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

Cassandra, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I took a risk. A big one. I believed in myself. Call it what you will, I learned early on that I was capable of whatever my heart desired. I was capable of learning a skill set and executing said skill. However, what I didn’t know was the power of believing in yourself and how far that would take me. That is the difference between doing and not doing.

There are times I have felt like a fraud. There are times I have leaped and then found where I landed. Everytime (at least almost), I have found it was worth the jump. No fraud here. Just an individual who was willing to go for it.

Point in case, I always wanted to work in film. My degree is in psychology. I was not sure how I would connect these dots. But in the end, after taking a big risk, here I am the Film Commissioner of the Redwood Region in Northern California. I have worked in the industry for 25 years and have had so many fun adventures as well as met so many amazing filmmakers and talented actors. All becuase I took a risk. I believed in myself.

Cassandra, 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 am the film commissioner of the Redwood Region in Northern California. As the film commissioner, I am the liaison between productions and the area I represent. We are market our area (and what it has to offer) to the film world, are the boots on the ground, and then focus on film tourism when they leave. We help bring outside dollars to a rural area with a depressed economy and create temporary jobs. With film tourism at a high, we also create film tourism projects that help bring quality of life to locals as well as tourist, once again spending outside dollars with in our community. We have to problem solve everything from permits, to unhappy neightbors next to a film site, to inappropriate fans/reporters when famous people are intown. The key that we focus on is quality work with integrity. What is best for my community while also fostering the film productoin. We have been one of five finalist as Most Outstanding Film Commerical Internationally (basically in the world), have had artiles written on us, as well as I am the current Vice President of Film Liaisons In California Statewide.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

I always ask what they need. Morning checkins are crucial. Did you sleep? Need any food? What tools do you need to get the job down. Also, I let them go home early when they have something going on in their personal life, celebrate their accomplishments, and truly care about their lives. I found this to keep the morale high and then they are more excited to be at work and tick off the task boxes.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Honestly, going back to my psychology degree, I would say the most impactful book as been The Body Keeps the Score.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hdnfc.org
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassandra-hesseltine-8b827569/

Image Credits

Photo credit Beth Dubber and courtesy Humboldt-Del Norte Film Commission