Malindi Fickle

Malindi Fickle is an actor and director who was based in New York City but now resides in Honolulu, HI. She graduated summa cum laude from New York University in 2002, having completed her studies with highest honors. She also launched her acting career in the independent film "Eyes of the Prey," later transitioning to directing with her 2006 debut, "By The People.

Early life
Malindi Fickle's favorite film is Paper Moon, a classic she first watched with her father at the age of 9. However, it wasn't until after working on her own film, "Suck it Up Buttercup", that she gained a deeper appreciation for Paper Moon's nuances and understood why her father had allowed her to watch it at a young age.

Theatre
Malindi started out in the New York theatre scene where she was a director and actor.

Acting
Malindi Fickle honed her craft at esteemed institutions, including "The School for Film & Television" and "Michael Howard Studios", where she received comprehensive training in acting. Her early career began with a small role as an extra in the courtroom scenes of "Eyes of the Prey". She soon landed her first lead role as Megan in "Jacklight", followed by notable performances in "Everything Relative" (as Candy) and "St. Andrew's Girls" (as Jennifer).

Directing
Malindi Fickle made her directorial debut with "By the People", a PBS documentary that explores the importance of democracy. She founded Hyperbaric Productions, a film production company, to bring her vision to life and produce "By the People". Her next project, Suck it Up Buttercup" (2014) marked a transition from documentary to drama, as she tackled the sensitive topic of drug addiction in a narrative film. The production of "Suck it Up Buttercup" was a labor of love, with a swift 28-day shoot followed by an meticulous two-year editing process. Malindi Fickle dedicated herself to refining the film, ensuring that the final product met her high standards.

Education
Malindi Fickle excelled academically, graduating summa cum laude from New York University in 2002, a testament to her dedication and scholarly prowess.

Personal life
Malindi Fickle lives in Honolulu with her family. She has also lived in New York City, where she started her career in theatre and based her company, and in Tokyo, Japan, for two separate periods.

She is married to Jason Brand, a prominent financial executive who serves as President of Merrill Lynch Pacific Rim in Tokyo. Together, they have three children, blending their personal and professional lives with grace and dedication.

She founded Hyperbaric Productions to bring her creative vision to life, producing films that align with her artistic values and passion for storytelling.

By The People (2006)
The film "By The People" takes an inside look into the elections that were held in 2004 in the United States. This election was held between the Democratic representative John Kerry and Republican George W. Bush The film was released in 2006, two years after the elections. The election received intense scrutiny due to the 2000 "hanging chad" controversy, which led to issues with ballots being discarded because voting machines failed to record votes accurately.

Suck it Up Buttercup (2014)
Malindi Fickle's second film is about a former honor student's addiction to prescription pills. The addiction damages her friendships and destroys her family relationships. Her second directorial effort marks a departure from her documentary debut, "By The People", as she tackles a drama that requires a more intimate and hands-on approach with her actors. This film has already garnered attention at various film festivals, including a showcase at last year's WILLiFEST.

Film Festivals
Malindi is no stranger to the idea of film festivals having been in a film that was shown at Sundance ("Everything Relative") and her latest film ("Suck it Up Buttercup") which was shown at Beaufort International Film Festival. Lacy Marie Meyer, who starred in "Suck it Up Buttercup" won the Best Actress Award at the Beaufort International Film Festival, where she thanked Malindi and praised her work.

Awards and honors
Malindi Fickle graduated summa cum laude from New York University in 2002.

Malindi Fickle's film was nominated for five awards at the Hoboken International Film Festival, taking home the "Best of the Festival - Jury Award". The nominations included Best Feature Film, Best of the Festival - Jury Award, Best of the Festival - Audience Award, Best Screenplay, and Best Director.

She also had a notable acting credit in the film "Everything Relative", which was screened at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in 1996.

Malindi Fickle's film "Suck it Up Buttercup" received multiple nominations at the Martial Arts Entertainment Action on Film Awards, but the sole win came for Malindi herself, who took home the award for "Best Female Filmmaker – Short or Feature", a testament to her exceptional direction and dedication to her craft.

She has been critically acclaimed in The New York Times, a testament to her exceptional talent and dedication to her craft.

Social media
Malindi Fickle is active on social media platforms, including Twitter (@MalindiFickle), where she not only promotes her own projects but also champions the work of fellow female directors and industry professionals. She uses her platform to spotlight indie films, which are close to her heart, having started her acting career in independent cinema. Additionally, she highlights the achievements and projects of other female directors, providing valuable support and visibility to her peers in the industry.