Ground Breaker - Lindsay Brayden

Writer/director Lindsay Brayden graduated with honors from Montana State University with a BA in Film, TV & Theatre Production. ROUND TRIP, her student thesis and film-directing debut, is currently airing on Frontier Airlines as a part of in-flight entertainment. While at MSU, she wrote and directed an award-winning one-act play entitled REINDEERS EAT COOKIES TOO. Lindsay now lives and works in Los Angeles, recently working as a production assistant on films such as TRANSFORMERS and 3:10 TO YUMA. In her minimal spare time, Lindsay continues to write and develop her own projects. She hopes her career will allow her many opportunities to create engaging stories that entertain and inspire a wide audience.

Ground Breaker Film - Round Trip

Round Trip follows Mona Martin (Ambika Leigh), an extremely introverted publishing editor who confides in no one except her pet fish, Harris. Upon receiving news of her mother's death, Mona returns to her childhood home and her estranged family. Fateful encounters with her quirky nephew Sam (Thorin Gates) and a stranger seated beside her on an airplane, equip Mona to face the tragic memories that shaped her long ago.

Ground Breaker Questionnaire

How did you hear about HATCH?

I was fortunate to be attending Montana State when HATCHfest began in 2004. It has been interesting to see festival evolve.

Why did you submit your film to HATCH?

Making a film without showing an audience would be like having a dinner party without feeding your guests. The experience of creating a film wouldn't be complete. I submitted Round Trip to HATCH because it is an opportunity that I am familiar with in a place I really love. It's the difference between a dinner party with colleagues and one with longtime friends.

If you are aware of our mentorship program, how do you feel about it?

Historically, mentorship programs have been successful and valuable experiences for participants and HATCH's program played a large role in my decision to submit to the festival. It is certain to be a more rewarding experience than screening at a festival that does not actively empower the emerging filmmakers.

What was your inspiration in making the film?

The events of Round Trip are largely true. The characters are fictional but what occurs is inspired by events in my mother's life. For several people on the project this story was very personal and we felt that making a film with roots in our own histories would contribute to the layers and depth necessary for pulling off a dramatic short.

Who is your mentor?

Many people have filled the role of mentor at different times in my life. My family always has and always will be my first source of comfort, advice, and inspiration. I owe much of where I am professionally to the guidance of Dennis Aig and the MSU faculty and Mike Fantasia.

Why did you choose to pursue film?

To be a part of something that matters.
My grandmother on my mom's side is an artist and my grandmother on my dad's side is a storyteller. Their dedication to what they do and the way they share their abilities always inspired me. Film is a perfect blend of what entices me about art and storytelling. A film is created and produced by a culmination of the skills and talents of many players to entertain and have an affect on the audience. It's like an artistic team sport.