Where are they now? Brandon Layman, Filmmaker

September 29, 2026

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After discovering his passion for video editing, Brandon Layman began taking classes at the TGR Learning Lab that turned possibility into a profession. While exploring pathways and building new skills through after-school programs, he was accepted into the Orange County School of the Arts, where he nurtured his passion for media and storytelling.

Since graduating, he has turned his passions into a successful career as a filmmaker and founder of a production company, leading creative projects across Southern California and beyond. In 2018, he directed his first short film, began music video production in 2020 and later debuted his first feature film, Sanctuary.

As we celebrate 30 years of driving dreams together, presented by EY, Brandon shares his experience as a member of the TGR Learning Lab Anaheim and how it’s shaped his journey as a filmmaker.

TGR Foundation: Where do you currently live and work?

Brandon Layman: I live in Southern California and work as a filmmaker, while also leading creative projects and editing as a founder of my production studio.

TGR Foundation: How did you end up in your career? Describe your path.

Brandon Layman: I was always interested in media and film. My parents were big on me having an after-school program of some sort. I was attending a military program, but I really wanted to dive into video editing, so they found the TGR Learning Lab. I took graphic design. That was my first class with Mr. Luong, and he walked me through the graphic design process and then introduced me to video production.

The TGR Learning Lab laid the groundwork for what I do now. Not only were the teachers really open to teaching me how to edit, but they also gave me the push to believe that I could do it long-term. It taught me the technical work but also gave me something to hold onto over the years. It was something I ended up looking forward to after school because of the environment. It didn’t feel like I was forced to learn anything; it felt like it was an open space. I took several multimedia classes and was later accepted into the Orange County School of the Arts.

After graduating, I started taking on freelance creative projects and opened my own production company. My passion is filmmaking as a whole, but screenwriting and directing specifically. So, I do freelance work, which means music videos, commercial work and things like that.  

TGR Foundation: Describe an average day in your life as a professional.

BL: On an average day, I wake up, get ready and go straight to a coffee shop. I usually go to the same one and spend most of the day editing my projects, administrative tasks, reading or writing.

At night I’ll usually hit one of the Los Angeles theaters

Depending on clients and roles, I often have 12-hour shoot days where I spend the day working with gear and cameras, setting up shots, communicating with the team, visiting different locations, and anything else that’s required to bring a project to life.

TGR Foundation: What is the most rewarding element of your career?

BL: Being able to make someone feel an emotion that you’re trying to convey successfully is one of my favorite things about being an artist. If they felt that impact, I feel like I did a good job.

TGR Foundation: What did you dream of as a TGR Learning Lab member that you’ve seen come true?

BL: Directing, for sure. Getting into editing and making that a career was unexpected, but the thing I did dream of was directing. Even though it’s still early, I’ve had a lot of doors opened. I realized how much I loved it when I started, and it’s a dream that’s still coming true.

TGR Foundation: What accomplishment on your career journey are you most proud of?

BL: I still love Sanctuary, and I’m biased, but that’s my favorite project. We completed it on a $3,000 budget, which is basically nothing. When we premiered it, multiple people told me they went through things that happened in the film, and it was just so cool that they found a little bit of peace through the film. They received the emotion being conveyed and were voices that I needed to hear. One of my friends’ dad cried, and he was in tears when he talked to me. That is my favorite memory. It really made the work feel like it was worth it.

TGR Foundation: What is your favorite memory at the TGR Learning Lab? 

BL: I loved going to the back of the golf course and sitting at the tables. Just being there, I thought it was the coolest place, so even when I wasn’t taking classes, I loved to be there because the energy was always great.  It made me feel like learning was fun, and I was free to explore.

TGR Foundation: How do you continue to learn as a professional?

BL: I treat movies like film school, and I go to a lot of LA events. I also have several memberships, so if I see a movie, I want to hear about the making of it from the person who held the camera.

That’s something I do to stay educated in film. Other than that, it’s just practicing over and over, journaling and doing things to strengthen my artistic ability and stay inspired. A better way of putting it is trying to stay inspired and not getting comfortable with one thing as an artist.

TGR Foundation: If you could write a letter to your younger self, what would you say to him?

BL: I didn’t really grow up around any artists, so I always thought I was a black sheep, and no one was gonna understand what I was feeling. I don’t think I realized that I wasn’t crazy until I was at OSA with people who love the arts and have the same way of thinking about life.

I’d tell him ‘you’re not crazy, and the people who have your shared interests, you’ll meet at a much later time.’ I think that would make a little Brandon happy and comforted.

TGR Foundation: What’s one resource that helped you drive your dreams forward that every student should have?

BL: Definitely, YouTube. YouTube University definitely saved me many, many times. Following the right creators on that free art is really important. I get really cool coloring tips from an artist that I’ve followed for decades.

I would also say curiosity because you should never feel like you’ve learned everything. You’ll always keep growing if you just stay curious. That’s one of the coolest things that’s opened so many doors for me.

TGR Foundation: What are you most looking forward to in the next five years?

BL: Making a lot more movies is definitely #1. I’m also looking forward to projects we’ll have full control over. That’s the dream.

Seeing the new batch of artists that are gonna come out of this next five years is also exciting. We already have some really big emerging ones.

TGR Foundation has been driving dreams together in under-resourced communities since 1996. As we celebrate our 30-year anniversary, presented by EY, this series celebrates the impact of our programs and the accomplishments of esteemed alumni.

Learn more at TGRFoundation.org.