We recently had the chance to connect with Matt Hausmann and have shared our conversation below.
Matt, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Right now, I am working full-time on Criminal Minds Season 19. I’m an assistant property master and give the actors the props needed for each scene. Whenever I have free time, either before work or at lunch, I write my own screenplays and create pitch decks for my scripts.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a multi-hyphenate. A screenwriter, director, prop master, graphic designer, and editor. Please check out all the projects I’ve been a part of at: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1209890/ and all the fun videos on my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/user/mattiebumbum. I’ve always wanted to be a part of filmmaking from my early days. I remember seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark at a drive-in. I was hooked. Someone even wrote in my 7th grade yearbook, “Good luck in L.A. I have an art, theatre, and film production background. My main focus is writing feature screenplays. I have 7 features tightly drafted, 2 TV pilots, and several shorts. I’m working on a new alien sci-fi/action movie that’s about an ex-detective turned vigilante serial killer who is on a quest to find her husband and son’s killer, when she’s abducted by aliens who are trying to find the perfect host for their consciousness, now it’s up to her to defeat the extraterrestrials and free the innocent people from their deadly seizure. I have 3 other comedy features and 1 drama screaming at me to write. I’m about to launch a new website, mhscripts.com, that has a bio, reels, interviews, pitches, links, posters, loglines, synopses, mood boards, and much more. It’s a complete library of everything I’ve written and some of the new scripts I’m working on.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
I’d say my dad. He was an electrical engineer at NASA. I always remember him getting up early and getting ready to go to work. He was always doing something and barely missed any days. He really put everything he got into his work and that’s why I do.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
To take writing more seriously and like a job instead of a hobby. I’ve been writing screenplays for over twenty years now, but didn’t treat it as a job until maybe 6 years ago. My writing has skyrocketed since. I wish I had known about structure and character years ago, instead of going back over old screenplays and trying to make them work today.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
To work hard, keep your head down, and your dreams will come true. The film business is built on being in the right place at the right time, who you know, luck, and nepotism. Hard work does play a role, but I’ve seen people in high positions who don’t deserve to be there and clearly haven’t done their homework.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’ve always wanted to be in film. Luckily, I’ve been very successful in the art department and property department, where I’ve found a home on some very high-profile TV shows and films. In the depths of my being, I’m a writer and creator. Too many characters and ideas are swarming around my head. Over the past few years, I’ve been gradually shifting from my day job as a prop person toward a career in screenwriting. I took all of 2023 off and wrote every day. Busted out four new feature spec scripts and one short. This is what I was born to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mhscripts.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigfoothunt/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-hausmann-1a52b65a/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bigfoothunt
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mhausmann3
- Other: https://thebigfoothuntersmovie.com/
