We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jim Hails. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jim below.

Hi Jim, thanks for joining 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 learned my filmmaking skills from attending Point Park University and earning my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cinema Production. My musical and composing skills were self-taught. The easiest way to learn was to just make films/music and fail along the way. Sitting in a class was fine to learn the basics of filmmaking, but hands-on classes were the fastest way to learn. The most essential skill for me to learn was video editing, since that is when your film really begins to take shape. The only obstacle in the way of learning more is yourself.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hello! I’m Jim Hails and I am a freelance filmmaker and composer. I offer a variety of filmmaking services, including videography, editing, musical composition, and more. Right now I focus more on making promos and music videos for local bands/artists. I have composed for a variety of short films and intend to focus more on horror/sci-fi films in the future. I’ve had a love for both films and music for as long as I can remember, and I got into this industry after studying Cinema Production at Point Park University. After I graduated, I got professional experience working on projects for Netflix, FX, and Paramount+, which include Sweet Girl, Justified: City Primeval, and Mayor of Kingstown. I have since gained more of an appreciation for independent and freelance work. I think what sets me apart in this industry is my knowledge of both films and music, and bringing a surreal and dream-like aesthetic to my projects. I’m proud of the composition and video work I’ve done so far, especially the most recent music video I directed, and I’m excited to see where it goes next.

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

The main goals of my creative journey are to express myself, help other artists express themselves, and remain independent doing so. Creativity is a crucial aspect of life for myself and a lot of other people, and I’d love to help other people bring their creative projects to life.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is to see a project come to life from beginning to end. The start of any project is just an idea, and turning that simple idea into reality is a rewarding journey. Seeing the final product after working so hard on it is always satisfying, no matter how long it takes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jimhails.wixsite.com/portfolio
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimhails?igsh=cXpnbWM1NWhnNTkz&utm_source=qr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-hails-4648b6174
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@jimhails?si=0EI0Nfaj_Py4BXDb