Dive into Laughter and Karma: An Exclusive Interview with Filmmaker Brandon Tyler

Get ready to laugh out loud with ‘What The Hell,’ a hilarious short film brought to life by the creative minds of Brandon Tyler, Brianna Rae Nelson, and the awesome team at Manville TV, including Samuel Okunzuwa, Jahkeem Graham, Lionel T. Djaowe, June Mugo, Abu Sheriff, and Joshua Nyema. The film serves up some well-deserved karma to an internet troll, blending Brandon’s witty writing with the vibrant essence of today’s Black culture, celebs, and media influencers.

‘What The Hell’ delivers a rollercoaster of laughter and tears. Brandon, the mastermind behind Manville TV, doesn’t just own a production company; he’s also making waves at Paramount’s BET channel, wearing hats as a producer, writer, and creative team member. And, exciting news – he’s already gearing up for the sequel. Check out the interview with Brandon Tyler below.

Congratulations on the premiere of your first film, “What The Hell?!” Can you share with us the inspiration behind the movie and what motivated you to bring this story to the screen?

Brandon: The film is inspired by the internet and black culture, specifically throughout the past year. We hear so many crazy stories in the news that truly make you say “What the hell?” Our culture has a hard time taking things seriously. When wild things happen in the world, we tend to make a joke out of it, resulting in countless internet memes, skits, and more. I don’t think it’s a bad thing really–we have been through so much as a people I think that’s just our way of looking at the bright side of things. As a filmmaker and a lover of comedy, I wanted to make a film that speaks to the current state of the culture, in a comedic way–leading me to write this short film.

As the Founder of Manville TV, you’ve taken on a significant role in the production world. How did your journey lead you to establish your own production company, and what unique elements do you aim to bring to the industry through Manville TV?

Brandon: I picked up a camera and shot a reality show with my friends towards my last year of college. We called ourselves “Manville” and our web series was called “Manville TV.” It became locally popular, which kinda cemented the name of the production company. After shooting a few seasons and leaving the college scene, I wanted to figure out my next move and decided to focus more on my craft of filmmaking.

I’ve spent the past few years studying, and learning how to write, shoot, edit, and more to strengthen my skills in the game. I have also worked for companies such as MTV, VH1, Lifetime, and more, which gave me an understanding of the corporate side of the television industry and production at the highest level.

The company slogan is “The World Is Your Playground”. I have always had a fun outlook on life and found joy in creating things. I want to let that show in the films and content I create. I aim to make people laugh. I aim to break the rules. I aim to create dope s*** that people like me would have a good time watching.

Along with Manville TV, you’re also part of the creative team at Paramount’s BET channel. How do you balance your responsibilities as a producer/writer at BET with your role as a filmmaker and founder of your own production company?

Brandon: It’s not easy. You have to make sure you get the job done at work and on the side. If you slack in any capacity, it all falls on you–so you have to stay on your p’s and q’s.

The film, “What The Hell” is a significant milestone in your filmmaking career. What challenges did you face during the production, and how did you overcome them to bring your vision to life?

Brandon: My first time putting together something of this magnitude, everything was a challenge. Deciding on a concept, writing a script, assembling a production team, casting actors, planning a shoot day around weather and schedules, acting, editing, finding music, planning the screening event out… difficult was an understatement. I overcame these challenges by just keeping my head down, and moving forward with whatever life threw at me. But, our production crew made it easy for me to focus more on acting during the shoot. Our actors did their job, bringing the funny to the screen! The team helped finalize things in post-production. And we all worked together to execute a successful screening event that turned out better than I could have even imagined.

“What The Hell?!” has a title that stirs curiosity. Without giving away too much, can you provide a brief overview of the film’s storyline and what the audience can expect?

Brandon: The film is about an internet troll who gets karma for all his trash-talk in real-life. It’s a comedy/action/sci-fi story that’s very chaotic, with many “what the hell?” moments and plot twists that reference the past year in black culture through the things that happened to the main characters.

As a filmmaker and industry professional, what advice do you have for aspiring filmmakers who are looking to enter the world of cinema?

Brandon: Just create. It’s important to create things that you like and things you want to see in the world. Trust in your ideas and believe in yourself. Study the greats. Study TV and film. Study everything that goes into the craft of filmmaking, even the boring stuff. It won’t be easy, but if you put in enough discipline, hard work, and effort, you will eventually see the fruits of your labor. Just keep going.