Meet Hannah Keiffert

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hannah Keiffert. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hannah, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I didn’t! And to be honest, I’ve found that people much further along in their careers aren’t fully over it either. But I don’t mean this in a defeatist way – I actually find it comforting that people way more senior than I am feel the same way. I think it’s just something that will always be with you to some extent, and some days it has a stronger voice in your head than other days. I just try to remind myself that I can’t be good at everything – people will have different strengths and weaknesses, even WITHIN the job or skill you’re trying to obtain. For example, as a writer, I feel that I’m good at dialogue, structure, and identifying problems, but I’m weaker at scene descriptions, writing fast, and coming up with pitches on the fly. I try my best to remind myself that just because I consider myself “bad” at those things, it doesn’t mean I’m not a good writer – I just write differently.

Also – dealing with imposter syndrome means you often have thoughts akin to “I’m not REALLY a writer, I haven’t been staffed yet”, or back when I did photography, I would think “I’m not REALLY an artist, I don’t have my own gallery show.” But the reality is – you’re a writer if you write. You’re an artist if you make art. And where you are in your career shouldn’t dictate that, even if someone arrogant above you feels otherwise.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My name is Hannah Keiffert and I am a storyteller in the entertainment industry. From a young age, I knew I wanted to pursue something creative for my career, but I didn’t know what – I waffled between singing, graphic design, then transferred schools to study photography – and it wasn’t until my senior year when I made a stop-motion animated short for my thesis that I realized that what my passion really boiled down to was “I like to tell stories through images” – and animation specifically had a special hold on my heart. So I moved across the country to pursue a career in animated television! I got my start writing and producing my own sci-fi comic called @livinthefuture on Instagram, then I became a production coordinator, and then later writers’ assistant at Warner Bros and Flying Bark.

I’ve got big ideas about my goals and where I want to end up – but during this turbulent time in the industry, it’s been especially hard to move up the ladder. So lately I’ve really just been trying to focus on my OWN stuff, getting more of my work out there (without waiting idly for someone else to make something “happen” for me) and really honing in on my style and the kinds of stories I want to tell. My work often centers around “identity” – discovering who you are, what your purpose is, why you matter, how you fit in the world – all things that I’ve grappled with at every turn in my life. But I also love to create a world that you can completely lose yourself in (as I’ve relied on many shows over the years that provided me just that – an escape). I love fantastical settings and quirky scenarios that feel so different from our own lives – and yet, you see yourself in the characters that operate within that world. I love dark, relatable themes, and characters that grow because of the connections they make with others – all behind the veil of witty humor, unique visuals, and FUN. Whether it’s a girl finding her place in the surreal, dystopian year of 3000 (@livinthefuture), a bunch of chefs making unlikely friendships in an absurd animated cooking competition (pilot sample “Super Chef Ultra”), a robot and a ghost aiding each other’s missions to “die” but ultimately finding the will to live (pilot sample “Body and Soul”), or a dead girl finding an unexpected connection with her enemy, the Grim Reaper (upcoming animated short “POV: You Died and Went to Hell”). By the way, I’m hoping to secure funding and start production for this short in the new year! Be on the lookout!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1) Ambition! You gotta have guts to move so far away from home and set your eyes on a prize that’s really hard to reach. But f*** it, don’t let anything stop you!

2) Persistence! This industry can be pretty grueling. It can kick you down time and time again – you could finally be on a path where you feel like you’re climbing up the ladder and everything’s going right – and then your show gets canceled and no one’s making shows anymore all of a sudden and you’re unemployed for a year and when you finally do get a job again you have to start back down at the bottom (yes, clearly I’m still bitter). But you just have to keep at it. And although I’m being facetious, something I keep reminding myself is that I’m not ACTUALLY starting over. The connections I’ve made and the experience I’ve gained don’t actually go away – it’s all cumulative.

3) The desire to grow! And I don’t mean on the career ladder, I mean expanding your skills and growing as a person. There will ALWAYS be something new to learn. Keep writing new samples, even when you feel like “no one’s gonna read them so what’s the point?” Even if a certain sample never buys you a gig, you used your brain and completed something. And then you can send it to friends, get their feedback — and don’t be stubborn about the notes you get! I used to be like “well, no, my pilot HAS to be this way because of X, Y, and Z” but… it really doesn’t. I get it, it’s hard to not be precious about your work, but if someone’s bumping on something, there’s usually a good reason. Your work can change – it’s okay and normal to have 5+ drafts of something. It just means you’re playing in the space, you’re listening, you’re learning, you’re making it better.

All of these qualities can be difficult to work on if you’re someone that generally has low self-esteem (and believe me, I do). But the #1 thing I’ve found most reassuring in my journey is to surround myself with supportive peers – because everyone is going through the same exact thing you are (or they have at some point). You’re not alone! Also remember to keep in mind that not everything will be in your control – the industry is fickle, things happen, and they almost always don’t have to do with you. Try to focus on the things that ARE in your control. Creating writing samples and short films, sending emails, getting coffee with people, taking classes – no one can take those things away from you.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

I love lists! I have a daily to-do list that has things on it like “do the dishes” or “write a little for yourself” – but it even includes things like “take three deep breaths” or “express gratitude to a loved one.” It sounds cheesy, but it feels good to cross off the little things too – because those two-minute mental health activities are the first to fall to the wayside when you’re overwhelmed, and ironically, they’re the things that can help you the most in your time of need.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahkeiffert/
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/hannahkeiffert
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/livinthefuture/

Image Credits

@livinthefuture art by Mika Tanagi