We were lucky to catch up with Mel Hyde recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on was one that may not be my best work now, since it is a few years removed, but has reminded me why I do what I
do and why it matters. My University Senior Thesis Film “IcebHerg” highlights the intricacies and heartbreaking reality of coming out as Queer. At the time, I had
recently come out as Queer and wanted to do something that represented me. When I brought the idea up to my school directors for approval, they said my film was only the second or third film to highlight queer culture. I could not believe that and solidified my project. The project took almost a year to complete, from script conception to the final export being downloaded. I directed, was cinematographer, screenwriter, and co-producer of the film which, in hindsight, may have been a lot to chew, but the days filming on set were fantastic. I always try my best to make sure the people on my crew are happy; that is the number one goal on any of the sets I direct. If my crew is unhappy, I am unhappy.
Especially with long 15+ hour days, you want to make sure everyone is cared for. We filmed at Wildwood Boardwalk in New Jersey, famous for that summery feel. Having grown up in California, I wanted to insert small Easter eggs into my film, not only to give my characters more depth but also a sneak peek into my own childhood and mind. At the end of the day, the film was only selected to one film festival after I applied to 50 or more festivals. At that point, I had posted it on YouTube because, clearly, it was not up to snuff for the more critical crowd and, to my surprise, it garnered around 20K views in under 3 months. This is my most
meaningful project, not because it was the best film I’ve ever made – I have gone on to make much more visually pleasing films now – but because of the weight it holds in my heart. I hoped that the film would reach people, maybe even a kid who may struggling to come out or come to terms with the reality of being queer, and that is enough for me.

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

I am a Filmmaker in New York City and have been part of the entertainment industry now for almost 7 years. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and was privileged to have the opportunity to learn and work at a small local media broadcast company covering sports.

That was my real first encounter with film, although not fictional. From there, later in my high school years, I had to figure out what I wanted to do and study in college. Not having been much of a STEM person, I knew I was going to either do liberal arts, or just arts. During that time, I had been obsessed with a few YouTubers, specifically Casey Neistat and Kent Heckel, two YouTube bloggers who highlighted craft and story in their videos. This was something I had not seen before, as vlogging and blogging were just starting to emerge as super popular on the internet. I wanted to replicate their style so I began YouTube vlogging, which then turned into more and more cinematic videos straying away from everyday life and highlighting montages and connection.

In 2018, I made my first short film which took a month to film and was around 30 minutes long. Safe to say, it was not very good, but I absolutely loved the creative process and working with actors. From there, I got into Drexel University’s Film & TV Production Program and spent my university years at film school.

Today, I work freelance in both film and photo, covering a variety of events such as film festivals, professional sports, red carpets, TV shows, commercials, and
promotional content. My favorite part of all this is interacting with people. I love meeting new people and fostering a connection that is deeper than just me sending deliverables to my client. I also love to learn. If a client asks if I can do a specific thing and I’m unsure what it is, I’ll pause, go learn that craft, and come back ready to give it my best shot.

There is little room for error, in many cases, working professionally, but I would really like to break down that stigma. The hierarchical structure and pressure to perform in the Entertainment Industry has always been there, and it frequently makes me question my own values. Looking at it, in the grand scheme of things, we are all human, make mistakes, get tired, want time for work and family, etc. That is something I’ve definitely struggled with over the years, juggling perfection and
morals.

Thus, whenever I am working with a client, directing my own films, or working on set, I always, always, try to make sure everyone is happy. The Entertainment Industry is grueling and so unforgiving. I would be lying if I were to say that I’ve never cried after a bad or long day. Making sure there is diversity on my sets, people are comfortable and feel safe to talk to me, whether it be they need a break, would like water, etc., is crucial. Many sets have old rules, like a Production Assistant can never sit during work, leaving them to stand 15+ hours with no break. This is ridiculous in my mind when every other department is sitting in comfy chairs. If my production assistant is sore and needs to sit and it won’t affect their work, I don’t care. To me, the product comes out better if everyone – client, crew, and myself – are all happy.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal in any of my work is to make it be seen. I come into my work with purpose and I choose the jobs I work very purposefully. I have learned over the years that you have to pick your battles or, in this case, the work you choose to have your name behind. I will not pick up a project if the project goes against my morals or the project’s mission doesn’t align with mine. I want my work to be not only seen but heard. The more personal work I make always reflects a bit of myself. It is personal to me and I would hope it would become personal to you. Although not every festival or person will like my work, I understand art is subjective and I hope it can impact someone. I hope my work makes you think and consider, and have compassion and empathy for people who may be different from yourself. I hope that, if one person can come away having felt seen or heard, that is the biggest reward, even if I will never know.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding feeling on any film, corporate or narrative, is when you finally finish. You will be sick of seeing the film, sick of going over and over the edits, making changes and tweaks. But, at the end of the day, when you have the final product ready for distribution, there is nothing like it. After all the hard work, all the time, blood, sweat and tears, presenting it to the public to view is priceless. A renewed sense of self is also felt when you see the receiver of said project watch it for
the first time. The imperfections in my mind disappear when the viewer does not flinch, but smiles instead. The pride in seeing your work in magazines, television, or in an ad campaign make it all worth it. Small things have impact, and I hope my work will impact you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://melhydefilms.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melyde12/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009477187568
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-hyde-b78549178/
• Twitter: https://x.com/melsworks12
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MelHyde
• Other: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/user/ur56582906/?ref_=nv_usr_prof_2

Image Credits

Melanie Hyde for all photos except the group picture with eh ACV Logo taken by Lia Chang