Actress, producer, and filmmaker Brittany McVicker stars as Emma in “Terri Joe: Missionary in Miami,” a film that was just listed in a Variety top 10 list. She’s also slated for a lead role in the upcoming thriller Kill Trip set to release this summer. Beyond the screen, she’s a passionate advocate for the Vasculitis Foundation. To learn more about Brittany McVicker and her upcoming projects, read on.

Where are you based?
Honestly? My suitcase. I was planted in LA for like two solid years, I basically had a parking spot with my name on it, and now I'm everywhere. Texas, Atlanta, Mississippi, Nashville... if there's a production there, I'm probably already on a flight. I've stopped unpacking fully. It's a whole lifestyle.

You’re not just an actress, you’re also a producer and filmmaker. What inspired you to pursue these paths in the entertainment industry?
I've been lucky enough to work alongside some really amazing producers over the years. I started out consulting on films and it just naturally evolved into fully producing them. It kind of happened organically.

Your most recently released film for Fox Studios, “Terri Joe: Missionary in Miami,” has just reached 8th most streamed in the world. Can you tell us a bit about your role in this film for those who haven’t seen it yet? What has this achievement meant to you?
Emma is unapologetically herself, and I had the best time bringing her to life. As for hitting 8th most streamed in the world, seeing the film on that Variety top 10 list was just unreal. To know something you've worked so hard on is being received and enjoyed by people all over the world is wild, and ultimately that's all you can ask for when making a project. You truly never know what's going to land, so it feels really good when something is received the way this has been.

This year you’re slated for a lead role in a Quiver distribution film. Can you give us any hints about what we can expect to see from you for this project?
I can't give too much away, but what I can say is it's a thriller called Kill Trip coming out this summer through Quiver and it is going to keep you on the edge of your seat. It follows a group of festival goers in Texas and let's just say the trip goes very, very wrong. We had such an incredible cast. That's all I'm giving you. You're just going to have to watch it.

You directed “Just Peachy,” an award-winning short film exploring themes of addiction and mental health. Can you tell us a bit more about this film and why you decided to direct it?
Just Peachy is really close to my heart. It's based on a true story and I made it specifically for individuals who have lived through addiction and mental health struggles. We've screened it exclusively for men and women in rehab groups and incarcerated communities, which feels really sacred. We've turned it into a proof of concept and the hope is to bring it to the world eventually, but right now it lives in these intimate screenings where it can truly connect with the people it was made for.

How has directing helped you develop your process when acting?
I directed out of necessity, producing is much more my world. But what it did give me is a much deeper understanding of the full picture. You start to see that this industry is a business at the end of the day. Talent is everything, it's what keeps audiences coming back, but getting booked or getting a project funded comes down to your package as a whole. How marketable you are, what you bring to the table beyond just the performance. Understanding that from the other side of the camera has made me a much smarter actress. You stop waiting to be chosen and start building something that makes you impossible to ignore.

The entertainment industry can be hard to break into. How has your approach changed over the years?
I think it really ties into what I was just saying. Early on you think if you just keep your head down and do good work it will all fall into place, and sometimes it does, but more often than not you have to create your own momentum. For me that looked like getting into producing, understanding the business side, knowing how projects get funded and why certain people keep getting chosen. The more I understood the machine the better I could position myself within it. It's not cynical, it's just business.

What is one piece of advice you’ve been given that’s helped you achieve success in your career?
The best lesson I ever got wasn't something someone told me, it was watching someone work. I did a project with Rhea Seehorn and I genuinely did not know who she was at first, which, I know, first mistake. She asked for my Starbucks order and I assumed she was a PA. Turns out she was my boss on the project. I was mortified. But what that moment cracked open for me was watching the way she carried herself. Here is this incredibly accomplished woman, 12 hours into a shoot at 4am, and she is on top of everything, humble, professional, no ego. Action speaks louder than words and she embodied that completely. It shifted something in me. I actually ran into her at the DGA's recently and got to tell her that story. That was the turning point for me.

You’re a passionate advocate for the Vasculitis Foundation. Can you tell us a bit about this organization and why the cause is important to you?
The Vasculitis Foundation holds a really special place in my heart. I lost my mom to the disease when I was 13 and at the time it was so rare that so many families, including mine, were just completely in the dark. What this organization does for those families and the work they are doing to find cures and raise awareness is just so important to me. I am so glad they exist. More people need to know about them.

What changes would you like to see for the future of the entertainment industry?
Where do I even start. Protecting the theatrical experience is something I feel really strongly about, there is nothing like watching a film the way it was meant to be seen. On the flip side streaming has genuinely opened doors for independent film and diverse voices that the traditional studio system wasn't always making room for, and that matters.

As a producer, the landscape has changed enormously in terms of how projects get funded and distributed and honestly some of that change has been really positive. At the end of the day audiences are smart. They crave authenticity, they can feel it when something is real and when something isn't.

What advice do you have for young girls looking to pursue acting?
I get asked this a lot and honestly there is a formula and then there is luck. First, get into classes. Really work on your craft because this field is so competitive it is honestly like a sport, you have to train. Then be prepared to do a lot of free work in the beginning, short films, student films, whatever you can get. You need footage of yourself, that is how you get an agent and that is how an agent can pitch you. Put in the reps, build your reel, and then just stay ready because when the luck part shows up you want to already be prepared for it."

Are there any upcoming projects you are currently working on that we should be on the lookout for?
So many things in the works right now I am so excited. This summer I am shooting a Christmas film opposite the legend Lee Majors which is just a pinch me moment. Then we have a major biopic about an incredible love story that we are about to announce, and I truly believe it is going to be the big one. I am producing it alongside my producing partner Sharon Oliphant, and I could not do it without her. That one is really special. Stay tuned.

It has been a crazy few years, and we expect at least three more. How have you been staying positive?
"This industry is interesting because you can be surrounded by people constantly and still feel really isolated. You employ a lot of people, you get close, it starts to feel like family, but there is still a line there and you feel it. What has really kept me grounded is nurturing relationships outside of the industry. A lot of my closest friends are teachers, nurses, business women, people living completely different lives, and I think that is so vital. It keeps me positive and it keeps me human. I am not just consumed by work and film 24/7, and honestly that balance is everything.

What is your motto in life?
“If somebody says no, you're talking to the wrong person. “ -Kris Jenner

To learn more about Brittany McVicker, please check out the links below:
BrittanyMcvicker.com
Instagram: @itsbrittanymcvicker
The Vasculitis Foundation

Image Credits:
Photographer: Derek Juntunen
Graphic Designer: Brandon Sorkin
Shoot produced by: Dee Lorren

Brittany McVicker: In the Spotlight