Miranda Brown Wants A Bigger Cape Cod Film Scene

These days, artificial intelligence is everywhere. From the very first Roomba to the most advanced form of AI “deep learning,” the act of using neural networks to mimic the human brain’s learning process has exploded over the last two decades. 

To some, the idea of AI is progressive, but to others it creates a world of uncertainty. 

Enter Nicholas Garofolo, an amateur filmmaker and actor inspired by the extreme nature of AI and its effect on the world. 

Over the course of eight months, Garofolo wrote a script for a one-hour film titled “Artificial Evil Awakens,” the story of a filmmaker and alien enthusiast whose life is hacked after using a Ouija board. 

Brewster resident Miranda Brown was cast in the role of the repair technician, a character integral to the story as the corrupt technology begins to take over. 

Brown grew up in the Upper Cape area and was a third generation Cape Cod Hospital delivery. She remembers feeling a strong sense of community from an early age but yearned for a larger pool of entertainment projects. 

Her first role, like many, was a part in her kindergarten play at Marston’s Mills Elementary School where she played a blue jay.

“When I was young, I loved the thrill of being onstage, learning lines and performing in front of an audience,” she said. “It was my first taste of storytelling through performance, and even at that age, I felt drawn to the excitement and creativity of acting.”

The acting bug was passed down from her mom, Denise DeMelo, who was frequently cast in local projects including a sitcom-style television show called “The Bored TV Show” which was on air from 2008 to 2009. DeMelo brought Brown along for some of the work. 

In 2002, Brown modeled for Claire Murray and was featured in “Inside Cape Cod” magazine. 

In Brown’s elementary years, she attended a drama school in Sandwich while she was also enrolled at Bridgeview Montessori School in Sagamore. At the Sandwich school she developed a true passion for acting and remembers unearthing new techniques to hone the craft. 

“One of my earliest memories is practicing my lines using cassette tapes — I’d record the full script, then play it back and respond to my pre-recorded dialogue,” she said. 

After cassette tapes went out of style, she progressed with the latest trendy tech, using her desktop computer and iPod Touch to record scenes. Watching these videos back helped to develop her confidence in front of the camera. 

While she’s remained passionate about acting, it wasn’t her main focus as she got older and stepped out into the working world. Throughout high school and college, Brown acted at The Factory of Terror in Fall River on Halloween, noting she loved the immersive performances. She also performed professionally in multiple parades throughout Rhode Island. 

While Brown loved the work, she hadn't been soliciting new roles until she got the call from Garofolo. “When Nick reached out and asked if I wanted to be part of his latest project, I immediately said yes,” she said. “It was an exciting opportunity to step into my first film role as an adult, and I was eager to experience independent filmmaking firsthand.”

The movie, shot entirely on an iPhone, allowed Brown to flex her acting chops once again. With Garofolo starring and directing, there was a ton of on-the-spot direction which made the environment fast-paced and immersive, she said. All her scenes are backed with the classic aria “Habanera” from the opera “Carmen,” a stylistic choice that Brown said added theatricality and drama to the role. 

With recognition and awards from four international film festivals and multiple submissions in the pipeline, Brown is hoping the film brings more awareness to the independent film scene on Cape. 

“I hope to see more independent filmmaking on Cape Cod,” she said. “There is so much untapped creative potential, and with modern technology, it’s easier than ever for local artists to produce and distribute their own content. I’d love to see more opportunities for actors, filmmakers and content creators to collaborate and build a stronger film community here on the Cape.”

As for her notes to first-time viewers of the film, she wants them to pay close attention because the answers aren’t handed over easily. 

“If you enjoy films that make you think and keep you guessing, you’ll appreciate the layered storytelling in ‘Artificial Evil Awakens,’” she said. 

Beyond acting, she works primarily in the digital marketing field, helping businesses and brands grow. She also helps to establish businesses with branding and collaterals. This year, Brown plans to expand her repertoire and earn her real estate license, hoping to merge digital marketing with real estate and community revitalization. 

“Artificial Evil Awakens” is streaming on Fawesome TV, Stash TV, UVOtv, Reveel, Cape Media TV and YouTube.