Meet Chris Hall

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

Chris, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
The first example of work ethic I encountered was probably my father. I don’t think I ever saw him take a sick day. He was a mechanic and would constantly come home with cuts, punctures, bruises, you name it. But he would get up and head in the next day to do whatever it took to support his family. He kept my brother and I busy and proactive ever since we were young. I started taking Taekwondo when I was 5, and earned my 1st degree black belt by the time I was 11. Through that process, I learned so many things about work ethic, getting back up when you fall, self-discipline, respect, honor, integrity, and more.

I had already started with scouting by that time, and left Taekwondo to focus on my journey to achieve the rank of Eagle. Through that, I continued my development as a leader, learning accountability, teamwork, time management, and so much more. During that time, I was cutting the grass at our house, and started doing it for others as well. There wasn’t a lot of down time. Constant forward motion. Eventually, I earned the highest rank in Boy Scouts, a rank that less than 1% of those that begin ever reach. I earned the rank of Eagle. To this day, that journey and that accomplishment have been one of the best things that has happened to me.

I graduated high school, dropped out of tech school and focused on my retail management career that I had started prior to beginning at the tech school. I was able to grow there, utilizing all the skills I had learned through Taekwondo, Boy Scouts, and at home. I worked overnights, weekends, holidays, birthdays, and had no quit in me until I began my family. I prayed every day that another opportunity would present itself, and eventually it did. I was able to get a 9-5 job, which then afforded me the opportunity to really chase my dream of filmmaking. To this day, if I’m not working on a project, I’m seeking out the education, practice, and anything to continue my growth. I haven’t stopped moving yet, and I really do have to give a lot of that to my father for not only being that example, but pushing me to stay productive.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
After realizing that filmmaking is what I wanted to do, I instantly started seeking out information on how to do it, what tools were needed, etc. I built a computer, studied online on YouTube through channels like Film Riot, DSLR Fillm Noob, Indy Mogul, DSLR Video Shooter, Videomaker, and more. I downloaded editing software before I even owned a camera, and started learning my way around it. I studied the camera I was going to buy, and knew everything about it before I ever laid hands on it. Aside from that, I watched alot of movies, alot of behind-the-scenes stuff, and listened to a ton of director commentary on the filmmaking process. Essentially, I became a student of the craft.

After finally purchasing my camera and some other gear, and having a fresh script in hand, I set out to make my first short film. I knew no one, had no connections, or anything. I just posted on Facebook about a location need, had someone offer their venue spot for filming and for holding auditions. Posted about auditions everywhere from Facebook to Craigslist, and found the folks that would help create my first short film, Cheatin’ Charlie. After that, through networking, I started finding more and more of the creators in my area, and started collaborating with them on other projects.

I eventually found a guy that would become my biggest collaborator, creative partner, and brother. John Carroll DeShazier would become my director of photography, I would become his, and we would tag team other jobs like writing and editing. While working with John, we’ve been able to grow our team of cast and crew tremendously, and have some of the most passionate and dedicated people working with us. We’re all like a family. Not every project requires everyone, and they get that. They still cheer us on from a distance, and if needed, they jump in without hesitation. Our time together has lead to a handful of short films that have been in and/or won numerous awards at film festivals around the globe.

One of our most successful projects, Low Heat, is now on Tubi and other streaming platforms. That and our continued collaboration has expanded our reach to now include great projects finding their way to us. We’ve had a handful of job offers come to us recently for shooting documentaries, pilot episodes for shows, even working with some internationally well-known celebrities. The journey has been awesome, growing the team has been incredible, and it really feels like the sky’s the limit. Something that’s unique about our team, is that we’ve got everyone from all walks of life involved. From seasoned veterans to newbies, from all kinds of backgrounds, ethnicities, beliefs, etc. Our team really is a melting pot, and it directly contributes to our ever-expanding growth.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Education, experience, and the constant pursuit of growth were key to my success, and truly all components of being successful in any field. With today’s technology, all of this is so much easier to obtain and put into practice. YouTube and other sites offer a myriad of sources of information that can be used for education purposes. It’s free, and easy to get to. Being willing to work for free and maybe even doing a job you’re not the most thrilled about, can lead to a ton of experience. Just doing the thing you’re wanting to do, or stepping foot in that arena, will significantly impact you and grow your capabilities and knowledge. Lastly, never stop. Whenever there’s an opporutnity to grow, take it. But that said, at some point, I think it’s worth looking at each project and determining if “the juice is worth the squeeze.” If you’re going to grow from it, do it. If you’re just being busy and not productive, maybe let that one slide and look for something else.

Specifically with filmmaking, watch tutorials, watch movies, get a camera (any camera – even a cell phone camera), and go out and shoot something. Just practice shooting the way you’ve been getting taught through the tutorials, then practice your editing skills. Don’t forget audio. And if you’re a writer, get to it. You don’t need anyone’s permission to start, so don’t let anyone keep you from doing so. If you see a job posted to work on a film set, even if it’s no pay, go check it out. Guaranteed you’ll learn something. You may learn more about what not to do, than what to do. That’s incredibly helpful as well. But keep moving forward in your journey. That’s really the main thing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mayhemproductions.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayhemproductionfilms/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mayhemproductionfilms
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mayhem_films
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mayhemproductionfilms
• Other: IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?companies=co0569637