artist and current plant shop owner.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bryan McBrien and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bryan, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I started working in the Hollywood Film Industry in 1997, with my first credit on the feature film Contact. That began a life of waking up at 4:30am and being on set at 6am for what felt like almost every day for about 20 years. I loved it for so long, but started to find myself resenting the long days, weekends, life on the road and lack of a real social life. I then became an owner in a film rental and fabrication company which I was truly enjoying. We were doing huge events, film fabrication and rentals, Super Bowls, awards shows and everything in between. Then, of course on March 13th of 2020, all of our lives changed drastically. Business dried up, events and films canceled and soon I found myself with 2 partners who couldn’t see eye to eye on the Pandemic and the Election. So like a lot of people, I reviewed my priorities and decided I no longer wanted to work 80+ hour a week and that’s when I decided to open an interior plant shop in Fayetteville across from Trilith Film Studios.
I now work around 40 hours a week at the shop and love my interaction with customers and film makers from across the street. I am able to discuss my love of plants, educate people on plant care, soil maintenance, and a plethora of plant based topics. Clients also seem to enjoy my movie related stories about how plants are utilized in the Film industry and beyond. I was able to work with some of the greatest fit makers of all time. Strangely, I cherish my time in Hollywood more so now than I did while working in it. I still enjoy doing in-home-consultations, living wall designs and installations for corporate clients as fun, creative side projects, but I am truly enjoying the new balance to my life as I head towards my ’50’s. For more information about my plant shop, visit www.greenplantshopllc.com for check out my IMDB page for Bryan A. McBrien

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I guess I would want to actually tell those that want to get into the Art Department in Hollywood to just go for it. I knew zero about plants or what a Greensman did in Hollywood, but when the opportunity arose, I leapt at it and attempted to be the best at whatever was asked of me. My Aunt Cindy loved telling me a story about when I was 6 years old, I told her I wanted to work in the movies. She apparently thought I wanted to be an actor, yet I replied, “No, I want to be behind the cameras.” I did it, you can too.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m still getting to know Atlanta and its a city that has seemingly changed since I moved here 8 years ago. I am a massive fan of Antico’s pies near Georgia Tech, so that would definitely be a stop. Fred’s meat and Bread and Hop City at Krog Street Market, Blind Willie’s for some dive bar blues, and maybe a visit to the zoo for an afternoon perusing the critters. I own a loft in Castleberry Hill and love the eclectic nature of my neighborhood as well. Of course I would need to take peeps on a visit to the Town at Trilith in Fayetteville where my shop is along with a host of other eating and shopping establishments.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
As a child and young adult, I was inspired by Steven Spielberg and actually had the opportunity to work with him on Minority Report. As a young adult, David Lynch and directors of his style showed me how to think out of the box, don’t take the world too literally, and look deeper for the hidden meaning. Frank McEldowney (Greens Coord.) was also huge in getting me into the craft of Greens and Local 44 (I.A.T.S.E.) where I learned so much about plants and film making.

Website: www.greenplantshopllc.com

Instagram: @greenplantshop

Facebook: @greenplantshop

Image Credits
Bryan A McBrien and Leanne Bryant