Check Out Melanie Hayward’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Hayward.

Melanie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I found my way into the entertainment industry almost by accident. I answered an ad for background extras many years ago as I thought it sounded intriguing. But once I started working on sets and got proper training, I realised something: I wasn’t the shy person I was as a kid, and I really love screen acting.

That training also sparked something bigger. I didn’t want to just wait for roles to come my way, I wanted to create my own opportunities. So I started writing and directing, and with my corporate background (especially project management), it was also a natural next step. What surprised me is that I fell in love with all of it. Not just acting, but the entire ecosystem of filmmaking.

Now, with even deeper acting training combined with those years of corporate experience, I’m in a position where I get to operate across the whole spectrum. I’m acting in larger productions, writing feature films, and handling the marketing strategy and content creation for independent vertical series.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not smooth sailing. The road is unpredictable, and anyone who tells you otherwise isn’t being honest. COVID was a massive disruption. Productions were shut down and opportunities dried up almost overnight. It was scary and disorienting.

But what I learned is that disruption can also be a redirect. While bigger productions were on pause, I doubled down producing indie shorts, writing and training. I got to explore storytelling in more intimate ways, further develop my craft, and it became this unexpected gift.

Beyond COVID, there’s a constant reality in this industry that people don’t always understand: rejection is relentless. You pitch ideas that don’t get made, you audition for roles you don’t book, you pour yourself into projects that sometimes go nowhere. It takes genuine resilience like the kind that only comes from loving what you do.

This industry doesn’t make financial sense unless you’re genuinely driven by the work itself. Because the practical choice would be to do something more stable.

So yeah, it’s been tough. But those struggles are what strengthened me as an artist and as a human.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m drawn to dark comedy, horror and drama, but especially when those genres blend together. I love exploring the darker sides of human nature with both humour and complexity.

Right now, I’m acting in and doing marketing and content creation for *Serial Killers Anonymous*, a new vertical web series about a dysfunctional group of inept serial killers trying to survive a support meeting. I play Beverly, a character who’s invisible to everyone. But that invisibility lets her operate beneath the surface and get her revenge in darkly amusing ways.

I also recently wrapped on a big budget feature film shot in Brisbane, which was fantastic. Getting to work with truly talented filmmakers at that level was humbling.

What sets me apart is that I’m deeply involved across the entire creative process. I understand the story at every level, from character to audience. I’m selective about the work I take on. I choose projects that excite me and push boundaries.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think we’re witnessing a genuine democratisation of filmmaking. Independent creators and vertical series are getting real visibility now. Social/web platforms are becoming more legitimate and proving that you don’t need a studio system to reach an audience. And auteur filmmakers are showing the world just how much untapped talent exists outside traditional gatekeepers.

There’s already been a massive shift, and audiences are seeing more, and getting hungry for, authentic, unconventional voices.

I also think we’ll see the return of physical media play a bigger role than people expect. Audiences are learning the hard way that you don’t truly own something unless it’s tangible, right in your hands.

It’s an exciting time.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrevived/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHenFmTkLyIA&si=Rr-vL3-m42FFVGX4