“In the creative space, you have to advocate for your vision and know there will be compromises. If you’re not willing to compromise, you might not have the same opportunities.”
Brandon T. Snider is an actor and author working in licensed publishing. He is originally from Ohio, earned a B.A. in theatre from Coastal Carolina University, and has lived in Astoria/Queens, N.Y., for 25 years. His work includes the award-winning Dark Knight Manual; Avengers: Infinity War: The Cosmic Quest series; and the Rube Goldberg and his Amazing Machines series. Snider has also written books featuring characters from Adventure Time and Regular Show, Marvel’s Spider-Man and Black Panther, and the Justice League, in addition to many character-themed Mad Libs games.
About
Snider moved to New York City straight out of his undergrad experience at CCU. He landed some gigs as an actor but decided to try his hand at writing, starting with sketch comedy.
“Writing was something I’d always loved, but I’d mostly done it privately for myself. As an actor I had all this creative energy but lacked opportunity. I thought, “Maybe it’s time to really work the writing muscle,’ so I started doing sketch comedy, which dovetailed into one-act plays, and the one-act plays I produced were seen by editors, and that’s how I segued into the publishing world.”
The first time Snider started working with Warner Bros., and later, Marvel Studios, was a turning point in his career.
“They’re cultural institutions. So being invited by Marvel Studios or Warner Brothers to see secret things, and read secret things, and them saying, ‘We trust you to interpret our beloved and highly guarded characters in this way,’ is very exciting. And flattering. But then at the end of the day, it’s work. You can’t sit in the fanboyness of it. You have a moment of recognition, and then you turn around and get to work.”
Snider said establishing a community of creatives is important for any writer or artist.
“For things like comics, people mingle at Comic-Con, and there’s a creator community to draw strength from. You can find your people in places like that, and being a part of those communities can be comforting. Connecting with other writers and creatives is crucial to maintaining sanity. I always suggest cobbling together a writer’s group. Ideally you want to surround yourself with others who are better than you, who can challenge you, and who will give you the feedback you need. Sharing work with people who want each other to succeed creatively will keep you at the top of your game.”
Media
Brandon Snider Interview
