Brian Presley may split his time between LA and Colorado, but it is Colorado that he calls home. Any chance he gets he packs up the family and journeys into the mountains. His latest film “Hostile Territory” fits in not only with his love of westerns, but it will interest fans of the recent hit limited series “1883.” Inspired by a true story, it is about a former P.O.W. just back from the Civil War who comes home to find out his wife has died and his children have been shipped off on a train. His character will move Heaven and Earth to be reunited with his kids.
Fun fact: This talented Actor, Director, Writer, and Producer was born on the same day Elvis was buried. He definitely channels his talent with an impressive 24-year career and counting. He is known for “Touchback,” “Home of the Brave,” and “Mechanic: Resurrection.” Get to know Brian Presley in Nerd Alert News’ up close interview.
Colleen Bement: You’re on fire lately with the amazing projects that you have put out. “Hostile Territory” looks intense and amazing. I’ve really been into westerns lately this movie fits right in. Tell us about the experience filming this movie. Were there challenges and how did it feel to have the project finished?
Brian Presley: It was definitely challenging. Keeping morale up. Some days we’d show up to set and it would be zero degrees outside, and the scene would be primarily outside. We had heating stations and we went through hand warmers like crazy. But also, we still needed to stay period correct with the clothing that people had on. We got through it, and then COVID–thank goodness after we finished filming. We’ve been through post and had some delays with COVID.
To finally get to this point–ya know, a lot of the kid’s voices are now deep and have changed since we first started filming. I’ve got a big party bus coming to my house on Friday night and we’re taking about 30 people to the theater in LA. My kid’s friends and we’re going to all go see the movie. It’s definitely a journey, and for people watching the movie, it’s a journey movie. A father who sets out to find his children and there’s no mountain and no enemy you wouldn’t face to save your kids. That’s a theme I think would resonate with a male and female audience.
CB: Can we chat about “The Great Alaskan Race” for a moment? I saw the movie “Balto” and even that was emotional! What stories can you share from the set? What was it like filming this?
BP: That one had a little bit of a western feel but with dogs instead of horses. That one definitely had its challenges as well. We shot both films in the Southern Colorado Four Corners area. What I love about that area is you have so much of a wide variety of terrain and locations. You can be in the desert and then mountain peaks within an hour. There have been moments on both movies where I’ve asked myself am I crazy for my first two movies out of the gate directing, to have dogs, kids, wolves, bears, horses. It’s kind of that lions and tigers and bears, oh my. But, needless to say, my team is very excited that our next project that we will be shooting in the summer. We will not be having to endure the cold weather days.
CB: Well that leads me to my next question which is do you have any other projects on your horizon that you’re allowed to tell us about?
BP: I’m not allowed to release the name of it at the moment, but it’s a modern western seven-episode limited series that I’ll be directing all seven. It’s in the vein of a “Longmire” meets “Yellowstone.” We’re going to be up in the high country, shooting all through that Southern Colorado area. It’s a good one. It’ll be one that people really like. We’re very excited about it. We’re going to kind of piggyback off the momentum that we have here with “Hostile Territory.”
You know, a lot of my projects–I love the western genre. We have horses and mountains. My place is where I escape with creativity and get away from the madness of Los Angeles in the mountains. So a lot of the projects that I have written that we have in the works have that element to them. That’s a part of me. Ten years ago, Kurt Russell, when I was first starting to get behind the camera going I think I want to direct, he said if you see the movie then you should be the one to tell the story. That really resonated with me. I’ve written. I write them knowing which characters are mine, the cast, and where I’m going to shoot them, how I’m going to edit them.
The journey in this industry definitely has its ups and downs. It’s a roller coaster ride, but it’s prepping me to be able to make these movies in the winter and the snow. To be able to wear a bunch of hats, and kind of where we’re headed as a company.
CB: Sounds like you feel at home with that genre.
BP: Yeah, to me, it’s where I feel most comfortable. It’s really the essence of who I am. We have horses–my kids all have horses, and I go back and forth from Colorado to Los Angeles. We have a place in Colorado, and any chance I can get to the mountains, we pack trips up in the mountains. For me, it’s where I unwind. I try to bring a lot of my friends in that region on the project. Our cowboys and cowgirls. We bring cameras, sound, and actors and next thing you know, we’ve got a movie.
CB: How did you get started in show biz? Did you always want to entertain people?
BP: Ya know, coming from Oklahoma it’s too much of a reality when you think of getting into movies. I went to college to play football and ended up getting injured and hung up the helmet. I always did theater and loved the arts and I was enrolled in the University of Oklahoma. I had the opportunity in my freshman year of college to come to Los Angeles for the summer. I happened to find a little boutique agency that helped me do a couple of commercial auditions. I ended up booking a commercial over the summer. Then that led to “Saved By The Bell” and different TV stuff and had everybody saying if you’re going to pursue this, you really should pursue it while you have some momentum and you’re getting indoors. So I called my parents up and said I’m going to give it a go, and I was 20 years old. Now I’m 44 and the last 24 years I’ve done a little bit of it all.
I’ve done a little bit of it all. In front of the camera, behind the camera, post, editing…I tell my kids, anybody coming into it I wish would have had this advice told to me. A lot of people come into it focused on one specific thing they want to do in the industry. I tell my kids, it’s an industry you want to pursue, I want you to go to film school. The more diverse you are, the tricks you have in your bag, the more employable you are. You really want to fall in love with the process. I’ve been fortunate enough to have opportunities along the way.
CB: I love that you’re inspiring your kids.
BP: Being a father is one of the greatest gifts. I love being a dad and one of the most special part of this movie is being able to do it with my kids.
CB: My last question is about your Instagram. I love it. It is filled with joy and smiles. Do you enjoy interacting with your fans?
BP: Social media has been an interesting one for me because I’m not one to post pictures of myself or talk about myself. I get the promotional part of social media. For me, my voice in social media is what’s important to me. I try to put my kids on there and do different projects. It’s always flattering to have people who have enjoyed your work along the way.
“Hostile Territory” is in theaters on April 22, 2022, and available on Digital and On Demand on April 26, 2022.
Written by Colleen Bement
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