Julie Bruns Is Creating the Stories She Wants to Tell

Julie Bruns didn't want to spend her career waiting for the next opportunity. Instead, she set out to create the stories she wanted to tell, building a career that now spans acting, writing, producing, and directing.

For Julie Bruns, acting has never been just about landing the next role. Whether she's performing in front of the camera, writing a screenplay, producing an independent project, or directing a film, every step of her career has been driven by the same goal: telling stories that connect with people.

A Love of Storytelling That Started Early

Bruns' passion for performance began long before she considered acting as a career.

Homeschooled throughout her childhood, she eagerly participated in every storytelling opportunity she could find, from school performances to poetry recitals.

"I've always loved to perform," she recalled in April 2024, remembering one of her earliest appearances in a school production of "I'm a Little Teapot" when she was six years old.

Although acting fascinated her from an early age, she didn't immediately pursue it professionally. Around the age of 20, while living in a small town in Baja California, Mexico, Bruns made the decision to move to Vancouver to build an acting career.

She immersed herself in classes, signed with an agent, and began working on independent productions while steadily building experience in front of the camera.

Her journey eventually took her even further, including additional training at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA), while her work expanded beyond acting into writing, directing, producing, and voice acting.

Why Waiting Was Never Enough

Although Bruns enjoyed acting, she quickly realized she wasn't content waiting between auditions.

Working as an associate producer with Vancouver's Crazy8s film competition changed the trajectory of her career.

It was “kind of an immersion film school," she said, explaining that the experience gave her a firsthand education in every stage of filmmaking.

The experience also inspired her to begin creating her own work.

Rather than waiting to be cast, Bruns discovered she could write the kinds of stories she wanted to tell and the kinds of characters she wanted to play.

"It's an addictive way to work," she said. "As an actor, it allows you to immediately focus on the kinds of roles you really want to play, rather than just counting on auditioning and waiting to be chosen for a role."

That philosophy has remained central to her career.

During another interview in May 2026, Bruns summed it up with simple advice for aspiring artists:

Finding New Possibilities in Vertical Dramas

Bruns entered the vertical drama space after already building experience across independent films, television, and original productions.

The format offered something she found difficult to access elsewhere: substantial leading roles.

Instead of appearing briefly in traditional television projects, vertical dramas allowed her to portray complex characters across dozens of episodes while continuing to sharpen her craft.

Her growing list of vertical credits includes "Love After Layoffs," "The CEO's Wife Stole Her Life," "There's No Home for the Broken Hearted," "I Had a Baby Without You," "Mafia's Forbidden Catch," "Found My Daddy at the Construction Site," "Beneath Crimson Sails," and "The Vampire Prince's Bride."

As she gained experience in the genre, however, Bruns began imagining stories that hadn't yet been explored.

One idea stayed with her: pirates.

She loved swashbuckling adventures growing up and repeatedly pitched pirate-themed vertical dramas, only to discover that the logistical challenges of ships, water, and action sequences often discouraged producers.

Eventually, she stopped waiting for someone else to make the project.

She wrote it herself.

That idea became "Beneath Crimson Sails," an independently produced pirate-themed vertical series that Bruns wrote, produced, and starred in alongside her partners at Thunder Child Films.

Looking back on the production, one moment still stands out.

Standing aboard the pirate ship set, Bruns paused to appreciate that she was bringing to life a story she had written herself.

Creating Stories That Connect

Whether she's acting or producing, Bruns says the purpose behind her work has always remained the same.

Asked what she finds most rewarding about being a creative, Bruns said, "Getting to tell stories that connect to people."

She hopes audiences find something meaningful in every project, whether that's inspiration, comfort, excitement, or simply the chance to escape into another world for a little while.

In one interview, she described the unique feeling of discovering that someone halfway around the world has experienced the same emotions through a story.

That same philosophy also shapes the advice she gives to emerging filmmakers.

She encourages audiences to support independent productions, share stories that resonate with them, and champion new voices, believing those small acts often help artists continue creating their next project.

Continuing to Build New Worlds

Bruns continues to balance acting with writing, producing, directing, and voice work while developing new projects across multiple genres.

Among them are additional vertical drama scripts, a feature film, and stories ranging from romantic comedies to fantasy adventures.

She also remains committed to expanding what's possible within vertical storytelling, believing audiences are eager for original worlds and fresh ideas beyond familiar formulas.

Looking back on everything she's built, Bruns measures success a little differently than many people might expect.

Rather than focusing solely on bookings or awards, she believes success comes from creating meaningful work, building community, and continuing to tell stories that matter.

Whether she's stepping in front of the camera or creating a project from the ground up, Julie Bruns continues to follow the philosophy that has guided her throughout her career: if the story you want to tell doesn't exist yet, create it yourself.