We were lucky to catch up with Katie Hawkins recently and have shared our conversation below.
Katie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?
Here For Good Films started with a simple idea: there are a lot of good people doing good things and more people need to hear about it.
This idea first started bouncing around in my head back in 2011 when I was living overseas working with an NGO. I met so many good people and realized that there was no way I could do as much good as people already living and working among their peers. But I knew these stories needed to be told.
I later moved back to the States and continued to work in film and video but was frequently frustrated by how people were treated – both behind and in front of the camera. As I worked on more film sets, the idea of Here For Good Films became clearer.
The more stories I helped tell, the more I realized that it’s the people that make the difference. When the crew isn’t taken care of or set up for success then the production suffers and ultimately the story does as well. When the on camera talent – especially the everyday people who are willing to share their stories – are not taken care of, the final story suffers as well. And if the people and the story are lost in the process, how can more people hear about all the good that is happening in the world?
And so, in 2021, Here For Good Films was officially launched – keeping people at the heart of our business and at the center of the stories we tell. We are on a mission to tell stories about people doing good and leaving their communities better than they found them.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?
I grew up taking pictures. You would always find me with a camera in my hand. But then I ended up shooting video overseas for an NGO and something clicked. I quickly realized I could communicate better through video than through photo so when I moved back to the States, I began my career in the film industry.
Several years later, I founded Here For Good Films. With our bottom to top storytelling method, we work with mission minded businesses to ensure their stories emotionally engage with their audiences so they can leverage the power of storytelling for good.
With our bottom to top storytelling method, we work with mission minded businesses to ensure their stories emotionally engage with their audiences so they can leverage the power of storytelling for good.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
My business partner, Cory, and I met on a blind date. It’s your typical love story. We met, fell in love and then went into business together – and are still married!
We often tell people that I have the ideas and Cory makes them happen. Cory is the Production Director. He is very left brained. He likes lists, details and organization. I am the Creative Director. I am very right brained. I like big ideas, visuals and am a little messy.
Together, we oversee Here For Good Films. We’ve spent a lot of time learning how to work well together and though it’s not always easy, we love it!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I’ve had to unlearn how others define success and redefine it for myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hereforgoodfilms.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/hereforgoodfilms.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/hereforgoodfilms
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/hereforgoodfilms
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzNoQS9p3yAiaQOhCojXi-g