We had the good fortune of connecting with Alex Hanno and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alex, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
When you’re passionate about an idea, a business, or a career, I don’t think ‘giving up’ is ever really an option. I’ve certainly had set backs in my life, moments where my career has zagged when I wanted it to zig, but those moments never deterred me enough to consider throwing in the towel. I think that if you’re waffling on this question, it’s probably because you’re not truly excited by what you’re working on and/or chasing, at which point, it probably does make sense to move on and try something else that actually does inspire you. To be clear; there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that! I was fortunate to find what I love at an early age (I’ve pretty much always wanted to be a writer), but for plenty of folks, this isn’t the case, and the only way to find that thing you love is to try your hand at new ventures until something finally clicks.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a screenwriter, director, and by necessity – given the underfunded state of the independent film world – a producer as well. For my entire career, I’ve worked in indie film, crafting stories that bounce between genre and form, focusing on characters who are often in the midst of an identity crisis that ultimately forces them to reckon with who they are, as opposed to who they want to be. It’s a journey I think most of us are constantly undertaking, myself included, and one that can be as personal as it is universal when it plays out on screen. From my dramedy pilot Served – a show about the inner workings of the restaurant world (pre-The Bear, mind you) – to my feature film Elephants – a romance about toxic love in all its addictive glory – to my latest festival short Detox – a horror-satire about society’s inability to connect, largely due to its inability to ‘disconnect’ from technology – I feel extremely lucky to be able to say that I’m proud of almost everything I’ve worked on. I’m also lucky to have collaborated with some exceptional artists along the way, folks like actor/producer Luca Malacrino, composer/filmmaker Bill Prokopow, actor/producer Caitlin Morris, and writer Wes Hopper (amongst many others) whose incredible work and passion have helped get me to where I am today. I’ve never truly had a mentor nor did I attend film school, which has meant what I’ve accomplished has come from boots on the ground, hands-on learning. Yet in a way, I’ve been surrounded by dozens of brilliantly talented mentors in my creative peers, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Of course, as an indie filmmaker who often learns on the fly, my journey hasn’t been without it’s challenges – low funding, last minute hiccups on set, creative differences, you name it – but I think my love for the craft keeps me going, no matter what sort of road block I run up against. At the end of the day, regardless of whatever’s gone wrong, I just have to ask myself; what else would I rather be doing? The answer is always the same: nothing. Writing and directing and bringing stories to life is as good as it gets.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Okay, to start; if they’re coming to Los Angeles for a week… I’m probably taking them to San Diego for at least three days. No offense to LA! I love my city, but I think it’s better to live there than to visit as a tourist. Having said that, here are some musts:

1. Coffee and breakfast burritos at Coffee Commissary in Burbank
2. Hike the Solstice Canyon trail in Malibu
3. Catch a movie at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood
4. Check out one of LA’s best breweries (Angel City, All Seasons, and MacLeod’s make my list)
5. Enjoy a beach day at Manhattan Beach
6. Go see a flick at the Rooftop Cinema Club in DTLA
7. Take in some art by strolling around the Arts District
8. Escape from The Basement Escape Rooms in Sylmar
9. Stroll through the Huntington Botanical Gardens
10. Have your mind absolutely blown at the Magic Castle in Hollywood

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to the Deadline Junkies Screenwriting Group; a collective of screenwriters and actors who meet weekly in North Hollywood to workshop the scripts they’re developing. I’ve been part of the group for almost 8 years and attribute my growth as a writer to the tremendous feedback and support my fellow DJ creatives have provided throughout the years!

Website: https://www.alexhanno.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexanderhanno

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhanno/

Other: https://chameleon-effect.com/
https://www.instagram.com/detoxshort/

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.