Meet Hayley Sigmon | Writer and Filmmaker

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

Hi Hayley, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Since I was a child, I have known no other ambition than to be a writer. I started writing about what escapades my stuffed animals and Polly Pocket dolls would get into in the second grade, and from there became an ardent bookworm and avid storyteller, writing about aliens and monsters in the woods and brave little girls. In the seventh grade my love for writing was validated by my beloved English teacher (Dr. O’Brien, I am so grateful to you!) who encouraged me to pursue my dreams. No one in my family has pursued artistic endeavors, so I made it my goal to be the one who did. My love of prose fiction continued to bloom and progress alongside my skill until high school, when I discovered my passion for screenwriting, for seeing what I wrote come to life on the screen. Thus, my goal of becoming a television writer was born. I went on to continue studying writing in college and later received an MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage in 2021.

While that timeline adequately sums up my journey as a writer thus far, the core of why I’ve pursued this career is in my deep love of storytelling, of using my writing to funnel my emotions into my characters, of exploring the things I love and hate most in the world through my words. It’s a medium I treasure so much, and I believe that the stories we tell each other, the books and television shows and films and plays we enjoy, are the truest window into a society’s values, perspectives, patterns, and flaws.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work focuses primarily on those on society’s margins finding the bravest parts of themselves in the midst of horrific or fantastical experiences. It often deals with subjects like trauma and recovery, the line between revenge and retribution, the unchangeable facts of the past, and the complex power structures that prevent unity among the people.

Right now I’m most excited about pursuing publishing my novel. It’s an apocalyptic queer epic fantasy featuring the prophetic reappearance of dragons, the wrath of Four Goddesses, and a social revolution that promises to remake the world or destroy it. I’m also looking forward to making more short films and exploring the festival circuit.

I was impacted by the (very necessary) WGA Strike as a creative early in their career, which has been the biggest hurdle for me. I am hoping to see the industry recover and bounce back, but in the meantime, it has shown me again and again that I should always keep writing. Without that, there’s no way forward.

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.
I am partial to the neighborhood of Los Feliz, where I spent most of my time in LA. I would start the day getting breakfast tacos at Home State–I went there at least once a week. As a runner, I really enjoyed going to Griffith Park and tackling the trails, and then grabbing a snack at Trails, an aptly-named cafe near the opening of the Fern Dell Nature Path. It’s also worth seeing a film at the Academy Museum–although fair warning, there are no classic concessions like popcorn and sodas! I also enjoyed getting out of the city proper on the weekends, visiting places like Malibu or Santa Barbara or Solvang. It’s nice to watch the sunset from the hill of Barnesdale Park–make sure to bring a blanket or a bottle of wine for a picnic!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to all the various teachers, professors, and mentors I’ve had over the years who nurtured my talent and helped me hone it into a skill. I’d also like to dedicate this to my parents, who have been ceaseless in their support of my chosen career path. Thank you to my professors at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Northwestern University–your former student thinks of you fondly!

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