Today we’d like to introduce you to Hayden Greiwe.
Hi Hayden, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
With schooling in traditional narrative film from the University of Central Florida, Hayden’s yearning for storytelling grew. This passion pushed him to move from Florida to Los Angeles in 2020. Since moving, Hayden has been fortunate to work alongside award-winning directors and DP’s.
Hayden Greiwe has been a career camera operator with over a decade of experience specializing in Trinity, Steadicam, and Gearhead operations. Before jumping behind the camera, he worked as a dolly grip. From countless commercials with Dolly Parton and Danica Patrick to a Kevin Smith film, Dolly Grip sparked his interest in camera movement, practical uses, and narrative choices. After connecting with Tiffen’s Southeast gold instructor, Hayden trained under him before operating on projects with the Yankees, Ion TV, and Indi features/commercials.
Working on set is a team effort; sometimes, it’s necessary to have a leader, while other times, a hard worker who can follow orders. Hayden’s years on set with large Grip and Electric teams have allowed him to build awareness and adapt to the needed role.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think any part of the film industry is a smooth road for the majority of us. Strikes, recessions and the loss of funding into our Industry as a more diverse art form have all been struggles! Throughout these ups and downs I have been fortunate enough to have some great mentors that have seen value in me and productions that have allowed me to help carry their vision. Additionally a supportive team around me in my personal life have allowed me to make good habits during the lows and be flexible during the highs.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a career camera operator I want to excel in all aspects of moving camera. Starting in sticks, handheld and dollies seeing the income of gimbals and moving over to the more precise use of steadicams has been a great growth. As these tools change and expand its nice to be able to see their practical uses in a commercial and narrative space. I too am expanding my uses into using the Trinity as a remote head and playing more with motion control arms.
I have been lucky enough to do a lot of oners, some even being on film. To me that is the most heightened state of film production. A certain number of takes, no cuts, everyone must be on their best performance.
Being able to adapt, and now build upon them with my own designs is something I really pride myself in. A mastery of a tool is full understanding of its uses, where it shines and where it fall shorts.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Communication and in a sense deciphering their intent there is an energy that is needed from a shot and tools allow that energy to be felt. So understanding a directors vision or a DPs visual style is important. While also being able to communicate from a place of respect when there is helpful information or beneficial insight that you can bring as an operator.
Additionally flexibility is needed. In a sense physically as an operator but also in a sense mentally. So much happens on the job that we are in the end of the day a knowledgeable tool but that’s it. So we need to be able to adapt, work with what we have or sometimes work in a not so pleasant position.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.HaydenGreiwe
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steadi.hayden?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greiwehayden?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6031901/
