We recently connected with Regina Hoyles and have shared our conversation below.
Regina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
I’m someone who’s known what I wanted to do since I was a fetus. As a result, many of my skills initially came from me finding ways to DO the thing. As a kid, if I had an idea for a comedy sketch that excited me, I’d write the script, grab my digital Canon camera, and star in it and direct myself since I saw the vision for the sketch in my head so clearly. I taught myself how to edit using Windows Movie Maker and would share the finished product with family and friends. Most times, I’d make things simply because I really wanted to make them, whether it be a skit, handmade storybooks, or even songs.
Entertaining people has always come easily to me. Growing up, making my family and friends laugh was one of the most fulfilling feelings in the world—that and creating. Repeatedly doing, consistently studying, and soaking up wisdom from some of the most brilliant minds I’ve been blessed to be in community with has allowed me to hone my craft over the last 20 plus years.
I honestly don’t think there’s anything I could have done to speed up the learning process and I’m pretty sure I’d miss out on some important lessons if I tried. Knowing what I know now, I’d encourage myself to embrace the process. My brain tends to think in BIG VISION, wanting to jump to the end result which has sometimes led to me feeling overwhelmed or even procrastinating due to the limiting belief of feeling like something’s not worth doing unless it’s done perfectly right away. Releasing this belief has helped me to value consistent small steps, making my creative process more enjoyable and sustainable. I’ve learned that it’s not about obsessing over the ‘how,’ but simply about continuing to show up.
Regina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m a TV/Film writer, filmmaker, actor and comedian originally from the south suburbs of Chicago and have been working in the entertainment industry since I was 9. After graduating from NYU I moved to LA, where I’ve spent the last 7 years. I truly love what I do and tend to have my hand in many creative pots.
As an actor I’ve been on shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Chi, All Rise and 9-1-1 Lone Star. As a writer, I’ve had shows in development and have been a writer on an incredible animated Disney TV series executive produced by Martellus Bennett and Swampy Marsh.
I created NAPS, a comedic web series that was spotlighted by Shadow and Act. My directorial debut, Adullam, a Black Mirror-esque sci-fi short which I wrote, produced and starred in premiered at the Bentonville Film Festival and aired on REVOLT TV’s Short and Fresh series. I also directed and produced Missing Rhythms, a Black women centered psychological thriller written by the brilliant Aja Houston which is just beginning its screening journey.
I write and star in my sketch comedy series Gina Gina which is available to watch on YouTube! Next to sitcoms, sketch comedy is one of my favorite forms of comedy with shows like Key & Peele serving as a major inspiration. Gina Gina is one of the projects I’m most proud of because it is unapologetically me.
As a producer, I’m the founder of RLH Productions a boutique production company that specializes in amplifying Black voices for film, TV, commercial and digital content. Through producing, creative consulting, and mentorship I offer support to creatives who are looking to level up in their careers, newcomers to the industry, or those seeking guidance in turning their creative ideas into a logistical reality.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My mission is to heal, empower, and make people feel safe and seen.
Laughter is one of the biggest ways I aim to heal, bringing levity into nearly everything I do whether that’s through my sketch comedy series, Gina Gina or my newsletter, A WHOLE WORD, where I share life lessons I’ve gained through personal experiences from the mundane to the utterly unhinged.
Community is also extremely important to me. I value empowering others and creating safe spaces for folks to be able to show up as their best selves, personally and professionally. This includes helping Black and marginalized storytellers tell their stories by providing them with tools, information, and opportunities they may not have always had access to.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
In Hollywood, getting things made isn’t always a simple process. Shows get sold all the time only for some to never see the light of day after years of being in development. Additionally, many are seeing their favorite shows get canceled just after one season due to reasons beyond a creator’s control.
With this in mind, I’d encourage more people to redefine what it means for a creative to have “made it” in entertainment. For me, the goal isn’t Hollywood, but to create for a living. If my goal were solely Hollywood, I’d be targeting a goal post that is constantly moving. While I’m grateful for the wins I’ve had while working in Hollywood, success to me looks like sustainably telling the stories God’s called me to create (with my soul and integrity intact), and those stories reaching the people meant to receive them.
I’d offer for us all to consider that real power lies in building a genuine connection with an audience. Wherever and however that might be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.reginahoyles.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reginahoyles
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReginaHoyles
- Other: https://reginahoyles.substack.com
Image Credits
Kim Newmoney, Sheryl Sims, Brian Stukes, Avery Archie