Today we’d like to introduce you to John Hale.
Thanks for sharing your story with us John. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
This might be a little long. At 16 I found myself homeless. After hopping from place to place and ending up in some less fortunate situations, I found a home on an abandoned school bus at 18. I rode my bicycle several miles to my high school and back every day. I would like to say it was because I was determined to get the quality education that the alternative school was offering but in truth, I had nothing else to do. For several years, I utilized the only skill that I believed I had which was play guitar. Playing with bands all over opened allowed me to make friends and resources that would come into play later.
At 21, I weaseled my way into taking a class at H.C.C. where I made friends with people in the film production program. With my connection to the music industry and my new friends in the film program, I started making music videos. I eventually decided to pursue film production as it was lucrative and still allowed for creativity. Soon after, I was hired as the editor for both the “Cristinas Court” and “Judge Alex” TV shows. (At the time, I had no experience as an editor).
When those shows moved and shut down, I bought as much gear as I could with what I had saved and became a freelance Director, DP, and Editor. That has developed into a rental company (Gearbox Camera and Lighting) that provides production gear throughout the entire southern region of the United States, A Film production company (Rival Film Studios) That travels all over the country producing films, commercials and music videos, A non profit company (Community Foundation for the Arts) that offers a film incentive program, A clothing company (HCMF Clothing) and a punk band (All Gonna Die).
Great, 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?
It was not a smooth road. I was homeless, had several near death experiences and my entrepreneurial spirit left trails of destruction and chaos.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Rival Film Studios, Gearbox Camera and Lighting, HCMF Clothing, All Gonna Die, Community Foundation for the Arts – what should we know?
Rival Film Studios is a turnkey film production company. Myself, Ashly Smith, Debra Gutjahr, Alvin Morris, and James Glen Tucker all have many years experience in several different areas of film production.
Rival Film Studios and Gearbox Camera and Lighting are strategic partners. With this, we can offer greater savings than our competitors.
Community Foundation for the Arts is a nonprofit program that offers an alternative to the States less than reliable/effective film incentives.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
It has been such a long journey this far and there is still so far to go. That can make it tricky to pinpoint a quality or characteristic that outshines others. My sister gave me a shirt once that just had a big picture of a cockroach on it. She said it was because of my unwillingness to lay down and die. No matter what the world threw at me, I kept getting back up and going back twice as hard. Not giving up. A passion for problem solving and honesty.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rivalfilmstudios.com
- Phone: 8323305614
- Email: john@rivalfilmstudios.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rivalstudios/
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