Meet Karis Hinds

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

Hi Karis, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
One thing about the film and TV industry that people might not realise is how much of it runs on connections. Once you’re in, you’re in — the jobs often circulate among people who are already part of the industry. A lot of the roles you see advertised are usually from smaller companies, or in some cases, the bigger ones, but the chances of getting those are pretty slim if you don’t already have a foot in the door. The best way to break in is by getting your name out there, networking, meeting people, and just having conversations so people know who you are. Working on short films or smaller productions is also really valuable, because if the shoot goes well and you build a good relationship with someone, and they go on to do bigger things, now you’ve got a contact who’s already moving up in the industry. It’s definitely a lot more about who you know than I initially realised — I only really became aware of that after chatting to someone on set when I was working as an extra. I wasn’t even part of the crew, just doing background work, but that conversation opened my eyes. So yeah, that’s something I think a lot of people trying to get into the industry might not know — or at least I didn’t.

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.
I originally started out trying to get into camera operating — I knew I liked the film industry and loved making music videos and documentaries, so I thought that would be my way in. I’ve built a good background in videography and camera work, and I still take on freelance projects. But after some time and a bit of reflection, I realised it’s not actually where I want to end up. So right now, I’m in the middle of a shift. I’ve realised I’m more drawn to the production side of things — I want to be a producer eventually, and I know that’s a long journey, but I’ve started moving towards roles like production assistant, runner, and assistant director.

Recently, I worked as an AD on a short film for the first time and I really enjoyed it. That kind of logistical, timekeeping, coordination-based role suits me, and I’d definitely do it again. Looking back, I think I struggled with the camera path because my heart wasn’t fully in it — it just felt like the obvious next step because I liked creating. But working on sets has shown me how many roles there actually are, especially in short films and documentaries. After watching producers in action, I realised that’s the space I want to grow into.

One project I’m proud of is a little thing I started called the One Minute Series — it’s a short docu-series where I filmed and edited one-minute pieces with my creative friends, using visuals and voiceovers to tell their stories. It was a solo project for the most part, and I really loved doing it. Even though I’m pivoting away from camera work, I’d still be up for continuing that project. It was good for my portfolio, but more than that, it was creatively fulfilling.

Getting into the industry has definitely been tough. Especially when I was pursuing camera, I faced a lot of self-doubt and uncertainty — and now that I’ve shifted paths, there’s still that challenge of breaking in. It’s a lot of outreach: emailing, applying, scrolling Facebook groups, checking listings constantly because things open and close so fast. It’s tiring, but I’m trying to find balance and just stay open. Right now I’m kind of throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks.

One big thing I’ve learned is: don’t wait on anyone. If there’s something you want to do, just go for it. I’ve held back in the past thinking, “oh, this opportunity might happen” and then it falls through. That’s been a tough lesson — you can’t rely on possibilities. You have to keep moving forward and applying yourself. Once you’re more secure, then maybe you can help others out and take time, but if you’re still building, you’ve got to stay in motion.

As for what I want the world to know about my brand or story — honestly, I’m still figuring that out. I’m only 23, and I only made this decision to pivot from camera a few months ago. But what I do know is that I want to be part of making cool things. Whether that’s helping bring a project together behind the scenes, supporting a team, or telling stories through visuals. I just want to be in the room and doing the work.

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.
If a friend was visiting London, I’d probably take them to Shoreditch first. I just think it’s a great area that gives a little bit of everything. It can be a bit fancy in parts but also really chill and full of character. There’s loads of good food around, vintage shops, and independent stalls. I’d take them to Spitalfields Market, grab something to eat, maybe a sweet treat, and just wander around or sit in a nice café for a chat.

After that, we’d rent some Limebikes and cycle around if the weather’s decent. I’d try to pass by Tower Bridge and the Shard so they can see some proper London landmarks. Then maybe we’d head up towards Camden, which is another one of my favourite areas. It’s got such a good vibe — a bit loud and chaotic but fun, and the food options are amazing, especially for vegans. Purezza is a great vegan pizza spot, and there’s a stall in Camden Market with the best vegan Pad Thai I’ve had. We’d probably explore the shops, get some food, and walk around by the lock.

From there I’d take them to Primrose Hill to chill and catch the sunset, which gives you a really nice view of the city skyline. If we had more time, maybe we’d visit Tate Modern too. I like that part of the South Bank — you’ve got the art, the river, St Paul’s nearby — it just feels really London. Even just walking along the Thames is nice, you always end up seeing something random or interesting.

So yeah, that would be the kind of day I’d plan. Just good food, good views, and a bit of exploring.

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 would like to shout out Ram Dass who is my spiritual teacher and has opened my eyes to all that is capable within this world.

Website: https://www.karishinds.com

Instagram: karispg

Image Credits
All photos were taken by me