Brian enjoyed a nonstop series of successes in the entertainment business for over two decades, but by 2008, the era of reality TV, digital media, and multi channel cable television was coming of age. The high end documentary was falling out of favor due to the expense of making them. A 2007 writer's strike crippled the film and television industry, budgets for live musicians were becoming a thing of the past, and the abundance of new cable channels meant smaller budgets and lower standards. Emmy judging was no longer monitored and, although Brian continued to score Emmy nominated films like Ric Burns' for American Experience, HBO's "Joe Louis: A Hero Betrayed", and "The Running Rebels of UNLV", as well as the 2011 Academy Award nominated documentary "The Warrior of Quigang" for Ruby Yang and Thomas Lennon, Brian decided not to work as much, even considering retirement, preferring to time that was more balanced with his private life. That period would only last a few years.