Debbie Millman’s ongoing project “What Matters,” an effort to understand the interior life of artists, designers, and creative thinkers, is now in its third year. Each respondent is invited to answer ten identical questions and submit a nonprofessional photograph.
Bianca Bramham is the managing agent & creative producer at The Jacky Winter Group, representing the top contemporary image-makers and animation directors in the world. Originally from Melbourne, where she worked in animation production, Bramham is now based in New York, where she set up Jacky Winter’s North American office and brings her deep-seated curiosity for the creative process and commitment to understanding the unique challenges artists and clients come up against while trying to get great work made.
What is the thing you like doing most in the world?
Being engrossed in conversation with someone. It really is the thing that lights me up the most.
What is the first memory you have of being creative?
My sisters would read in bed; I recall sitting up at night with scissors, glue, and paper, coming up with mock worksheets and lesson plans. There’s a clear throughline between my midnight craft sessions and the work I do now, translating and rearranging creative problems and figuring out systems and processes to help artists, clients and my team get what they need.
What is your biggest regret?
Not having kids sooner. Motherhood has enriched my life so profoundly. I wish my own mum were still here to experience it all with me.
How have you gotten over heartbreak?
I’m really great at suppressing and running away from things (my Saturn’s return saw me move to the other side of the world), which means I’m probably not great at getting over things. The annoying thing about that, though, is that time usually untangles it all anyway; it just might take a little longer. If I really want to wallow in it, there’s always Jeff Buckley.
What makes you cry?
Lots of things. Some of my favorite kinds of tears come from laughing so hysterically that you’re completely unable to speak. The giggle attacks growing up with my sisters, where something utterly inane becomes so fucking funny. I experienced this recently with my team after a minor technical hiccup on our morning video call. We all just lost it. To me, these moments feel like a sign of genuine closeness.
How long does the pride and joy of accomplishing something last for you?
Not long enough. At least once a year, I fall into the trap of feeling like I haven’t achieved anything significant. It’s as if anything I’ve ever done is just wiped from my memory.
Do you believe in an afterlife, and if so, what does that look like to you?
Something about the afterlife already existing in this present moment, or something like that.
What do you hate most about yourself?
Hate is a strong word, but I definitely dislike how much I can get in my head. I hate that there have been so many moments in my life that I’ve lost to rumination and anxiety. Ideas and opportunities pushed to the side because I’ve thought myself into paralysis.
What do you love most about yourself?
I don’t know if it’s the thing I love most, but I guess the same quality that often overwhelms me also gives me the capacity to see beneath the surface and understand complexities that others might miss. Despite running away at times, I do love that I feel things deeply.
What is your absolute favorite meal?
It’s not particularly glamorous, but I could probably exist on rice and beans.
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