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

Karin, appreciate you joining us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

The first time I got paid for a screenplay was incredibly exciting and validating. It wasn’t the first dollar earned as a creative since I had been acting and modeling for many years before then, but it felt more significant. It happened soon after I started taking screenwriting seriously. I wrote a spec script that someone I knew showed to a producer, and the production company hired me to do a rewrite of a script. It happened quicker than I had dared believe, and I was super excited and inspired, but also terrified that I’d do a subpar job and disappoint them. My fears were unfounded; they really liked what I did, and I ended up working with them again.
I think what meant the most to me was that I got proof that it was possible. I had heard so many times that it was impossible to make money as a screenwriter, and that’s one of the reasons I waited so long to give it a shot. That moment, although it wasn’t a huge amount, showed me that it was indeed possible. It was also a validation of my skills, which gave me the confidence to keep going.

The first time I got paid to create visuals, which was the very beginning of directing for me, was a completely different experience. It didn’t have the same emotional impact on me as my first screenwriting assignment because I hadn’t considered directing at the time, so it didn’t mean as much to me. I took the job mainly for the money. A small business selling a wide variety of useful but unusual products asked me if I could make a 5-minute promotional film, featuring actors in different outdoor situations using and demonstrating their product. I didn’t know if I could, but I said yes and figured it out. It was my first time working behind the camera with actors, and I loved it. I could tell it was a great fit for me. I created several more projects for this company, which later led me to start directing music videos, and from there, I went on to direct film. I’m more thankful for this first job now than I was when I got it because it put me on a path I’m very happy to be on.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m originally from Sweden and got into the industry gradually after trying several other careers first. I think having a background of traveling, meeting people, and exploring other occupations is very beneficial in my creative work. It has provided me with a wide range of experiences to draw from in my storytelling and has helped me understand people better than I might have otherwise.

For me, honesty and truth have always been very important, and I strive to bring that to everything I do. It was the driving factor in my continuing to look for what I truly felt I was meant to do for a living, even when things were kind of ok. If I have that nagging feeling that something is not quite right, I have to keep on searching, or I can’t look at myself in the mirror. The same goes for my creative work.
I have to find the truth within a project, what it wants to express from the core, and it all starts with being honest with myself.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think one of the most rewarding aspects of being an artist or creative is that we get to live our lives expressing our inner world to the outer. It’s a way of living that blurs the lines between the worlds and, at its best, creates a flow that’s magical to be in.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I don’t think there’s ever been a more important time than now to support creative artists. We live in a time when it’s hard to distinguish between what’s created by an artist and what’s content created by AI.
Art and creative work require time, immersion, and immense dedication. I want to believe that the expression is worth it not only for the artists but also for the audience receiving it.
I know it’s been said thousands of times, but one of the best ways for society to support artists and creatives is to pay them fairly for their work. I know it’s not as easy as that, but it starts with a mind shift that sees art as just as valuable as other resources in our society.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karin.c.hallen/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karin.c.hallen
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-hallen-0b05b111/
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/user/ur8260077/?ref_=hm_nv_profile

Image Credits

Ricardo Mora
Charles DiMitri
René Salvador