We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Hope Jackson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Hope thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

The gift to be able to earn a full time living from creative work currently feels like a dream I can’t stop chasing. I feel there are stories that I want to tell to share with the movie industry and audience but it is such a struggle with no film degree, mentor, or certifications. The only teacher I have is the experience in the opportunity that I give myself. On May 8th, I premiered my newest show, “Struggles of a Pretty Girl” and it was one of the best experiences yet. I started writing this project in April last year, begun filming in September and the editing process started in November. This pace was perfect for me but still tiring because simultaneously I was working 3 jobs to be able to make the money for the premiere. My biggest struggle is funding my project as I have little experience with no mentor, I am left to figure things out as I go. I learn from things that went great, things that didn’t and learn from things I thought about in hindsight. I take on as much as I can before it becomes too much just to make sure I’m truly doing all I can do to ensure my dream can one day come true.

Hope, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a filmmaker from Raleigh, NC and I graduated from the legendary Winston-Salem State University in 2022. That was directly after the pandemic, and during my time there I tried to get as much hands on experience as I could, although there still were covid restrictions. Not only did this make my college experience difficult but it made it harder for me to be able to learn my craft. While in college is when I figured out filmmaking would be my career of choice. I was able to utilize my professor, school’s equipment and my classmates to create my official first short film, “Ghost-19”. I was only able to do this in my last semester of college due to the covid restrictions becoming more lenient. I feel what sets me apart part from others is that not only do I keep going but I keep pushing and I keep taking the risks. I know some people have the opportunity to go to film school, I know some people had the pleasure of having a mentor, I know others had money to be able to get equipment necessary to start a production straight out. I don’t, but it doesn’t slow me down, only requires me to become innovative and resourceful and I am most proud of that. I want future audience, future collaborators, fans to know that each project I do is to create an impact. I want to start conversations, debates, and bring attention to different things going on around all of us. But also I love to have fun! I love the illusion filmmaking creates and can’t wait to have a real opportunity to play around with that in the future once budgets are bigger or once I even can get a budget.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The particular goal I have that is driving my creative journey are my late friends, Boodie and Celeste. They both tragically died in car accidents and it tears my life apart part daily. Those two people were the most go-getters I’ve ever known. Celeste, my bestest friend, passed in 2013 just a teenager and was such a well known basketball across all of North Carolina and in the South/East region of the nation. Since she was a little girl, she knew that she wanted to be in the WNBA. He persistence, her dedication, and sacrifice for her craft is beyond admirable to me and I always wanted something to be that passionate about, something for my future and be able to do exactly what she did. My friend Boodie passed early April this year, and it’s still extremely fresh, sometimes still unbelievable. But his attitude was always so upbeat and always a do it now type of guy. He was the most caring and supportive guy to my friends and I. His positive attitude is one thing I hope I keep from him though. I love them both very dearly and my ultimate goal is to make them proud by doing what they would be doing if they were still here.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

My current audience is still very small and growing but the crowd I had from my premiere back in May was astonishing! It was my friends, my family, their friends and their family that came through to support the team. Creating something like this from scratch and with just me mostly has been difficult. My outreach isn’t the biggest and my team has helped me incredibly on that. The best advice I have to give is to utilize your community and your team as they have their own audience as well, as their audience has their own audience and so on. One day, I know for a fact that my work will continue to reach others the more I’m able to depend on my support system.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hopefulillusions.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefulillusions?igsh=MWR6eXRhNnJiZGJkYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hopejackson22?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Twitter: https://x.com/illusionors?s=21&t=qkv3nmL0W3oSZB6pa8TSSw
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@HopefulIllusions?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwK54U1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpyBe96kSUaMhAwz55YeSHkUvxRy9aCrxoV9VMw_Mq9jQDu9UC1uXIlKBbmTH_aem_1G2Ht5WhQ707Z_I3pTtIWg

Image Credits

Premiere photos taken by Jazmen