Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Schierbaum.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Growing up in a series of small towns outside of Philadelphia, the number of creative careers that simply existed never occurred to me. From a young age, I was always a storyteller. I remember making up these elaborate stories and telling them to my aunt and mother as if they were true because I didn’t yet realize what I was doing. As it turns out, I was creating characters, a world, and giving them a story. I would continue developing my storytelling abilities (this time on paper) well into my teens. For me, film and television brought me something nothing else could in my childhood. I became a sexual assault survivor before I hit middle school and again before I hit high school. Something about creating a character and having them succeed became powerful for me during my developmental years. I wanted to give to others who were struggling like I was what filmmakers and writers were already giving me. A sense of hope, with a tasteful bit of escapism. Life became a bit more chaotic and completely derailed when I was moved from my friends in Pennsylvania to central Florida. I battled Major Depressive Disorder, and severe anxiety, causing me to stop writing and pursuing my passions completely.
Covid hit the area hard, causing me to have to rediscover what I wanted in life. In this tough year, I decided that Hannah was a person who chased her dreams and worked on them every day. Now, I currently have a three-year-old, and I am a full-time film student in Orlando, FL, and I am currently making a short film I wrote, called ‘Lucid’. The road for me has always been meandering and difficult to see forward. Now that I realize that I am not an accumulation of all the things that have happened to me, but I am more simply a survivor, trying to pave my way through a creative world.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The path has definitely not been smooth. I’ve realized in my life that pursuing the life I envision for myself is a constant choice, whether that’s having to choose between doing what is good for me versus what is easiest in the moment or simply choosing to push forward.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a writer, producer, and photographer. I currently go to film school in Orlando, Florida, hoping to share a little bit of what’s in my mind with the world. Having just finished my short film, Lucid, I would say that the film is something I am most proud of creating. I currently am working on a novella and co-directing a new short film. The biggest difference between me and the people around me is that I am a single parent, choosing to go after my future regardless. This instills in me the need to succeed.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I think within the next few years, the film industry will grow to be more open to indie filmmakers and a bit more of a fair place to work for low-rung workers. Currently, it is a challenging market to get into, as well as it is extremely demanding work once you’re there. There seems to be a trend in ‘discovering the unknown’, so I think more independent creatives will have ways to get their work out there, especially with the rise of streaming services.
Contact Info:
- Email: hannahpaigeschierbaum@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hana_paige/?hl=en
Image Credits:
Lucid film crew, Director: Nathaniel Canfield, Actor: Zachary Brice, Director of Photography: Joshua Gray, Script Supervisor: Matthew Fimbers, Actor: Wyatt Paul Photos taken by me.
