Feeling Lost? Finding Purpose and Creating Change in the Film Industry.
Hayley Reeve - Actor, Writer, Director and Founder of Harp On Productions. A production company rewriting the notion to ‘Harp On’ and making films about unapologetic women refusing to bend to society's expectations. Committing to dismantle deeply embedded messages about modern women through the power of storytelling.
As an actor, I was desperate to share my voice. The dreaded wait for auditions or opportunities to come by but I was itching to go! I was lost in how to navigate these ‘in between' moments; it’s not in my nature to sit by and not take any action. It wasn’t until I got really honest with myself and started digging deeper into why I wanted to be in the film industry this is where I began to dip my toes into other roles in the industry. I’ve always been an unconventional action taker, daring to do things differently which always reflects in my work.
I was craving something more, so I followed my curiosity and began writing a script, although I had no idea how to do so, it excited me. This started the journey of writing my first short film “This is Zoe”. Ah, I’ve cracked the code - the process is enjoyable and empowering! It felt giant and monstrous, I didn’t have a clue how to go about this but it lit me up and ignited a fire in my belly. I found what I want to do in those ‘in between' moments - create my own films with female-driven narratives about the unsaid feelings of modern women.
I am committed to changing the narrative, championing the voices of women, and creating a safe work environment for cast and crew members, in which they feel comfortable being themselves. Therefore, their creativity and talent can expand rather than contract. For the audience, I want to serve the younger version of myself who felt the same as I did - feeling lost in navigating life with external pressures and contradictions. My films provide value to women navigating their 20s/30s who are desperate to share their voice, but unaware of how to in all areas of life.
“This is Zoe” is currently in the film festival circuit, winning awards and nominations. It is soon to be released in a few months' time. Excitingly, 65% of my cast and crew were female-identifying compared to the industry's measly average of 21%. It was important for me to source female-identifying cast and crew. I wanted to show that if I can do so on my very first film, then what is the excuse for bigger productions to not have a wider representation in front and behind the camera?
Mental health is another important aspect to highlight, which I want to place more importance within my production company both on and off set. There are some very inspiring female filmmakers in the UK keen to change this in the industry, who massively influenced me to do the same. I will be adopting this mission to make sure all my productions are a safe environment for everyone by having a Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator to support the cast and crew with sensitive and potentially triggering material. I’m an advocate for this position to be more common, following suit like the much-needed Intimacy Coordinators that are now more popular on set.
So if you are feeling lost as a creative, especially as an actor my biggest advice is to experiment and follow your curiosity. Find the common thread with those you look up to, and use your creativity to explore how those individuals embody what you desire or how you relate to them in some way. They can help you bridge the distance between where you are and where you're longing to go.