Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Hanna.
Hi Grace, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, and I’m currently based in Los Angeles. I moved here in 2014 — time really flies!
Growing up, I loved fantasy and horror. I wasn’t afraid of monsters because, to me, they were relatable. They were a metaphor for the “otherness” I felt. My parents are immigrants from two completely different cultures: my mom is from the Philippines, and my dad is from Egypt. But storytelling has always been a huge part of our identity.
For as long as I can remember, we had a tradition. Every Saturday night — after watching Are You Afraid of the Dark — my family would draw the curtains and dim the lights while my grandma and I made bowls of ice cream. It was my favorite part of growing up: sitting in our dining room, huddled together in the dark, telling each other scary stories.
My grandmother would tell me stories about Diwata (fairies) and Sirenas (mermaids). She regaled me with tales of Duwende (goblins) and Aswang (vampires). I knew two things: I loved horror, and I wanted to be a storyteller. It was inventible that I decided to study film and television at New York University. Since then, I haven’t looked back.
After graduating, I moved to Los Angeles, where I was part of NBCUniversal’s Page Program. I learned so much about the entertainment industry, which opened many doors for me. After working in development for a few years, I found my real love: TV. I worked for a producing director, Jonas Pate, who was a fantastic mentor. He encouraged me to find my voice and create.
Ultimately, it inspired me to get my MFA in Directing at the American Film Institute. It has been one of the most challenging and rewarding things I’ve ever done. Community has always been integral to who I am, and AFI gave me that. It’s been an incredibly nurturing and supportive environment to be vulnerable in my work and refine my voice.
As a writer and director, I’m drawn to genres like horror and fantasy. I’m currently working on my thesis, LOLA, a coming-of-age fantasy film about a young girl trying to cope with her grandmother’s dementia. It’s a personal story — art imitating life. It’s also the heart of what I want to explore as a director: how imagination and storytelling help us process our own grief and trauma.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The hardest part of my journey has been getting my family to understand why I chose to be an artist. The first-gen struggle is real! For the longest time, my parents didn’t support a career that didn’t involve med school, law school, or business school. So when applying to colleges for undergrad, I had to apply to film school in secret. I didn’t tell anyone in my family, especially my parents. I even remember sneaking out to mail in my portfolio. I never actually thought I’d get in!
As you can imagine, we were all very surprised when I got into NYU for film. The shock turned to anger, and my dad didn’t speak to me for nearly a year. My family finally realized I was serious about a film career when I graduated and moved to Los Angeles. And we’re good now, don’t worry! But I still have to remind myself that you can’t look to others for validation. Or, as my therapist likes to say, “the best validation comes from within.”
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love fantasy and horror, but there’s nuance to the stories I want to tell. People normally see fear as a negative emotion, one we desperately want to avoid. But I think scary stories can make “fear” a meaningful experience. They access a deeper part of our collective consciousness. Sharing fear makes us closer: being afraid of the dark, a monster, the unknown. I want an audience to experience this when they watch my work. A film that creates the same kind of intimacy as telling stories by the campfire and brings people together.
Scary stories are more than an adrenaline rush. They can be a cautionary tale or a reassuring narrative. They can give us closure about what someone’s life meant and what they left behind. Or they can reveal something about who we are. It’s the emotional core of my films: facing the monster outside or inside of us. My short film, TINY HEARTS, exemplifies this. In it, a young woman journeys into a fantastical dollhouse house, where she must accept herself or risk being trapped forever. The story touches on beauty, race, and identity — themes I want to keep exploring in my work.
Being a writer and director fuels a fire in me that isn’t just for myself but for others in my community who see themselves as outsiders, who aren’t represented, who feel bad about being different. I want my work to depict a story in a natural, truly terrifying way without all the gore associated with the horror genre.
The best stories aren’t just about monsters or supernatural elements. It’s about the relationships the characters have and the people they love. I don’t want people to only see the dark, horrible, horrific elements within our world; I also want them to see the beauty within it.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Many kids grow up between their front porches and the edge of their street; I read a lot of books. I explored different realms and supported valiant quests. I was obsessed with Goosebumps and A Series of Unfortunate Events. I read Harry Potter cover to cover. While I have always believed stories can transport you to another world, it wasn’t until I saw E.T. that I discovered stories can change your life.
I remember being completely captivated by the film. I still see the moment when E.T. lights his finger, points at Elliot’s head, and says, “I’ll be right here.” It informed the rest of my adventures: I climbed on my bicycle and pretended I was flying as I zipped down the street. I saw the world of grown-ups as scary and menacing. I dreamt of finding something extraordinary in the shed behind my home. This film communicated a childlike wonder that I knew but had never seen.
I want to embody that backyard dreamer when I create. Storytelling has always been a part of my life, and I firmly believe the world is a better place because of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thatsjustgrace.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_gracehanna/
