Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Hadley Jr.
Hi Anthony, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Anthony Hadley Jr. I am an entrepreneur, filmmaker and a writer, originally from Omaha, NE. Growing up, I always had a love for movies. I also had an affinity for dinosaurs. So when I saw the original Jurassic Park at a very young age, it stood out to me as something special. Being naturally quiet and reserved, I gravitated toward writing as my first form of expression. I would write a lot of poetry and my own song lyrics in the early days. Then puberty hit. Girls, as well as sports, then derailed all things creative for a while. My intentions after high school were to play college football while majoring in architectural engineering. But after suffering a knee injury my senior year, I began to rethink my future in sports, amongst other things. I eventually decided to bypass the traditional school setting. I opted to pursue a more entrepreneurial route by obtaining a barber’s license. In barber school, my side hustle was selling movies pirated off of the internet. Knowing it was something that could not last, I would take the money I made and invest in camera and computer gear. Soon after, I started making funny videos with friends early on in the YouTube days. One day a light bulb went off. I saw how all the pieces of what I was doing could culminate into something bigger. I ended up moving to Los Angeles with only that barber license to initially establish and support myself. Eventually, I would invest the extra money I made in production gear and transition into film and writing full time. I have been pursuing and slowly realizing the dream that began years ago ever since.
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?
As you could imagine, based on the path that I laid out above, things were anything but straightforward. Many of the struggles I experienced were those anyone pursuing a dream could identify with. But some were unique to my conditioning and internal programming. I second-guessed myself at almost every step. I quit things more times than I care to remember. But somewhere along the cycle of my walking away from things, only to drag myself back, I realized that there was no other reality in which I would find fulfillment. Once I had that realization, it made things easier. It became clear to me that no matter what I experienced, it was all simply part of my journey. The goal from there was to always find the lesson in my circumstances.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The most accurate description for me at the moment would be that of a freelance filmmaker and writer. I do a lot of shooting and editing for clients. When I am lucky, I can collaborate on the creative concept behind the product as well. Long term, I see myself being more of a writer/producer. So anytime I have the chance to script or pitch an idea that may go into the process of production, it excites me. I got my professional start in event highlight videos. That informs a lot of my style when it comes to sports and music-related content that I produce. But I am endlessly drawn back to narrative film, which I hope to master in this next phase of my career. What sets me apart from others in my industry is my ability to be efficient with small crews or with no crew at all. There wasn’t a big pool of resources for an aspiring indie filmmaker where I grew up, so I had to learn how to wear many hats in production.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along the way is to keep pushing forward. No one ever tells you how much you will have to work to realize a dream. Unless, of course, they are talking you out of it. But the lesson I’ve learned is somewhere between those two extremes. If you honestly desire something, you will have to put your heart and put your all into it. It will likely take longer than you expect. You will have to work harder than you planned to. It will take all of the patience, the perseverance, and the sacrifice you can muster. You will have to possess the will to hold on a little longer or go further, even when you can’t yet see the light at the other end of the tunnel. What you are seeking most assuredly exists. It is usually just on the other end of where you have drawn that imaginary line in your head. Believe me. I’ve quit and doubled back enough times to know firsthand.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.anthonyhadleyjr.com
- Instagram: anthonyhadleyjr
Image Credits:
Terrence Tryon
