-Who is Ty Brueilly?

Similar to some, identical to none. An Asheboro, North Carolina native with family roots in Pennsylvania and New York. Appalachian State University Graduate. Former expatriate of five years in China. A Husband, a Father and an artist. A lifelong Journalist. A Teacher of seven years. Visual and audio art of all sorts. A poet. A fashion designer. A photographer. A world traveler. I’ve released over 50 film titles, mostly short films and music videos. I have released 8 solo studio albums and the founder of Mightier Than The Sword Records, which turned 20 years old this year. 

I have passion, compassion, determination and drive. My experience is extensive, and I am just now realizing the impact that can have to the communities I represent and how I can use that to help build my city up, in what many have called an “artistic revolution”. Right Now, in a Small City in North Carolina, an Artistic Revolution is Happening –

-Do you remember the exact moment you fell in love with cinema?
When it comes to being a consumer of cinema, It wasn’t all at once. There wasn’t a definable moment, it was just always there and a major part of me. I fell in love with the cinema going experience first. The rare activity that my parents and I were equally as excited about engaging in, we would have a lot of fun together, and the only real time I felt an authentic connection with them. My parents were always present and still are present in my life, but going to the theatre was a pure connection that I’ve never really felt with them since. Watching E.T. at the drive-in was a very specific moment that my parents noticed I was completely hypnotized by what was on the screen. 

When it comes to creating cinematic pieces, there is certainly a defining moment, and that was day one of shooting my first film, ‘Shucks’ seeing my visions play out on the playback screen was the most incredible high, I remember everything from that day, the smells, the weather, the breeze, the teamwork of our small cast. My wife and I were newlyweds at the time, and it was such an amazing feeling to connect with her on a working relationship level.  A top five feeling when it comes to my career, and honestly I still get that feeling anytime I film anything for my ongoing ‘Shucks’ cinematic world. When I knew I wanted to evolve that love for cinema into an actual marriage with cinema was the first time I saw my work on the big screen in Hollywood at the TCL Chinese Theatre back in 2023. ‘A Night In Charlotte With Sweeney Ty’ was the first of my films to play at that cinema, which is an incredible honor, and I knew then, I had to put a ring on it, symbolically of course. Since then, I have had a dozen of my films played there, the most recent being the long awaited ‘Shucks’ Hollywood premiere in February 2025. 

-Tell us about your project “Shucks”.

Essentially the script, the characters and the lore were all created as a coping mechanism for a close family member who passed away from an overdose. It was a very small cast and crew, a family affair for sure. I was uncertain if we would be able to complete the story and the filming, because I didn’t know how emotional we would get, or if the people involved would tap out or stay in the ring, but we got into a good groove and stayed the course to get it completed. 

Aside from the inspiration spawning from my total intrigue of Dante’s Divine Comedy, in particular the Inferno segment, there’s an extensive background story for ‘Shucks’ that hasn’t been publicized…yet. That’s on purpose, because ‘Shucks’ is a silent, but scored black and white 50 minute film, which I scored with my musical background spanning over 20 years. I personally wanted it to be filled with symbolism and a slow burning wave that is up for interpretation, I actually never let the actors or cast ever see the script because I didn’t want them to know, so that they would go with their natural flow more than from the story and I could just direct and not rely heavy on a roadmap as it were. As I add titles, (currently ten released titles) I reveal a little more, but at this point in the evolution I want to hear from other people how the film speaks to them and what it makes them feel like. 

– Which Director inspires you the most?

Rob Zombie. His unique and gritty approach for most of his films is an incredible inspiration to me. Also, his extensive appreciation and respect he has for the horror genre has always made me more attracted to his work. And as a musician myself, I have firsthand experience with how difficult of a transition it is from music to filmmaking, especially for the fans and demographic of either. It’s like a lot of times when you transition or evolve from music to something else, you lose respect from some and then never really get it for that thing you are evolving into, but once you can master it, film and music go hand and hand, you can’t have one with the other, it’s a symbiotic relationship that if you can get traction from both can give you some unstoppable momentum, unfortunately with Rob Zombie, he’s been at what seems like a standstill after his rendition of ‘The Munsters’ which way too many people bashed and hated, but me, I absolutely loved it and enjoyed a more bright and vivid approach from him. It was a treat to be able to watch a Rob Zombie film with my son without worrying about exposing him too early to Zombie’s other films.

Nonetheless he is my top tier inspiration, with a close second being Richard Elfman, who also has that musician, director killer combination, his unconventional execution of ‘Forbidden Zone’ alone has him in a whole other level of filmmaking and that kind of determination to make sure his vision is executed the way it should be is admirable and something I strive to do. I also appreciate the fact that he also incorporates live pre-show performances for most of his screenings, with an instrumental ensemble and a bloody burlesque show with his wife Anastasia Elfman who is ‘Bloody Bridget’ from his most recent directing effort. I have been fortunate enough to call them friends in the past two years and learning from them has really fortified my trajectory in filmmaking, where I would also like to use some live performances with some of my screenings in the future, of course paying homage to their approach. 
I also pull inspiration from Kubrick, Lynch, and up and coming director Sean Haitz from ‘Cannibal Comedian’.

-What do you dislike about the world and what would you change?

The stigma that comes with addiction and those who are addicted to various substances. I really wish that hatred towards them was longer an option. It’s a luxury to be sober, I mean really, you have to look at it like that, most people don’t have the intricate support system and the love that helps nurture and recover an addicted person, it’s almost like you have to approach those situations like you are a brand new parent and the addicted person is a newborn baby, they need everything that comes with that experience and many people don’t have the endurance to do that over and over again. However, I know there are places, such as one in my hometown of Asheboro that are fully committed and fully active in doing just that, Susan E. Hunt & Chip Womick at Keaton’s Place, my hope is that many many many more establishments like this become a mainstay in cities all across the world.

‘Cause look, I’ve been on all sides of that, I’ve been severely addicted, I’ve gone cold turkey, I’ve stopped for months, just to attempt to make up for the time I didn’t in a weekend, I’ve had some of the people I love the most fall victim to the vicious cycle and pay the ultimate price, I’ve been crass and hateful to people I love who are in the clutches of the addiction, I’ve ignored it, I’ve tried to help, I’ve loved, I’ve fought them, I’ve fought for them, I’ve empathized, I’ve sympathized, I was embarassed, I was proud of who they were and could be and not once through all those have I felt like I’ve done the right thing, it’s such a delicate situation . As cliche and overused as this phrase is, in the blink of an eye your life can change, and oftentimes it’s not through any fault of your own, and even when it is, I mean, who doesn’t want to feel good? We are all searching for the highs we got when we were kids growing up, a substance is something that is actually accessible and quick. 

-How do you imagine cinema in 100 years?

It’s scary what can happen. I’m pretty nervous about it, but equally as excited. A.I is both a threat and a tool, and within 100 years it will be an undeniable force in the creative process of filmmaking. I worry when it’s time to “compete” with the machines, and how that will play out. I also worry about when everyone associated with certain films are dead and gone and the rights become someone else’s, what can happen with those, like who can add and take away from it, it’s happened a lot already, but will that continue?

 I feel that the cinema going experience will remain in high demand, because of the very reasons I mentioned before about why I fell in love with it. Screens will get bigger, higher definition and we will see more virtual reality type films come into play, with some that kind of let you choose your own story as it progresses, like those books from the 1980s I read as a kid. I think arthouse survives and thrives. Drive-In has an opportunity to flourish if people give it a chance again. Unfortunately, I feel like in the next 1-10 years we will all face different levels of censorship, especially in the USA, but that won’t last. Art is revolutionary in nature, and is resilient, because there are few people who can actually take the world’s imagination and put it on a screen, that’s what has always made cinema magical and always will. 

-What is your impression of WILD FILMMAKER?

I first heard about WILD FILMMAKER a few years ago when I had a positive experience with 8 & Halfilm Award in Cannes, and was pleased to hear from Michele Diomà last week. I am still learning about WILD FILMMAKER, but what I see so far has been something that aligns with my goal set, I love the tendencies to use black and white and also that it’s on an International scale. There are a lot of filmmaking communities that are 100% transactional, while others help those filmmakers who commit and/or financially support to these communities on different levels. I’ve been a part of both, and I hope to actually grow with WILD FILMMAKER and not just have a one and done relationship. I’d also love to see WILD FILMMAKER have a presence at our next Mightier Than The Sword Awards at Sunset Film Festival in 2026!