The Work That Made Me: Brandy Troxler
Brandy Troxler’s desire to tell stories is heavily influenced by the women in her life. As a young girl, she watched in awe at her mother’s ability to captivate a room and her grandmother’s knack for making people laugh by waiting for the perfect moment to deliver the punchline. It was in these moments that her passion for storytelling was forged.
Brandy is guided by her creative instincts and unafraid to take risks. With a background in dance, her attention to detail, pace, and flow bring nuance, rhythm, and intimacy to every story she tells. Her passion lies in telling stories that not only entertain but also provoke thought, spark conversation, and ultimately foster a genuine connection with viewers.
Whether it’s a heartfelt documentary or a witty commercial, she thrives on blending humour and heart into narratives that are not only visually compelling but also emotionally engaging. Her collaborative spirit and big laugh bring energy and excitement to any editing session. She loves that electric feeling you get as an editor when you finally figure out how all the puzzle pieces fit together.
With over 13 years in post-production, Brandy has worked with clients such as Netflix, Athleta, Clif Bar, LegalZoom, Meta, Salesforce, Uber, Bed Bath & Beyond, Mini Cooper, UN Women, Yelp, Wild Turkey, Toyota, Alaska Airlines, Chevy, Clorox, Hotwire, and Credit Karma.
LBB> The ad/music video from my childhood that stays with me…
Brandy> This question is so timely because my friends and I recently spent an entire night watching and dancing to music videos from our childhood. Growing up in the 90s, there were so many iconic music videos so it’s hard to pick just one. Two videos that live in my head rent free are Missy Elliot - 'Get Your Freak On' and Blind Melon - 'No Rain'.
These two videos are very different but they both incredible and really stirred something within me. Missy’s videos were so unique, cutting-edge, and unafraid to take risks. On the other hand, the 'No Rain' video is a beautiful example of storytelling—moving and heartfelt, it captures the power of acceptance in such an impactful way.
LBB> The ad/music video/game/web platform that made me want to get into the industry…
Brandy> Being a 90s kid, I basically grew up on TV. I watched everything from 'General Hospital' to 'The Thin Man'. I was mesmerised by the characters, their professions, the places they lived, their love lives–you name it. I didn’t really know what job I wanted but I knew that I wanted to be a part of creating that world. I wanted to build a place for people to escape to.
LBB> The creative work that I keep revisiting…
Brandy> I came across 'Salt' by Nayyirah Waheed during a difficult period in my life. I was in transition and trying to figure out how to marry who I was with who I wanted to be. This book of poetry breathed life into me. It gave words to thoughts and feelings I'd had for years but didn’t know how to express.
It gave me permission to fall apart, be angry, fearful, grief-stricken, content. In her short poems, I discovered how to be a whole complex person. I’ve dog-eared almost every page in the book and I find myself returning to it again and again.
LBB> My first professional project…
Brandy> I was working as an assistant editor for a documentary called 'A Lovely Day'. The project was about high school students who were enrolled in a music hip hop therapy program. This was the first project that I worked on after graduating college. It was my first time organising a project of that size and magnitude.
The editor on that project, Judd Flemming (an excellent doc editor), taught me about the importance of looking through all of the footage in order to find those “nuggets of greatness”. While I was assisting on that film I was also working as a PA/office runner for this small production company.
One of the partners at the company saw that I was always working on the BRL documentary in my free-time. One day he asked me if I would be interested in working as the front desk person for his friend’s post-production company. He told me it would be a great foot in the door. Even though I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do as a career, I said yes because it seemed like a great opportunity.
Fast forward 14 years later and here I am.
LBB> The piece of work that made me so angry that I vowed to never make anything like *that*…
Brandy> Hahaha, this question feels like a trap. The one thing that I have discovered in this business, is that it is VERY small. That whole six degrees of Kevin Bacon game is very real. You definitely don’t want to burn bridges.
LBB> The piece of work that still makes me jealous…
Brandy> 'The Don't Touch My Hair' music video by Solange is one of the most beautiful and creative celebrations of black people—specifically black women—that I have ever seen.
The cinematography, the costumes, the make-up and hair, the choreography, the editing, all of it is a 10/10.
The first time that I watched it, I felt uplifted, represented, and seen in a way that I hadn’t before. I remember thinking “Uggggh, I would’ve loved to have been involved in this.” The video is expertly edited by the incredibly talented Cami Starkman, who has a remarkable understanding of pace and flow.
LBB> The creative project that changed my career…
Brandy> I was working as an assistant editor, and it was my first time running the room. I had spent years watching other editors do it seamlessly, but I wasn’t sure if I had what it took. I was editing an internal-facing video for HP, and I was so nervous. I must’ve been holding my breath the entire time because every time I left that room, I’d let out a giant sigh of relief.
The project lasted two weeks, and when it was finished, I felt so accomplished. I learned so much about the importance of process and communication. That experience solidified my desire to keep working like this—to get better and take on bigger, more complex stories.
LBB> The work that I’m proudest of…
Brandy> Every time I finish a project, I say, “This is the best work I’ve ever done.” I think that’s because with each project, I grow, evolve, and learn something new about myself or the process. I’m especially proud of the work I did on the Milck - 'Somebody's Beloved' music video. To this day, I still get chills when I rewatch it.
The song is beautifully haunting, and the visuals complement it perfectly. While working on that video, I learned so much about symbolism and the importance of giving moments the time to breathe.
LBB> I was involved in this and it makes me cringe…
Brandy> I feel both cringe and a sense of pride when I look at the first film I ever directed. It was for a school project and it was a spoof on the TV show 'Dallas'. I even wrote commercial breaks for it.
I asked my friends to come over and help me, thinking that it would only take two hours to shoot. It ended up taking all day and I totally forgot to feed them. There are so many hilarious blooper, unscripted moments, that I still cackle at to this day. All of that said, I’m so thankful that this took place before YouTube existed because I’m never letting that video see the light of day.
LBB> The recent project I was involved in that excited me the most…
Brandy> I recently worked on a campaign for Athleta centred around the idea of 'The Power of She'. The creatives wanted to create something that felt intimate and honest, but also undeniably badass. It was the first time I’d worked with an all-women creative team, and it was awesome!
They fostered an environment that was exciting, supportive, and truly collaborative. That atmosphere gave us the freedom to play, experiment, and ultimately create something really fierce. I’m so proud of both the content we created and the powerful message it delivers.
