Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Hartwich.
Hi Michael, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My entry into the world of film began in 1996 when I saw a movie poster for ‘Scream’ in my local cinema. I was so intrigued with the concept of ‘Ghostface’ and while at the time I wasn’t allowed to watch the film, I became obsessed with teen slasher movies. I started making my own horror movies when I was about 10, where I directed, acted, edited and roped in friends and family to play characters from school kids to serial killers. My sister’s notable appearance as an evil witch wearing a beanie over her face who hunted two Texas teens who broke into her slaughter house with a garden hoe got acclaimed reviews (from my Mum). From there I went on to working as an actor through my teens and after graduating from performing arts at 24, I made the move from Adelaide, Australia to Hollywood to pursue it more seriously.
Very quickly after moving to Los Angeles, I realised while on set that I was being lured back behind the camera. I started focusing more on cinema and photography and began working on fashion and commercial sets where my creativity could blossom.
I have been lucky enough to have some incredible experiences in the last 10 years, like photographing Jane Goodall, working with some of the brightest stars in entertainment, to travelling to Antarctica on a photographic expedition with my 80 year old dad at the end of last year.
I also started my production company Artwic in 2018 which focuses on helping future medical robotic technology companies tell their stories and acquire investments to fund the progression of their inventions. In this line of work, it feels very exciting to be a part of the future, especially when there are so many exciting paths being explored that will hopefully help a lot of people!
And in the background of it all, I’ve always had this obsession with the moon. I have spent hundreds of hours photographing the moon and this was only encouraged more when one of my moon videos was viewed over 63 million times on Instagram. I’d definitely say that landscapes, the moon and animals are my top three passions when it comes to photography and videography.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I think that’s kind of the point and makes the adventure far more exciting. I started out in a completely different country than I am in now, I starting acting at a young age, worked multiple jobs managing bars and restaurants to get me through university and my studies and eventually made the jump into photography and filmmaking. There has been a lot of figuring things out as I go, learning from those around me, making lots of errors and learning not just the skills, but also how to build a business around it. I’ve definitely learnt to trust my instinct, my voice and how to say no to work that didn’t align with what I really wanted to make – that one was tough!
There has been plenty of times where I’ve questioned if I’m on the right path or if I’m good at what I do and whether anyone would see value in the kind of work I wanted to do. I did have a bit of a creative burnout where I took over a year and half off and realised that my creative well was not infinite. This was a big lesson – to really focus on what I want to be doing am what I’m good at. I genuinely think that these challenges have helped sharpen my focus and push me to get a clear view on who I am as an artist and who I want to work with.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I would say the best way to describe what I do is that I tell stories. Through my photography and videography I’ve found a following that appreciates the way I showcase the moon’s beauty, which by the way… I am obsessed with. My instagram could easily be described as a fan account for the moon and I have spent so much time staring up at in in the early hours of the morning. I would say that the photography and videography I captured of the solar eclipse in April last year is definitely in my top 3 ‘most proud’ moments, as well as the first video I captured of a jet crossing a super moon which has been viewed over 63 million times on Instagram.
What I believe sets me apart from some others is that I don’t approach photography or filmmaking as just content creation – I work hard to treat it as storytelling through an artistic lens. I come from a background in performing arts and I think that shows in how I frame, light and pace a story. It doesn’t matter if I’m taking a single photo or creating a full investor video for a client, I’m always trying to find the emotional thread that connects the viewer to the subject.
Clients have told me I’ve been able to get something out of them that even they didn’t know was there and I think that comes from listening, observing and approaching each project with openness and excitement.
What does success mean to you?
For me success isn’t necessarily about being ‘recognised’ or getting an award or going viral. While those things are great, to me success is more about creating something that really connects with people and knowing that I’ve had a positive impact on their day, their week or their life in some way. I love when someone sees a photo or a video I’ve taken and it brightens their day, maybe it’s a portrait that makes them feel understood or inspired, a landscape that helps them escape for a moment or a video of the moon that helps create some peace. Those moments are when I know that my idea or inspiration has worked. Helping someone feel or express an emotion that makes an impact and moves people in some positive way makes me feel successful.
With my production company, it’s the kind of moments when a founder watches their final video back and says “That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to explain.” If I can help someone put their passion into words and visuals that actually move people to act, that’s the real impact I’m trying to have and the kind of success that I care about.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://artwic.com
- Instagram: @michaelhartwich
- Other: https://michaelhartwich.com
Image Credits
Peter Hartwich – photo of me in Antarctica
