Welcome back MyXXFam! This week we’ve got a feature coming your way, with none other than the multi-talented Victor Moran.
I first met Victor many years ago through OG MyXXFLY babe, light of my life, Linda, and he is as much a character as she is. Anyone who meets Victor likes him instantly. He’s personable, loud, charming, animated, and fueled by Marlboro Reds, caffeine, and his infectious passion to create. He doesn’t hold conventional jobs, he seizes every opportunity that comes his way, and he is a relentlessly hard worker. A social media darling, Victor’s feeds are all endlessly entertaining and regularly active. Seriously, next time you find yourself with a cappuccino in hand, send him a photo on Snapchat, he loves it: #SnapYourCap @VictorMoranLive. He’s jaded, pessimistic, a grown-ass boy, and still inspirational as fuck to any and all creative weirdos.
If there’s anyone I know who fully embodies the artist archetype it’s Victor Moran. He is a writer, director, illustrator, and independent film maker. He’s even been known to dabble in music with The Alan Smithie Project EP A Pug Amongst Thieves. It’s simple and markedly southern, a little Tom Waits, and perfectly reminiscent of road tripping and gonzo journalism. While most people are content living conventional lives in the burbs, working nine to fives and making hamburger helper for dinner, Victor lives in a studio and creates full-time and over-time. You can find him on any given day on his laptop in the heart of the city, where he’ll surely be working on a script, project, or event. On weekends? He’s imparting his creative wisdom on his 8 year old son Miles.
On this particular Saturday evening, Victor took us to one of his writing spots. The Ocean Bank building located on Le Jeune and Nw 7th St. With its old cinema downstairs, it was the perfect venue to shoot the shit with our friend. Walking out onto the huge open floor plan, with its high ceilings, skylight, marbled walls and fountains, you can tell this was definitely the spot to be back in its heyday. It’s a beautifully constructed building but we had the place pretty much to ourselves, which according to Victor is not out of the ordinary.
Victor writes the nega romantic-comedy. Part fiction, part autobiographical, his movies are funny, tragic, and strike a chord with anyone who’s ever been in mad dysfunctional love. His characters speak the way we do, and are honest portrayals of the neurosis and strangeness in all of us. He directed his first feature length movie The Nature of Things in 2014. Updates on his next film To Be Determined are, to be determined.
Aside from his work writing and directing films, Victor has a weekly comic titled Garry in Real Life. Victor illustrates all strips by hand before they reach their final form, and Garry Mondays are when we get to see what’s on Garry’s mind every week. The strips are often topical and Easter eggs from Victor’s real life seep into Garry’s, from the locations to the wide cast of characters: smart-mouthed broads, a strung out Mickey Mouse, dudes in bunny suits, a grizzled Batman and his son, and of course Garry.
Are you convinced of the creative genius that is Victor Moran yet? Enter: The Brackets.
Another brain child of Victor’s is the now infamous Brackets. Tired of the constant arguments between friends about what the best horror movie of all time was, or which superhero would kick the others ass in a street fight, Victor came up with a way to end the arguments by holding the ultimate showdown. The Brackets (aka Parliament for Nerds) starts with a category, for example, best action hero. It then goes through The Committee who independently nominate characters, and the characters with the most votes make it to The Brackets. The Brackets is set up much like March Madness, and the showdowns during every round consist of any and all in attendance making their case for who bests who. After a timed (and insanely heated) debate, there is a vote, majority wins, and the winning character moves on, this continues until the final round where “The Best Of” is crowned winner. If your idea of a fun Saturday night is debating why Batman is the best superhero, or why Sin City is the best comic book movie with a room full of passionate drunken nerds, The Brackets is for you. Oh, did I mention it’s also a drinking game? Yup. If you vote for the dud of the round, drink up baby. Also, we wear drinking hats, and who doesn’t love a good hat?
If you find the man as fascinating as he finds himself check out any and all of his ongoing projects on his newly launched website VictorMoranLive.com or show him some social media love everywhere @’s mean a thing, @VictorMoranLive . We’d like to thank our boy Victor for taking us to his spot and for being a constant source of inspiration to those around him. He’s a living breathing example that life is for living and you don’t have to conform or compromise your creativity to get through it. No pressure on selling out brah. Join us next week for our shoot at Amelia Earhart Park, and keep your double-x fly.
