Guest:Brian Bird/Producer/Captive/The Reckoning

During his 25-year career in Hollywood, Brian Bird’s writing and producing work comprises nearly two-dozen films and 250 episodes of network television.  He is founding partner with Michael Landon Jr. of Believe Pictures, most recently responsible for the hit original TV series When Calls the Heart, now filming its third season, and premiering on the Hallmark Channel in December 2015. Bird’s film writing and producing credits include the Paramount Pictures feature film Captive, released nationally in September, 2015, chronicling the true story of 2005’s Atlanta hostage drama and starring David Oyelowo (Selma) and Kate Mara (Fantastic Four), The Ultimate Life for 20th Century Fox (2013), Not Easily Broken for Sony/Screen Gems (2009), The Last Sin Eater for 20th Century Fox (2007) and the Morgan Freeman-directed Bopha! for Paramount Pictures (1993). In television, he has written or produced such shows as Touched By An Angel, Step By Step and Evening Shade, in addition to the award-winning TV films Captive Heart, Call Me Claus (the highest-rated cable film of 2003), and The Shunning, The Confession, The Reckoning, and Saving Sarah Cain, all based on the novels of New York Times’ best-selling author Beverly Lewis.   He is on the founding faculty of the Act One Writing for Hollywood program, and has served as a jury member for the Heartland, 168 and City of Angel Film Festivals.  His own films have garnered awards from the New York Independent Film Festival, New York Festivals, Heartland Film Festival, the Black Reel Awards, the Movie Guide Awards and the Camie Awards.  And his widely read professional blog, BrianBird.net serves as a lively exchange on the art and craft of story-telling.You can email your questions to 123filmeasy@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @123Film