Brendan Kyle Cochrane
- Producer
- Writer
- Director
Brendan Kyle Cochrane: A Life of Reinvention and Resilience
Early Life and Education
Brendan Kyle Cochrane was born in New York to anthropologist parents. After his father left when he was two, he was raised by his mother. He spent a brief period in Cambridge, England, before returning to New York. Brendan attended Fiorello LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts, where he began to hone his creative skills. He later attended the Maryland Institute College of Art and transferred to Syracuse University. However, he left college to ride a bicycle from Holland to Spain, following the Tour de France route.
Film Industry Beginnings In 1992, Brendan returned to New York and cold-called Tribeca Films, landing an internship in accounting. He transitioned into a production assistant role, working on films like Die Hard 3, Last Action Hero, Carlito's Way, Heat, and the TV series New York Undercover.
The Incident and Incarceration While working on New York Undercover, Brendan was involved in a street altercation with four strangers. After making a report, he returned to confront them, armed with a firearm, resulting in one person being shot. He faced trial with a misidentification defense based on photos that were actually from a film shoot. Despite this, the court sentenced him to ten to twenty years in prison.
During his ten years of incarceration, Brendan studied law and successfully won two federal habeas petitions for other prisoners and a state case. Brendan knows two formerly incarcerated individuals who became attorneys. Brendan, however, chose to pursue filmmaking upon his release in 2007.
Building Digital Seven After his release, Brendan started his production company, Digital Seven. He worked with major clients like Nike, NFL, Lincoln Motors, Maybelline, and Hertz. He also directed music videos, including Porn Star Dancing (My Darkest Days featuring Ludacris and Chad Kroeger), which went Gold, as well as videos for Teyana Taylor and Fabolous. As a producer, Brendan has worked with artists such as 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, and Ludacris, along with various commercial production companies. Brendan's film and TV projects include The Grind (a TV pilot) and Equal Standard, a feature film addressing police violence.
Current Focus Brendan is currently working on 25 Seconds, an independent film about two brothers in a burglary ring, and Ghost Cars, a TV series about a former getaway driver. He believes independent films will surge as major studios fail to understand the audience. He's inspired by directors like Ridley Scott, Michael Mann, Martin Scorsese, Guy Ritchie, Roman Gavras, Gary F. Gray, Sean Baker, and others whose work influences his approach to storytelling.
Family Brendan is the older brother of actor Rory Cochrane, known for his roles in Dazed and Confused, Argo, Public Enemies, and Black Mass. He holds both U.S. and Irish citizenship and remains connected to his family.
Conclusion Brendan Kyle Cochrane's life is a story of transformation-turning adversity into opportunity. From a troubled youth to a successful producer and director, he's shown that it's possible to reinvent yourself, regardless of the challenges faced.
Film Industry Beginnings In 1992, Brendan returned to New York and cold-called Tribeca Films, landing an internship in accounting. He transitioned into a production assistant role, working on films like Die Hard 3, Last Action Hero, Carlito's Way, Heat, and the TV series New York Undercover.
The Incident and Incarceration While working on New York Undercover, Brendan was involved in a street altercation with four strangers. After making a report, he returned to confront them, armed with a firearm, resulting in one person being shot. He faced trial with a misidentification defense based on photos that were actually from a film shoot. Despite this, the court sentenced him to ten to twenty years in prison.
During his ten years of incarceration, Brendan studied law and successfully won two federal habeas petitions for other prisoners and a state case. Brendan knows two formerly incarcerated individuals who became attorneys. Brendan, however, chose to pursue filmmaking upon his release in 2007.
Building Digital Seven After his release, Brendan started his production company, Digital Seven. He worked with major clients like Nike, NFL, Lincoln Motors, Maybelline, and Hertz. He also directed music videos, including Porn Star Dancing (My Darkest Days featuring Ludacris and Chad Kroeger), which went Gold, as well as videos for Teyana Taylor and Fabolous. As a producer, Brendan has worked with artists such as 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, and Ludacris, along with various commercial production companies. Brendan's film and TV projects include The Grind (a TV pilot) and Equal Standard, a feature film addressing police violence.
Current Focus Brendan is currently working on 25 Seconds, an independent film about two brothers in a burglary ring, and Ghost Cars, a TV series about a former getaway driver. He believes independent films will surge as major studios fail to understand the audience. He's inspired by directors like Ridley Scott, Michael Mann, Martin Scorsese, Guy Ritchie, Roman Gavras, Gary F. Gray, Sean Baker, and others whose work influences his approach to storytelling.
Family Brendan is the older brother of actor Rory Cochrane, known for his roles in Dazed and Confused, Argo, Public Enemies, and Black Mass. He holds both U.S. and Irish citizenship and remains connected to his family.
Conclusion Brendan Kyle Cochrane's life is a story of transformation-turning adversity into opportunity. From a troubled youth to a successful producer and director, he's shown that it's possible to reinvent yourself, regardless of the challenges faced.
