Brandon Kleyla has been a part of the entertainment business since he first stepped on stage at 6 years old. Over the past 30 years, he’s been an actor, writer, director and everything in between. He’s been involved with cult classic horror franchises, portraying Josiah in Children of the Corn IV; Oscar winning films such as Gods and Monsters, portraying young James Whale; and after 15 years in Films, he switched direction and ended up in the world of Themed Entertainment.
He works great under pressure and loves short deadlines. His persistence and dedication often pays off, and as Tony Baxter once said when he first saw that Brandon had gotten a job at Walt Disney Imagineer, “oh, someone let the cat in!” During his 8 years at WDI he worked on more than 30 different attractions worldwide in many different aspects including Set Decoration and Art Direction, resulting in a total of 6 THEA Awards for Outstanding Achievement. He has also been included as a part of the 2023 Blooloop Top 50 List.
“Brandon represents the exciting next generation of themed entertainment designers. He has successfully adapted the skills learned in a remarkable early career in media production to creative compelling, immersive environments in theme parks. Whether you are strolled through Walt’s Los Angeles of the 1920’s on Buena Vista St, or enjoying a flaming South Seas concoction in Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, Brandon’s detailed craftwork surrounds you, setting the tone and authenticity of the environment. I would recommend him for any project that requires a multitalented creative professional dedicated to bringing imagination to reality.
- Gary Blumenstein, creative director
Brandon has spent the past 3 years working on the upcoming Universal Beijing Resort as a Prop Manager and Art Director. He is currently an Art Director for a land within Universal’s Epic Universe.
Since his work on Trader Sam’s, he has created the “Trader Brandon” brand, which specializes in tiki mugs and other collectibles. For more information on Brandon’s involvement in the world of Trader Sam’s, click here.