Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Brian Morrow: Creative Reality

interview by Martin Palicki

Following a successful 12 year career at SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Brian Morrow recently launched his own company: BMorrow Productions (BMP). Based in Orlando, Brian has taken his decades of experience in the industry and is unleashing his creative prowess on a new roster of clients.

Why did you choose to launch your own company?

I have always had an entrepreneurial drive. It has manifested in many ways, but the launch of my own company is the largest expression of this passion to date. The main goal of BMP is twofold. First, it allows me to explore areas of passion inside the industry including gamification, invention, and production. Second, I can now fully jump into the creative talent pool of Orlando. There is amazing freelance talent in Orlando that I’ve always admired and now I’m one of the family!

What are the capabilities of BMorrow Productions?

I serve clients in three main ways: creative principle, production, and invention. There is a boom in our industry and talent is hard to find. Allowing myself the freedom to assist and support clients around the world with their visions and plans is a prime business goal. Some clients are choosing BMP to invent new product categories for the industry, others want to beef up existing creative teams to help push a project through. And some just need straightforward attraction production leadership. There are so many interesting projects involving immersion, gamification and new ride systems that I find myself in projects I never imagined would be happening.

What did you learn from your time with SeaWorld?

I hold a special place in my heart for SeaWorld and Busch Gardens. I learned how powerful thoughtful design can be in engaging and inspiring guests. Most importantly I learned how to grow a creative studio from two people (including me) to over 14 by recruiting experienced talent and mentoring talent that just needed that one break.

Also key was setting up a structure that mixed creative talent with project teams, which proved to be a very efficient and clean way to execute projects. Even our office areas comingled engineers next to designers. It was a wonderful experience and the amount of freedom that SEA gave to the creative teams to develop attractions cannot be found in many other places.

How are you assembling your team? Are you looking for staff?

I currently have a team of three working at BMP. I find and curate talent the same way I did at SeaWorld: from the ground up. Talent can be found in many genres of entertainment that applies perfectly to our theme park industry. I also take pride and passion in combining experienced talent with those that just need a chance. I truly enjoy watching teams and talent blossom. I have a few more projects that will come online in the next few weeks and we will be adding talent to support those efforts soon. And most exciting, we move into our new studio in a few months as BMP is co-sharing a space with another small project management firm called Howes and Company.

What will the future BMP look like?

The future of BMP will mimic the future of our industry with smaller, nimble teams that are able to flex and adapt to client’s needs. The future of creation in our industry will germinate from nontraditional sources and processes, you see it happening already. Guest experience models of the future lie within the intersection of invention, immersion and gamification and BMP was created to support clients to develop and deliver projects in this manner. •

Joe Kleiman
Joe Kleimanhttp://wwww.themedreality.com
Raised in San Diego on theme parks, zoos, and IMAX films, InPark's Senior Correspondent Joe Kleiman would expand his childhood loves into two decades as a projectionist and theater director within the giant screen industry. In addition to his work in commercial and museum operations, Joe has volunteered his time to animal husbandry at leading facilities in California and Texas and has played a leading management role for a number of performing arts companies. Joe previously served as News Editor and has remained a contributing author to InPark Magazine since 2011. HIs writing has also appeared in Sound & Communications, LF Examiner, Jim Hill Media, The Planetarian, Behind the Thrills, and MiceChat His blog, ThemedReality.com takes an unconventional look at the attractions industry. Follow on twitter @ThemesRenewed Joe lives in Sacramento, California with his wife, dog, and a ghost.

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