I have been so blessed to work under Brett as a director on two film projects. Working with him is a dream because he truly understands what an actors’ process is first hand. He is collaborative, insightful, humble and so kind. I was able to truly relax and live in my character and hit the emotional moments I needed to because of the safe, encouraging environment he created on set. He truly believes in and roots for his actors. More importantly, he honors God in the way he honors both his cast and his crew on set. He is a man of integrity and exceptional character. —Stephanie Parker [Actress]

Having worked with countless directors in film, television and commercial productions, I've seen first hand how a good director can make or break a project. Brett is one of the most exceptional directors I've ever had the honor of working with. He can tell an excellent story on screen and he can do it on time and on budget. When the clock is ticking down and every second on set costs money, he makes decisions that not only elevate the final product but also save time. In addition to being a good director he's a great person and a man of God. He respects the cast, crew and everyone involved in the process as a collaborator. —J.J. Bukowski [Director of Photography]

Brett is a terrific editor as we worked together on my last two films.
He makes great choices with cutaways and reaction shots and his timing is spot on. He was a joy to work with and I highly recommend him!

—Rich Christiano [Producer, Director]

His talent is evident when you watch him, and that’s the hook. But let’s be honest, there are thousands of talented people, so what sets him apart? He is passionate about his work. He is a grinder. He is relentless in his pursuit of excellence and he demands it of those he works with. Often times, in someone with those characteristics, you find them to be abrasive or exclusionary - that is not the case with Brett. He is open and welcoming in his collaboration. He listens to good ideas. His attitude sets ego aside for the betterment of the project. He understands the language of the camera and the language of the actor and the language of the grips and P.A.s. That is no small skill. Because of that ability, people buy into the project and make it their own. His focus is not only on the project itself, but the people he works with. He takes to heart how people on his team are treated. Are they valued? Are they compensated? Are they well-fed? Those details are easy to discard when taking on a massive project like a film, but he knows an excellent film is often the result of a well-taken-care-of crew. He surrounds himself with people who are experts themselves and push him to be better. —Josh Strychalski [Writer/Actor]

Working with Brett Varvel on Disciples in the Moonlight was one of the most meaningful creative experiences of my career. I was continually impressed by how seamlessly he could step in and out of his role as an actor while maintaining a clear vision as a director and leader on set. One of the things I appreciated most was the way Brett began each day with prayer. It created a grounded, safe, and connected environment that allowed us as actors to take risks, explore deeply, and fully inhabit our characters. He welcomed creative collaboration and, as a fellow actor, had an intuitive understanding of how to communicate in a way that brought clarity to a performance without ever taking away an actor’s ownership of it. Brett leads with kindness, compassion, and genuine care for the people around him. He has a remarkable ability to hold space for deep creative exploration while confidently leading the production and shaping the work. After more than 30 years as an actor, he remains one of my favorite directors I’ve had the opportunity to work with. I would work with him again in a heartbeat. —Jason Coviello [Actor’]