Hannah Colburn
“Hannah Colburn,” by Valentina Moreno
We've chatted with director and writer, Hannah Colburn, before, but never like this.
Griffith Park, 9:45 A.M.
It was very ballsy of us to suggest this, but nonetheless a great experience.
There's a mystic that Hannah carries, it's quite effortless. Just like her favorites, which consist of Steven Spielberg and the late David Lynch, she shares a sureness of self that they also carry. When she says something, whatever it may be, she doesn't question it or apologize. She means it. As a filmmaker, that's a powerful trait to have. Not only that, she is honestly one of the kindest people we've met.
Stitched, her upcoming short film, is set around dissatisfaction, specifically with oneself. There's this obsession with perfection, to the point of no return. Colburn wrote and directed the film, which should be coming soon. It's exciting to know that as we speak, she's curating the soundtrack with close friends to bring the full vision to life.
We hiked for a while.
It was hot and sweaty and for a moment it seemed as if it was going to take us forever to reach the top, until we saw it: the Hollywood sign. About a trail or so before you make your way to the Griffith Observatory you can see the sign in all her glory.
Years of history, of dreams, ever present within those big, beautiful letters. The city looked huge, but also completely at arms reach. It was beautiful.
“Hannah & Hollywood,” by Valentina Moreno
Once we made it to the top there was a sense of relief from the three of us.
Finally, we made it.
Overlooking the city, we rested our arms against the white stone of the Griffith Observatory. Cradled by the view, our conversation turned to Curry Barker’s Obsession, sparking a deeper discussion about young filmmakers trying to break into Hollywood. With Stitched, on the horizon, we felt a shared wave of excitement. We know Colburn has a story to tell, one that is both deeply personal and artistically bold. Back home in Arizona, so many people we grew up with already know her name. She might feel small in an industry that is massive and constantly expanding, but her impact is real. If filmmakers in Arizona can look up to her and see their own potential, she has already built something powerful.
There was a moment of comfortable silence between the three as the wind broke. It was difficult to daydream, the view urges you to be present.
In that moment, the steep hike felt like a perfect metaphor for our dreams. At first, the peak is hidden, yet somehow you know you are on the right path. Through consistent pursuit, bits and pieces of the bigger picture finally begin to appear in the distance. But when the climb grows brutal, quitting starts to look attractive, until you are reminded of exactly why you started. Once you finally reach the summit, looking out at the view, it becomes impossible to imagine that you almost turned back.
Follow your dreams.
“Hannah & Hollywood,” by Valentina Moreno
On the way down, we chatted about screenwriting and reality tv.
It was incredibly comforting to learn two things: first, that she completely taught herself how to screenwrite; and second, that she knows about Naked and Afraid. For a brief moment, it felt like we were the only people on earth who actually watched that show.
The three of us agreed, we don’t have the personality to be on Love Island, but that we respect the hell out of the people who do.
Around eleven o'clock, we wished her the best with that night's viewing of Disclosure Day and parted ways.
Hannah Colburn is a director, a writer, and a brilliant hiking partner. We can’t wait to see her upcoming project and know you can’t either. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, there’s something special about Colburn, keep an eye out.
“Hannah and James,” by Valentina Moreno
