Director Biography - Curtis Ronald Pecore-Kotek

The idea for Brief Business really came from looking at what I had around me. I’ve done a few film projects before, and one of the biggest pains is hauling lights and gear to a bunch of different locations. This time, I thought: why not keep it simple and shoot at my house? At my parents’ place, people are always coming and going in the driveway — neighbors stopping by, friends pulling in, or someone swinging past to talk have their car fixed by my dad. That felt like the perfect setting for something to unfold. Mix that with the thought of shooting at night, throwing in some lights, and suddenly the driveway became the backdrop for a sketchy little drug deal.

When it comes to style, I’ve always loved the awkward, in-between moments in movies — the kind where I’m the only one laughing in the theater because it’s not the “joke,” but it’s hilarious to me. I wanted Brief Business to carry that same energy: small, subtle things that might not get a big laugh, but still feel funny in their own offbeat way. The ending ties into that too — I don’t like neat, happy endings, but I don’t want to go full-on depressing either. I like that gray area in between, where things don’t work out, but you can still laugh at the absurdity of it.

The hardest part of making this film wasn’t the story or even the shoot — it was being a director. My first instinct when working with friends and family is to just do everything myself, because I know how I want it done. The first night, I tried running sound, lights, and camera all at once, and it wasn’t working. From there, I had to learn to step back, trust my crew, and guide them instead of taking it all on. Once I did that, the film came together better than I expected. We shot through summer nights, from 10 PM to 2 AM, which was tough on everyone, but we kept it fun with pizza, snacks, and a lot of laughs.

As for the actors, I didn’t want them to “perform” — I wanted them to just be themselves. Costumes and names changed, but I cast people based on who they were. I knew their natural personalities would give me the best results, and that made the whole thing feel more authentic.

Why this story now? Honestly, it came down to access and interest. The driveway was available, and I wanted to make something in the dark comedy/crime space, because that’s what I love to watch. I’m influenced by directors like Tarantino, Scorsese, and the Coen Brothers, who mix danger, humor, and unpredictability. Usually I’m a people pleaser with projects, but this time I committed to making the film I wanted to make. Some people won’t like it, and that’s fine — I’m just proud I stuck to my vision.

On a personal level, the inspiration came from my dad. Watching him constantly interact with people in the driveway is part of what sparked the story. Spook, the main character, is kind of me in that way — overwhelmed by all these people coming and going — but I also see myself in the other characters too, even the guy in the trunk. That scene especially came from me wanting to do something wild, something that gets a reaction.

At the end of the day, I don’t think it’s my job to tell people what they should feel watching Brief Business. Everyone will take away something different depending on who they are. For me, it’s a story about a kid who gets very specific instructions, ignores all of them, and pays the price. It’s dark, it’s ridiculous, and it’s funny — at least, funny in the way I like things to be funny.