The Filmmaker

There's a saying among film students that comes to mind whenever I plan for a shoot, " it's 10 percent creativity and 90 percent problem solving." The year is 2020 and still I find that those who are aiming for the same degree can agree that the stigma hasn't changed. Unless you have money, be prepared to expect that starving artist experience, expect parents that aren't the most supportive, and expect everything that could go wrong will go wrong. But before I start to sound like a pessimist, these are some of the hardest things to carry with students as they strive to pursue a career in this field. It makes film students some of the hardest workers with the most heart that I have the pleasure of experiencing all of the great and not so great times with. That being said, hello! My name is Temmie Lee Brooks. I come from two parents both born outside of California. My mother, now a citizen, was born and raised in the Philippines. My father, a Kansas Oklahoma man. I fell into this particular field of work at an early age. I've always had a passion for the entertainment industry and art. But it wasn't until the age of 8, that a kind teacher wrote me a letter including her email encouraging me to become a director. Believe me I had lots of other ideas in mind like become a singer and veteran first, aside from the part time acting and archeology. I had many interests. Most of which developed from all the TV I watched. My mother was left with no choice but to take on multiple jobs while attending school. She had to rely on my father who also had other things to do, leaving me to watch all the movies and shows a girl could dream of unaware of any neglect taking place. My father was famous for his way with words that I quickly mastered right way. I knew just how to talk to people, what I wanted them to see, and how I wanted them to see it. I remember my dad would sit me down by our old stereo replaying Celine Dion songs and having me sing them, he would coach me on facial expressions so I could appear convincing on screen. He was at the very least a good coach when he was available. My mother was against anything not practical, and she still is but she tried to help me find work and other forms of income so she doesn’t worry about me struggling too much. My mother is a hard worker, hands down. Everything I did, she looked at and asked why isn't it better? She expected a lot from me and my sisters, after all we are American. My mother loved me the way she knew how to love me. To her the anxiety that I suffer from is because of the things I watch. The depression is from media. To me, TV was my escape and my passion. And the rest is history.