We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Spencer Hawkins a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Spencer, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I wasn’t always this confident. Confidence is a skill you develop in stages throughout life, and for many, it starts as early as adolescence. My dad has always been,and still is, the most confident person I’ve ever met. He believes he can do anything, and once he sets his mind to something, there’s no talking him out of it. His confidence is unshakable.
At one point, I genuinely believed the confidence he passed down to me was hereditary, like it would just “kick in” at a certain age. My dad is a very strategic thinker, retired military, and many of those skills never left him. From the time I could walk, he had me enrolled in various activities: piano lessons, Hapkido, boxing, basketball, and even golf camp. I was clearly out of place at golf camp, but I went with it anyway.
He kept me active throughout my childhood and into adulthood with one goal in mind: to make me well-rounded and unafraid of performing or presenting myself in front of others. Looking back, every one of those experiences served a purpose. Most people’s biggest fears are public speaking or, if you’re a guy, talking to women. The earlier you face those fears, the easier they become to conquer. Eventually, those fears fade, and confidence takes their place.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m a writer-director and filmmaker who focuses on coming-of-age stories and comedies. The best part about being a filmmaker is getting to express my art through motion pictures. When I first started writing, I’d get stuck on the first paragraph for hours, unsure how to begin while my brain raced a thousand miles per hour. One day, I told myself, “Just start writing, and clean it up later.” That turned out to be some of the best advice I’ve ever given myself. Once I started, the ideas began to flow. I jotted down everything, and as I wrote, even more ideas came to life.
For a long time, I kept my ideas to myself. In the past, people had doubted me, dismissing my concepts as “stupid,” which made me hesitant and insecure about sharing anything creative. Eventually, I started casually pitching ideas to my friends while we were hanging out. I expected the usual brush off, but instead, they said, “Man, let’s go shoot that film right now.” I laughed at first, until I realized they were serious.
I owe a lot to my friends for their support. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Making short films has always been fun, but casting my friends made it even better. It turned the process from a stressful shoot into something that felt more like documenting memories than directing a film.
Thank you, fellas.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three most important qualities that have had the greatest impact on my journey are adaptability, critical thinking, and confidence. Being a well-rounded person allows you to adjust to different environments and connect with a variety of personalities. I’ve attended three different schools in three different states, each with its own unique culture. To thrive, I had to be a quick learner. I’ve always said, “Drop me in any state, and I’ll adapt in two weeks.”
As a director, adaptability is just as essential, especially when working with actors. You need to guide them into the role you envision, but to do that effectively, you first have to understand them on a personal level. Are they sensitive? Do they respond well to constructive criticism? Are they confident, cocky, or somewhere in between? No two people are the same, and sometimes you’ll find yourself working with complete opposites. Learning how to navigate those dynamics and develop a plan comes from real-life experience, often by being thrown into situations where those personality traits are front and center.
Critical thinking has taken me far, not just in filmmaking, but in life overall. From troubleshooting car problems to graduating college, it’s been one of my most valuable tools. Every short film I’ve made came with its fair share of challenges, often with very little time to solve them. In the early days, I was working with a zero-dollar budget, just a broke college student trying to make movies. I had to find creative ways to make things happen with whatever resources I could find.
A lot of my problem-solving skills were actually developed thanks to my first car, which was basically a rolling dumpster fire. It broke down every four days, but looking back, those were the “good times” that taught me how to think fast, stay calm, and find solutions under pressure. In the entertainment industry, confidence is my greatest asset. Rejection, judgment, and heavy criticism come with the territory. At some point, you’ll feel like nothing is working out, unless you learn to tune out the noise and trust your own voice. I knew exactly what I was stepping into the moment I posted my first film on YouTube. The audio was terrible, people criticized it, and some even suggested I stop altogether. Did I care? Not at all. Practice makes perfect. I’ve been rejected from more film festivals than I’ve been accepted into, but that never slowed me down. I picked myself up, kept moving, and hit the ground running. Film festivals don’t define my success. I make films for myself, and the public is invited to watch them with me.
To the up-and-coming filmmakers and videographers: don’t let a lack of money hold you back, that’s just an excuse. If you think you need the most expensive camera to create something meaningful, you’re already starting off on the wrong foot. Got $200 for a camera? Great. Go to my favorite website, eBay, and find something that fits your budget.
Buying a high-end camera with zero experience is like buying a McLaren as your first car, it’s overkill and far beyond what you actually need. Crappy projects build character. They’re all part of the learning process.
Don’t rely on others to get things done. If you really want something, you’ll find a way to make it happen yourself. The resources available today are far more accessible than they were 20 or 30 years ago. Learn to improvise, adapt, and most importantly, stay off social media if it’s killing your confidence. Your time is better spent creating.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me, was make countless sacrifices to ensure I could succeed in life. My dad, in particular, puts his family first and his desires last. My dad was raised with the belief where each generation does better than the previous. Anytime my sister or I needed something that would contribute to our growth or success, my parents provided it without a second thought. My dad has a deep love for cars and has always dreamed of owning a diverse collection. I once asked him “Hey Dad, why haven’t you bought your dream car yet” and he would reply “I have a kid in college. If I was making payments on a expensive car , then I wouldn’t be able to put you through college. I”m close to retiring twice, i have a house, no debt and more cars than i need. I have everything i want, dont you think?”.
My parents never spent much money on material things, and I used to tease my dad for wearing “old man” shoes, jackets older than dinosaurs, and grandpa jeans. But despite that, my sister and I always had what we needed, new clothes (as long as they were reasonably priced), a roof over our heads, a TV to watch, and a warm meal every night. I grew up in an area where many kids don’t amount to much in life. Their parents often make excuses to make it sound like their children are doing well, when in reality, they’re just covering up disappointment with denial. My parents made incredible sacrifices and poured so much into me. I’ve always wanted to make them proud. I’m the last grandchild born on my dad’s side of the family, and I take a lot of pride in carrying our last name. For me, being anything less than exceptional isn’t an option.
When someone asks, “Hey, how’s Spencer doing?” I want my parents to smile and say, “Do you have a couple hours to sit and talk?”, not shrug their shoulders, make up some weak excuse, and bury their heads in the backyard out of embarrassment.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lavishedprince?igsh=MXFzMnVpZDljemQ2aA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/0b3_16YPo9s?si=i08gUCg1kmepgfFw
Image Credits
Chris Etienne
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