Richmond filmmaker debuts film, appreciates local connections

Maeve Bauer, Contributing Writer

Ken Brisby is a local filmmaker who’s been in the film industry for close to a decade. Their debut feature-length film “Mom, I’m On Drugs” premiered on Friday, Aug. 30 at Cobra Cabana. 

The movie follows five teens and how one night can change everything, according to Brisby. They pulled inspiration from their own life, friends’ experiences and different things they have heard and seen at parties. 

“It’s a lot of life experiences put into an hour and fifteen minutes,” Brisby said. 

After showing in Richmond, the movie will play at different film festivals along the East Coast, according to RVA Magazine and Brisby. 

The original screenplay was created in 2015 and after going through multiple edits and title changes — the film was born, Brisby said. 

It was frustrating to get the project started at first, due to lack of money and general attention to the project, according to Brisby.

Brisby grew up in Annandale and moved to Richmond for school, they said. After moving they said they truly found their place.

“As soon as I got here for college I never went back, even for summer vacation. I just got a job and started doing my own thing,” Brisby said. 

Brisby was grateful for their connections throughout Richmond when filming, they said.

“We kind of had free reign because people knew me or other people involved in the project,” Brisby said. “I think that made Richmond very important.” 

Some places in the film are GWARbar and Valley Road Warehouse, according to Brisby. 

Brisby was a very hands-on director, they said. They were responsible for the script, special effects and building the set. 

“I realized it was a lot harder to find everyone I need, so I just started learning everything myself,” Brisby said.

They explained how they are still finding a creative process with this being their first film, Brisby said. 

“I wanted to learn each and every department so I knew what they were going through,” Brisby said. 

They hope audiences will have fun watching it, Brisby said.

“I didn’t want the film to be a huge dramatic event or a horrific event or all fantasy — I kind of wanted it to be a mix,” Brisby said. 

Richmond local Sarah Dowd played Stephanie, one of the leading characters.

Dowd said she would describe her character Stephanie as someone who feels lost when her best friend moves away, as well as facing the death of her mother. 

“They’re really just struggling with reality and on the verge of leaving, and then this crazy night happens and it sort of gives them a new perspective,” Dowd said.

This was Dowd’s first time acting — she got involved in the film after becoming friends with Brisby, she said. She was originally going to be an extra in the film, but they needed someone to play Stephanie and asked her. 

“It was a little hectic for sure, being a part of an independent production,” Dowd said. “There was a schedule we all tried to adhere to, but there were a lot of late nights as well, it was fun chaos.” 

Though this was Dowd’s first film, she said she felt the transition into her role wasn’t too difficult. She explained how she felt similar to the character and used her own relationship with her mother as an emotional guide. 

On the contrary, Davis Erney, the actor who played another lead, Jason, did not feel a similar connection to their role, they said. They describe their character as a nerd with three friends and “definitely a virgin.”

Erney wants audience members to have fun watching the movie, they said. The film is about people coming together over trauma and the supernatural.

One of their favorite things about the film is how open it is to queer identities, they said. Erney is non-binary and played a male character. They commented on how refreshing it was that they were able to have a transgender character in the film without it being centered around their queerness. 

Ailsa McCutcheon is a friend of Brisby’s and the owner of Savannah — a dog featured in “Mom, I’m On Drugs.” 

“Since we’ve known each other, probably like 2018, 2019, they were like, ‘Can your dog be in my film?’” McCutcheon said.

McCutcheon is grateful her dog can be involved in this film, she said.

“My dog’s going to get to live forever in this movie of our friends’ and loved ones’ that is so well done,” McCutcheon said. 

McCutcheon said she caught the test screening of the film. 

“Seeing it all come together was so cool, I think I probably cried,” McCutcheon said. “Ken’s put their heart into this, and the way it came together is just so beautiful.”