Meet Hannah Carman | Actress, Singer, Writer and Film Producer

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

Hi Hannah, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I went ahead with pursuing a creative career because quite honestly, there wasn’t anything else I could see myself doing that could ever make me feel as fulfilled as my creative work does. As I am an actress, singer, writer, and producer all in one, I consider myself to be a multi-hyphenate. Every way in which I am working in the creative field fulfills me differently and allows me to tell stories in the way that I want to. If I didn’t have that, then I wouldn’t feel purposeful in my work.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Well, I’m originally from Sydney Australia, but when I was 18, I moved to Los Angeles and started training at the American Arts Film and Television Academy in their Actor’s Conservatory program. It was one of the craziest and most glorious times of my life. I think one of the things that sets me apart from other performers was the fact that I moved across the world at such a young age. I dealt with the challenges of such a big move young, and that has definitely influenced my creative work in both music and film. It’s made me want to tackle complicated topics in my work.

In LA, I was fascinated by the inevitable loss of relationships in our lives and how that changes us, so I created my own musical short film ‘The Five Stages’. This film includes music that I performed and wrote myself, and I’m incredibly proud of it. ‘The Five Stages’ had its film festival run last year and got selected into multiple international film festivals, winning awards such as ‘Best Performances’ at the Experimental, Dance & Music Film Festival in Toronto and ‘Best Art Film’ at the Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival in Greece. I incorporate my music and songwriting into films that I produce a lot, as I think music’s role in film can be very powerful.

I’ve also recently been involved in more comedic projects as well, including the most recent film I starred in and co-produced, ‘Queens of the Desert’. This project was filmed in the Agua Dulce area just outside of Los Angeles, and is an ensemble female film about pageant queens set in the 1980s. It’s comedic and super fun but also hits some important, serious topics. This film is now being optioned to become a television series, which is something I’m very very excited about.

In my journey thus far, I’ve learned that to be able to really grow, getting out of your comfort zone is essential. Especially if you’re involved in a creative industry. And you have to back yourself 100%. In the face of other people’s doubts, you have to stay confident in what it is that you want and what you believe is the right path for you.

What I would like the world to know about me and my work is that although I love diving deeply into serious topics that relate to us all, such as loss and relationships, I like to do it in a way that puts a spin on it. Whether that’s through creating a musical or comedy, I like to make films and music that take you out of the real world. I hope that when people watch or listen to anything that I create, they can both escape from their daily lives for a bit and learn something new.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Although this is a little cliche, the first place I would take my best friend is the Griffith Observatory around the time the sun is setting. I usually like going with a picnic blanket and some food to snack on. It’s one of the most beautiful spots in the city, and a must for visitors in LA. My next spot would be to go and see a musical at the Pantages Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. That theatre is so stunning, and every show I’ve ever seen there I’ve loved.

My favourite hang out/shopping destination is definitely the shops down Melrose Ave in West Hollywood. All of the vintage stores there are great, and whenever I’m on Melrose I always get myself a burrito from Sugar Taco. Going to see some comedy at Groundlings is also a must experience.

When it comes to coffee, one of my favourite coffee shops in the city where I would take any friend is definitely Priscillas in Burbank. They always have really sweet but delicious varieties of coffee, and it’s a great place to either meet up with people or quietly finish up some work at a table inside.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There’s lots of people that deserve a shoutout that have helped me so much to get to where I am today, but I’d first like to shout out one of my brilliant mentors in Los Angeles, Jessica Orcsik. She was one of the first people that ever believed in me and saw any kind of potential in my artistic work. She was the one that gave me the chance to be able to train in Los Angeles when I was 18 and gave me the confidence to create my own work. I owe a huge amount to her.

I’d also like to give a shoutout to my brilliant parents, Sally and Graham Carman, that have helped me every step of the way, especially when it came to moving to the US for the first time. I’m very very grateful that I have them in my life.

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

Image Credits
Headshots by Alex Vaughan