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

Alright, Marina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My mission as a documentary filmmaker and director is, of course, to convey information to people. I see myself as a kind of mediator between the subjects of my films and the audience. And, of course, no matter how clichéd it may sound, my goal is not only to inform but also to support people and give them hope. I aim to inspire hope through examples of other people’s success and to help others believe in themselves.

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

I entered journalism over 20 years ago, during my second year at university, when I had a break. It was back in my home country. I simply decided to try the profession of a journalist, which had always attracted me. I joined the news program and said, “Please, give me a chance. I want to learn. I will do everything to master this profession and prove myself.” Of course, I volunteered, and I don’t even remember if it was for a month. But working in the news was truly a great school. Later, I joined a health program as a correspondent, and after a couple of months, I became an editor. That’s how it happens when you have a huge passion for your profession. I was studying at university and working at the same time, it was my last year. Then I moved to the capital, to Moscow. I got a job as a coordinator in a program on a social channel. After a few months, I became the head of the correspondent network.

I truly loved my work, and my bosses, interestingly enough, were always women who could have been my mothers. I can only guess that maybe they saw something of themselves in me. In fact, I still keep in touch with one of them. I am so grateful to these women bosses, as they always gave me the chance to prove myself and offered me growth opportunities. They always supported me, and we worked wonderfully together. I’m forever grateful for that.

I treated every project as my own, and I think that’s the key to success. When my bosses saw this passion, they always gave me opportunities to grow. Of course, youth played a role, too, with enormous ambition, a fierce desire to live, meet new people, and connect with others. That’s how I worked. Later, I became the author and host of several programs on a social channel. Then I worked independently, collaborating with multiple TV channels, creating both entertainment and documentary projects. I worked with Russian MTV, creating MTV Specials—72-minute projects. That was a great experiment and a valuable learning experience. I also worked in investigative journalism. Documentary films were always something I loved, especially when they were impactful for people.

When I moved to the U.S., I worked as a host on a Russian-speaking radio station in the morning show, and I had my own program. I worked there for several years. It was a wonderful time. I still stay in touch with many of my listeners on social media, and they even send gifts to me and my son, even though I worked there 7 or 8 years ago. It’s amazing how these connections with people last so long. That connection is the most valuable thing.

After a period of health-related challenges, including a hand injury and two surgeries, I had to step away from my work and focus on my recovery. During this time, I ventured into public relations, working with clients from all over the world and creating media publications, mainly for Russian-speaking clients. I continued in PR until the pandemic, after which I returned to my true passion—filmmaking. I created a documentary about world boxing champion Sergey Kovalev, titled “Krusher.” Then, during the pandemic, I made a documentary film called “Greg: The Secret to My Success,” which earned around 20 awards from festivals around the world. It was an incredible experience, and I worked in tandem with a wonderful woman, Marina Tomchinsky, who was the producer of the film. Our collaboration was a great success, which is why we received so many awards. She was also the wife of the film’s main character.

Now, I have a new project, Urban Hearts. This project is about life in New York, about the people living here. It is a wordless, dialogue-free project with short stories. It’s about how the problems we face are often within us, and if something triggers us, we should always start by looking inward. That’s the message behind the first season of Urban Hearts—“Stop the War Within Yourself.” Although Urban Hearts is a new project and I haven’t yet engaged it widely in festivals, I’ve already submitted it to a few, and it has been well-received. One festival awarded it first place, and another one made it to the finals. We continue to shoot this project and are open to collaborations.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Since I’ve worked in radio, television, and PR, and these activities often intersected with boxing, I’ve built many connections. I made a point of attending events, though selectively, only those that truly interested me. I admit that, as a business strategist, I might not have always acted in the most conventional way, because I’ve always focused on whether I truly wanted to pursue something. But what’s always been most important to me is passion for the work I do. The key is to inspire others with that passion. When you work on a project—whether it’s a video, an article, a PR campaign, or a documentary film—you can see how your work brings new energy, a different mood, and opens up new opportunities for people. Watching these changes unfold is incredibly rewarding, and of course, it’s beneficial for everyone. People talk about your work to their friends, colleagues, and acquaintances.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative person is the ability to serve as a bridge—a storyteller who can present a narrative in a way that touches people’s hearts, inspires them, and perhaps helps them face their own challenges. Sometimes, it even helps them realize that what they see as a problem is not a problem at all. That is the most important thing for me.

In my case, being a creative involves wearing many hats: I am the author, director, and often the producer of my documentaries and projects. I also take on the roles of writer and coordinator. While I don’t do this solely for the sake of profitability, it’s simply how I’ve learned to work. It’s a skill I developed in my early years, and I genuinely enjoy it. I love immersing myself in the process, diving into every detail.

It may seem like a straightforward journey—heading to shoots with the crew, writing over a cup of coffee, collaborating with editors, and producing something that garners recognition and awards. But the reality is that it’s a highly labor-intensive process.

For me, creativity is about persistence. It’s about finding ways to stay innovative, even in areas where creativity might seem limited. In other words, having a creative approach to everything makes any situation easier to navigate—if you know what I mean.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hittpr.com/en https://urban-hearts.hittpr.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m_hitt_pr?igsh=MWc1NjZ4NWc1eGI2&utm_source=qr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-hitt-17440b305?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
• Other: https://greg.hittpr.com/

Image Credits

Vogue.com, Ryan Sherman