Meet Maggie Hadleigh-West, an internationally recognized independent filmmaker, activist and an inspirational public speaker. She has been writing, directing and producing in film, television and for corporations since 1991. Her work is often considered to be controversial, provocative, radical and irreverent. I came across a comment Maggie made on one of Ted Hope’s postings at his TrulyFreeFilm blog, where she alluded to the challenges of sustaining a career as a filmmaker/producer/director. I thought to myself,
‘Oooh, I want to find out more about this woman!’
Here’s the rest of Maggie’s bio, and I hope you enjoy her responses to the Meet The Producer questionnaire as much as I did:
Maggie is particularly adept at creating original programming for television and the Internet, which is content laden and character driven. Her independent films, employ arresting cinematic styles and social justice messages. As a Producer for television, her work has included researching, writing and producing original segments for Dateline NBC, Life Time Television, Independent Film Channel and more. Maggie’s films and presentations have been used around the world in theaters, the Internet, broadcast television, cable outlets, nonprofit organizations, conferences, corporations, colleges and government agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Justice and State.
Maggie has appeared on numerous national and international television and radio programs including 20/20, The Today Show, CBS News, The Oprah Show, Lifetime Live, Oxygen Media, BBC, NPR, and CNN. Articles on Hadleigh-West have been published in USA Today, New York Times,San Francisco Examiner, NY Observer, Chicago Tribune, Village Voice, New York Daily News, Ms. Magazine, Glamour Magazine, London Times, South African Elle, the Swedish papers Aftonbladet and Dagens Nyheter and Australia’s Exposure magazine.
In 2009, 2006 and 2005 Maggie was an Alcyon Grantee, a 2004 New York State Council on the Arts Grantee, 2001 University of Louisville Distinguished Professor Nominee, 2000 Rockefeller Fellow Nominee, 2000 Tiny Tony Award Winner and nominee of the 1998 Caligari Prize at the Berlin Film Festival in Germany. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors in Visual Communications from George Washington University. She also holds a Master of Fine Arts with a Merit Award from the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
Click on image to view trailer
Maggie’s current feature is Player Hating A Love Story (click here to read its blog), which follows hip hop artist Half-a-Mill and his Brooklyn crew as they struggle to escape poverty and violence through music in the Albany Housing Projects.
Definition: Player Hating - Someone else is about to shine, and you’ll do anything to keep that motherfucker from getting his cheese — it can be as subtle as negative flow (lyrics) or as extreme as trying to clap (shoot) him. – Trent Bond, Half’s Manager and former NYPD Detective.
SUSTAINING THE MUSE
A Producing Questionnaire
Well, first and foremost I think of myself as a Director before Producer, because for me that’s the more story/creative side of things. I am of course a Producer because I have to and want to be one, if my work is to be seen. And I’m definitely not interested in simply talking to myself.
So as a Director / Producer I conceptualize ideas, write about them, refine them, find characters, set up the shoots, get preliminary funding or put together a credit exchange crew, Field Produce, act as mediocre Sound Person, sometime Shooter, horrible PA, manage my crew, cater the shoots, organize the footage, log, log, log, then log some more, transcribe, beg for money, cut 50,000 trailers, beg for more money, organize footage, work tirelessly with editors of all sorts and at all stages of the process, get to a bad cut, cry, get to a good cut, celebrate, get to a great cut, cry, find musicians, Direct the composing of music, direct the final edit, sound design, sound mastering, graphics, color correcting, and make dubs. Then I collapse. And then I begin the real business of selling my movie….(OMFG)
Public Speaker, Cater-waiter, Receptionist, Elevator Operator, Freelance Graphic Designer, Dateline Associate Producer, Freelance Television Producer, Sexual Harassment Expert, Film Consultant, Director/Producer for hire
That my current film, Player Hating A Love Story be seen all over the world, that it impact millions of lives in a positive fashion and that it inspires audiences to look deep into their hearts and choose love over racism. I’m totally inspired by the guys I worked with in the Albany Housing Projects, all kinds of music and all forms of art.
Personally, I’d like to play the guitar like a rock star within two years. (A bit industrious.)
Chick Balls, tenacity, flexibility, TRUE listening when interviewing people, and perseverance, for God’s sake. And all of that can be housed under the umbrella of non-denominational faith. Oh yeah, and getting moola.
The Hurt Locker. Best war movie ever. Sorry guyz.
Waking up in the morning still being in love with my life and my movie, and understanding that I AM NOT MY MOVIE. And knowing that no matter what happens, I made the best movie I could with the resources that were given me. Also knowing when it’s time to leave one art form behind for another.
No guts no glory.
Supporting myself as a producer:
Let’s get back to that next year. ; )
Pep Talk:
I talk to myself, my family and often get unsolicited pep talks from people like Bill Costigan, my EP and good friend. He’s impressed with how stalwart I am, when I’m expecting him to think I’m crazy.
Thing I’d Change:
When it comes to my career the thing I’d like to change most is the ability write huge award winning grants. Regarding my everyday life, I’d like to sleep better so that I can dance more.
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