Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Rice.
Brandon, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I didn’t grow up in a filmmaking family or even really thinking this was something I could do. I just always felt drawn to stories. Early on, I picked up a camera and started figuring it out by making silly videos with my siblings, that should never see the light of day! But even back then I loved that I could capture real moments, with real people.
A lot of my career has been built through documentary work, learning how to find emotion in real people and real moments. That led into building a business as a wedding filmmaker, which honestly sharpened my instincts more than anything. You’re constantly chasing truth, connection, and moments you can’t stage, and that discipline carried over into everything else I do.
Behind the Beard: Making Santa Real really came from a personal place. I didn’t grow up with a strong Santa experience, and I didn’t even start celebrating Christmas until I was older. When my daughter was born, I wanted her to have that magic, but I didn’t fully understand it myself.
A few years ago, I had my first real Santa experience that actually hit me emotionally, and it completely changed how I saw it. That moment turned into curiosity, which turned into this film. I wanted to understand the people behind the tradition, the ones who dedicate their lives to making something intangible feel real for others.
Since then, the film has taken on a life of its own. It premiered and won the audience favorite documentary award at the Riverside International Film Festival, and now is is officially on it’s festival circuit run! It will be having a 2026 holiday release! Stay tuned.
At the core of everything I’ve done, it’s always been about the same thing: finding human stories that connect people, and telling them in a way that feels honest.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve built everything pretty much from the ground up, without a traditional path into filmmaking. That means a lot of learning by trial and error, a lot of second-guessing, and a lot of moments where you’re not sure if what you’re doing is actually going to go anywhere. Financially, it’s always a balancing act too, especially working in documentary, where the return isn’t guaranteed and most of the work is driven by passion more than anything else.
With Behind the Beard, the challenges were very real. Because it’s a documentary, you can’t control the story the way you can with scripted work. You’re constantly adjusting, reshaping, and sometimes realizing the film you thought you were making isn’t actually the film it wants to be. That can be frustrating, but it’s also part of the process.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At my core, I’m a documentary filmmaker. I’m drawn to real people and real emotion, stories that already exist, but maybe haven’t been seen in the right way yet. Most of my work lives in that space between observation and storytelling, where you’re not forcing moments, you’re just paying close enough attention to capture them when they happen.
A big part of my background is in wedding filmmaking, which might sound separate, but it’s honestly where I developed my style. You’re trained to anticipate emotion, to stay out of the way, and to find meaning in small, fleeting moments. That’s carried directly into my documentary work and shaped how I approach everything.
With Behind the Beard: Making Santa Real, I really leaned into that, letting the story unfold through the people themselves rather than trying to control it. I think what I’m known for, or at least what I aim for, is making things feel human and grounded, even when the subject itself might feel larger-than-life.
What I’m most proud of with this film is that it connects. We’ve seen people laugh, cry, and reflect on their own experiences with it. It premiered and won the audience favorite documentary award at the Riverside International Film Festival, which meant a lot, not just as recognition, but as proof that it resonated with real people.
As far as what sets me apart, I think it’s that I’m less interested in making something that fits into a box and more interested in making something that feels honest. And I think audiences can tell the difference.
What makes you happy?
What makes me happy is connection, when something I’ve created actually lands with someone in a real way.
It’s those moments where someone watches a film and you can see it hit them. Whether they laugh, get emotional, or just sit there thinking for a second. That’s the stuff that sticks with me. It means the story did what it was supposed to do.
I also genuinely enjoy the process of making something out of nothing. Taking an idea, or even just a curiosity, and slowly shaping it into a finished film, it’s hard, but there’s something really satisfying about it. Especially in documentary, where you’re discovering the story as you go.
At the end of the day, it’s simple: making things that matter to people, and sharing that with the people closest to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brandonricefilms.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makingsantareal
