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Brittany Portman is a gifted actress, director, editor, producer, writer, and the creative mastermind behind Hooked. What initially started as a class assignment has quickly transformed itself into a soon-to-be-released television series based on true events that occurred during Brittany’s time in college. Pop Culturalist caught up with Brittany to talk about the project.

PC: You’re an actress, director, editor, producer, and writer. How did you discover your passion for storytelling? Is there one passion that you naturally gravitate towards?
Brittany: I discovered my passion for storytelling when I was only six years old. After seeing Annie on Broadway, I knew that I needed to be up on that stage. I made my stage debut in the chorus of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat when I was ten years old and finally got to be in my favorite show Annie across America in the national tour. I switched gears in college to focus on filmmaking because I always had that curiosity to be the creator and write my own stories and have them come to life. I made a short film for my film production class in college where I wrote, directed, cast, shot, and edited all by myself. The story that I wrote was based on a true story that eventually made me realize that this needed to be a TV series. That idea is what led me to Hooked.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Brittany: In terms of getting into filmmaking, I would say Lena Dunham has influenced me in my career. She’s in the minority of being a creator as a woman, but with her show Girls, it’s so unapologetically raw that it inspired me to do the same in my own work.

PC: What’s one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
Brittany: I now know that not everything happens quickly! It’s all about hard work and persistence. When you see someone become famous or recognized for their work, it seems like it’s overnight to the rest of the world. I’m learning now that the work that goes into it didn’t just happen overnight.

PC: Tell us about Hooked and the inspiration behind the project.
Brittany: As mentioned earlier, I made a short for my film production class. A few months prior to making the film, I’d had bizarre yet hilarious encounters with men in college. At the time, the most recent one was definitely the craziest one. I met a guy in the library, and he invited me to his place for tea. Naively, I said yes. I didn’t think anything was going to happen because it was in the middle of the day and I didn’t meet him at a frat party. When we were at his place, we did have tea but then five minutes later, he started to make out with me. Right afterward, he said, “Clothes on or off?” I was so shocked that it happened, and I left immediately. I filmed a reenactment and after the short was completed, I showed it to a small audience of college students. Everyone had a big reaction with howling laughter. Seeing the reactions made me realize that this needed to be a TV show.

PC: Hooked has gone through a few iterations and forms. How has the script evolved since its initial conception?
Brittany: The script has evolved in so many ways. It initially started out in college with a socially awkward girl having bizarre encounters with men. The one question that everyone kept asking was why was this girl so awkward and what is her background? After getting that feedback, I decided to expand the story and add the girl’s background. Her background now is that she grew up in a cult that’s run by her crazy and overprotective mother and her dim-witted stepfather. With that kind of background, I believe it makes a lot more sense as to how this girl interacts with anybody outside of the cult.

PC: What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned from working on Hooked?
Brittany: The biggest lesson I’ve learned is how much goes into making a TV show. It’s basically the same as running a company and making sure that every moving part works.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Brittany: Vanderpump Rules

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Brittany: Aladdin

PC: Favorite book?
Brittany: Kristin Chenoweth’s autobiography

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Brittany: Wicked

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Brittany: Motown

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Brittany: Anna Kendrick

To keep up with Brittany, follow her on Twitter.