Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Hersh.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Matthew. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
It’s so difficult to pinpoint or explain exactly how I started since I’ve had a love for film throughout my entire life. I didn’t think I would be able to pursue it as a career until I took some screenwriting classes in college. I fell in love with storytelling and writing and from then on I knew what I wanted to do. I just didn’t know how to start so I picked up a camera and started shooting music videos.
It was just easier to start doing those since I didn’t need many resources or equipment compared to film production. My first music video was in 2014, I believe and I just kept doing that for years. I eventually picked up a drone as well and taught myself that and kept expanding my knowledge of film production. I pretty much-used music videos and my connections in the music industry to get into the film industry and I eventually got gigs as a behind the scenes photographer and/or drone operator on bigger sets and projects such as feature films and documentaries. Fast forward a few years later and now I’ve worked on a few short films as a writer, producer and director.
Has it been a smooth road?
I don’t think any worth road traveling is smooth. If you’re pursuing your dreams, then chances are there are going to be plenty of ups and downs and rough patches. From working on videos that I never got paid for to long and excruciating days on set. Filmmaking isn’t easy but it’s what I enjoy doing and am blessed to be in the position I am now.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
Matthew Hersh Films is a production company I started so I can work on my own ideas and bring them to life. I wanted to finally step forward as a filmmaker as opposed to just a for hire videographer that worked on music videos. My favorite genre is horror/thriller so I would say that’s my specialty. The two productions I’m most proud of so far are “The Listing” and “Bar Crawl,” and I think what sets my films apart from most is my writing style. “The Listing” is now available to stream on Amazon Prime and “Bar Crawl” is currently in the film festival circuit so be sure to follow my social media to stay up to date with screenings for that one as well as future projects.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Well, the entire film industry has been heavily affected this year so it’s difficult to say. But I really think it’s going to mirror what happened after the great depression. Bigger production companies didn’t want to invest in big-budget films since they couldn’t turn a profit, which led to the rise of the Universal Monster films, which have had a huge influence on me throughout the years. A monster film was way easier to accomplish on a low budget compared to the popular musicals at the time. Plus, I feel like the audience gravitated toward the darker stories during dark times. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a similar shift in the type of projects studios are looking for in the next 5-10 years and we start seeing more low budget films in the works compared to the modern-day blockbuster. And also the great thing about horror is it can pack one hell of a punch for a low budget film compared to other genres if done right.
Contact Info:
- Website: Imdb.me/matthewhersh
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: MatthewHershFilms
- Facebook: Facebook.com/matthewhershfilms
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B08JTJT811/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r
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