Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Spencer Hawkins. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Spencer, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on was my second short film, No Homecoming. It tells the story of a college student facing mental roadblocks who takes time to clear his mind. In doing so, he spirals down a rabbit hole of self-reflection, ultimately rediscovering why he’s on his path to success. He learns to channel his upbringing and the negative external factors around him as fuel to keep pushing forward.

This project was deeply personal because, at its core, it was my story. At the time, I was just stepping into filmmaking and had no idea how to even write a script—so I decided to start with what I knew best; my own experiences. I was struggling with my classes, battling mental health challenges, and feeling immense pressure from my family to be extroadinary. I needed an outlet, and filmmaking became that for me.

Writing No Homecoming was like putting my thoughts and struggles on paper, a way to release everything weighing me down. Through this film, I confronted my obstacles and reminded myself that if I didn’t keep pushing forward, I’d end up right back where I started. It was more than just a film; it was a turning point in my life and creative journey.

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.

One night, I was sitting in my college apartment, dreading the thought of waking up early for ROTC workouts. To distract myself, I started watching travel short films by Sam Kolder and Vuhlandes. I was completely blown away by how they turned their experiences into cinematic masterpieces. Their storytelling, the way they captured emotion and movement, it felt like more than just film. It felt like art. That night, I made a decision. I was skipping workouts the next morning. Instead, I went down a rabbit hole, watching every video I could find. By the time the sun came up, I was fully committed, I was going to buy a camera and start making films as soon as possible.

My friend Myles, who owns a brand called StylesByMyles, played a huge role in my early growth. He constantly invited me to shoot content for him, knowing that if I wanted to improve, I needed to have a camera in my hands as often as possible. Those shoots became my training ground, a space where I could experiment, make mistakes, and slowly develop my craft.
As time went on, filmmaking became more than just a passion, it became second nature. I’d always talk to my friends about cinema, sharing ideas and breaking down concepts. One day, I helped a friend with a film project for his class, and afterward, he told me something that stuck with me: “You should offer creative direction and consulting, whatever you touch, you turn into a masterpiece.” His words pushed me to expand my work beyond just making films. When I wasn’t directing, I found myself assisting with set design, production, and creative consulting.

But here’s the thing, if you had asked me years ago, I never would’ve believed I had any creative talent at all. Growing up, I constantly doubted myself. I’d compare myself to others who were faster, stronger, or more skilled. If someone played a more complex song on the piano or performed better than me in a sport, I convinced myself that I just wasn’t good enough, and for the longest time. I didn’t even see myself as an artist. To me, an artist was someone who painted or drew, and I was terrible at both.

It took time for me to understand that art isn’t limited to a brush or a canvas. Art is expression in any creative form, whether it’s building a house, writing music, designing a basketball jersey, or animating a show.
Looking back, the thing I’m most proud of isn’t just the films I’ve made or the accolades I’ve earned. It’s the fact that I found something I was naturally good at, something that allowed me to express myself, and I ran with it. And in doing so, I created a path I never thought was possible.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

One of the biggest factors that helped build my reputation early on was having a strong support system around me. I was fortunate that many of my college friends had a big following on social media, and that exposure played a huge role in getting my work noticed. I remember the moment things started to take off. I had just started experimenting with photography, and my first real gig was taking photos for my friend Q. When he posted that first set of pictures, my Instagram DMs exploded. Suddenly, people, both in and out of state, were reaching out to book me. That initial wave of attention gave me confidence, and by the time I transitioned into filmmaking, I already had a reputation, which made everything so much easier.

My first short film, Breaking Point, was a defining moment. To be honest, I had no idea what I was doing at the time, but the message behind the film resonated with people. That’s when I saw firsthand the power of the “bandwagon effect.” One person reposted it, then their friends did, and before I knew it, the whole school was sharing the film. The momentum kept building, and soon after, a media agency reached out, offering me the opportunity to assist in writing and co-directing a short film.

That experience taught me a valuable lesson: the opportunities are out there, you just have to stay consistent and use social media to your advantage. Popularity, when used strategically, can open doors you never even knew existed.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the biggest misconceptions in the world of cinema is that you need to go to film school and raise a ton of money to make movies. I can tell you right now, that’s just not true. I learned early on that this is an old-school way of thinking, and if I had bought into that belief, I might have never started my filmmaking journey. When I first set out to make films, I was a broke college student with nothing but passion and a story to tell. I joined a film club, eager to create, but the first piece of advice I kept hearing was “You need to raise money first”. That didn’t sit right with me. Tuition had already drained my pockets, extra money for filmmaking wasn’t an option. That’s when my dad’s words started to resonate with me. He always emphasized the importance of using what you have and turning nothing into something. So, instead of waiting for the perfect budget or resources, I took what I like to call the mixtape route.

If you look at some of the greatest rappers, they didn’t start with polished, high-budget albums. They put out mixtapes, raw and unfiltered. The production quality wasn’t always perfect, but that didn’t matter. Their creativity and authenticity won people over. I adopted that same mindset for filmmaking. I focused on storytelling, using whatever I had, and making it work. That approach paid off. Despite not having the best equipment or the biggest budget, my vision and creativity stood out. I’ve been fortunate to win numerous accolades, not because of high-end production, but because I refused to let limitations define my work, and that’s the lesson I always carry with me. You don’t need permission, a huge budget, or a fancy degree to tell a great story. You just need the drive to start.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Lavishedprince Anubis.media
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/VccYKhPWi0E

Image Credits
Chris Etienne