Get to Know Filmmaker and Producer Toby Halbrooks: The Man Behind A Ghost Story, Never Goin’ Back, and The Old Man & the Gun
Cover image of Toby Halbrooks on the set of The Old Man & the Gun (via Eric Zachanowich).
When Toby Halbrooks introduced Never Goin’ Back at the Oak Cliff Film Festival in Dallas, Texas, the audience was buzzing with excitement. Halbrooks, a producer and filmmaker, has been making waves in the indie film scene with his producing team at Sailor Bear, which includes Liz Cardenas, James M. Johnson, and David Lowery. Along with Never Goin’ Back, Halbrooks has produced A Ghost Story and The Old Man & the Gun, both directed by Lowery. He’s also co-written Pete’s Dragon and the upcoming Peter Pan reboot for Disney. We caught up with Halbrooks to talk about his work on these projects and get some advice on how to make it in the film industry.
Work with People You Like Working with
Image of Toby Halbrooks with James Johnson, Augustine Frizzell, and David Lowery (via IMDB).
David and I met while working on a mutual friend’s indie feature. We hit it off and started writing together. A few years later, we formed Sailor Bear with Liz and James, and the rest is history.
Halbrooks’s career is a testament to the power of collaboration and friendship. Originally a musician, he found himself working on commercial film sets where he met Lowery. The two became fast friends and have been working together ever since. Halbrooks was even the best man at Lowery’s wedding to Augustine Frizzell, another member of the Sailor Bear collective.
Think Like a Director
Image from the set of Dig (via Toby Halbrooks).
When I directed my short film Dig, I found myself worrying about production things that shouldn’t have been on my mind. As a producer, I try to give each department the space to do their best work. I want the director to focus on what’s happening on screen, not anything else.
Halbrooks’s experience as a director has given him valuable insights into the filmmaking process. He’s learned to trust his team and let them do their jobs, while keeping an eye on the big picture.
Support Your Teams in Production
Image from Pete’s Dragon (via Disney).
As a producer, you have to trust your teams and stay out of the way. You want to support the department heads and make sure everything is running smoothly, but you don’t want to meddle too much. Once the machine is built to go, you let it run.
Halbrooks’s work on Pete’s Dragon taught him the importance of supporting his teams and letting them do their jobs.
Trust the Process
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