Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Leikin
Hi Hannah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
It’s hard to know where to start. I grew up spending my time reading, writing, acting, and watching movies. I always had an active imagination so these things were the building blocks of my life. In high school, I had the opportunity to direct several student plays and I absolutely loved it. Curating an entire reality for people to sit down and enjoy felt like magic. During my senior year, I started experimenting with filmmaking. I made a documentary about bedrooms being a form of personal expression. The rewarding part about that project was that people from different social groups wanted to participate and bring me into their private worlds. I had a front row seat to my peers’ inner lives, allowing me to learn about them in ways I didn’t expect. It was deeply intimate though surface level at the same time. That dichotomy blew me away. I was motivated to do more. I then wrote and directed a short film that was a comedy about a disgruntled teenager attempting to prank a spiteful teacher. These experiences made me feel like I was connecting with other people and my own creativity in ways I never had before. I went on to study film at Boston University in pursuit of formally learning the craft. At BU, I continued acting in all kinds of productions as well as directing various films. Working with actors around the Greater Boston area was incredibly informative and inspiring. I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.
After finishing my degree, I moved to Los Angeles to intern and begin my career. I started freelancing for commercials and music videos as a production assistant, as many people do. Eventually, after a few projects with Spotify, I was offered an internal role as a coordinator. From there, I continued developing my creative production skills and now work as a Senior Creative Producer. One of my favorite projects was directing behind the scenes videos for the Singles playlist where well-known musicians would cover their favorite songs. Being around some of the artists I looked up to since childhood and making content about their creative practices was completely mind blowing and I had to pinch myself… a lot.
Similar to my teenage years, documentary style work inspired me to do more visual world building so I began directing music videos. I directed one for a local band called Eagle Noise that was nostalgic and playful. The crew was amazing and it was an absolute pleasure leading the project and collaborating with everyone. Another video I loved was for Boy in the Water, a musical project by Clay Lorant Saldaña- a friend of mine from childhood, I recently reconnected with. We grew up together so we had a lot of the same references and tastes in things. It was such a blast to work with them and the talented team. I have to give a shout to Dan Chapman, the DP, and Sean Michon, the Gaffer, who worked together to create the beautiful film noir lighting design of my dreams. Today, I’m working on video podcasts at Spotify as well as directing music videos for independent artists. I’m always looking for more opportunities to collaborate with people and bring ideas to life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road hasn’t always been smooth but it has been rewarding. The rough patches have led me to important pivots and I believe that a winding path makes for an interesting life. I think back to the beginning and how I spent a lot of time picking up trash for free on sets just to put myself out there. I didn’t have any connections so I had to do a lot of grunt work in hopes of proving myself and eventually getting paid opportunities. Grinding like that was difficult but also incredibly formative. I remember how hard it can be when you start out so I try to pay it forward when I meet aspiring creatives.
Each project is different but every production does require a certain level of pivoting and flexibility. Things can not and will not go 100% according to plan. That reality can be really challenging but it can also make for some major unexpected creative payoffs. Especially since independent projects often have shoe-string budgets, things like last minute staffing changes, ongoing creative shifts, and everything in between are to be expected. But, with that said, it’s all part of the process.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an over-thinker who wears their references on their sleeve. And I love visuals that are surreal, campy, and textured- even more so if they have a macabre or nostalgic quality to them. I read a lot because it helps me develop my imagination by picturing things for myself and making my mind do the creating. When I’m not directing, I’m writing poetry, scripts, and short stories. I like to send my friends and family my stuff via email so they have something to laugh about or think over as they go about their days. I like to infuse my work with nods to art that inspires me because I want to be part of those conversations. Sometimes I’m referencing John Waters’ “Cry Baby,” other times it’s John Huston’s “The Maltese Falcon.” Depends on the day.
How do you think about happiness?
Laughing really hard, learning something new, or feeling inspired are the holy trinity of my happiness.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Hannahleikin.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leikin_it/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahleikin/
Image Credits
Image 1-
Photographer: Sean Michon
Image 2-
Photographer: Matt Bass
Image 3-
Image Credit: Spotify Singles
Image 4-
Cinematographer: Matt Bass
Image 5-
Cinematographer: Matt Bass
Image 6-
Cinematographer: Dan Chapman
Image 7-
Cinematographer: Dan Chapman
