Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles Hawthorne.
Hi Charles, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Ever since I was little, I have always been into storytelling through film, plays, and TV. My earliest memory was being obsessed with The Lion King. That movie really inspired me to get into filmmaking. I started writing books and plays in elementary school. In middle school, I began writing screenplays. I always had a story to tell and did everything I could to tell it. I would even write full scripts by hand in a notebook.
From there, I started uploading videos to YouTube. I bought a toy camera and couldn’t put it down. Once I graduated from high school, I went to the International House of Prayer University in Missouri for media. My faith has always played a big part in my storytelling, and it just grew once I went off to school. I began doing my own YouTube series and began to gain traction that way.
Once I finished at the International House of Prayer University, I briefly attended Biola University in California. I took some time off from school after that. I eventually went to Eastern Michigan University for digital media. During my junior year there, I realized that I wanted to start my own production company. I wanted to take on clientele to help perfect my craft and fund my own projects. This was a big leap of faith and a step out of my comfort zone. On top of that, I wanted to create my own content such as short films, films, plays, etc. under my production company name.
I was hesitant at first, but I knew that this was something that I had to do. A lot of celebrities and filmmakers have their own production companies that start after fame or success. I wanted to get a head start on already having my own production company and building a table and a name for myself. From there, Regeneration Productions was born. I made a short documentary about my vision for the company and began making content to promote the brand.
I recently started working with a team at Contrast Magazine that lead me to produce behind-the-scenes footage for their cover of actress Naturi Naughton. This has helped bring more exposure to the gifts and talents God has given me and bring me closer to pursuing a career in film and television.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road. Some of the biggest challenges I’ve faced have been personal. There are days when I just don’t feel like making content and putting myself out there. Making connections and networking can also be a struggle. Just having the drive to be consistent and step out of the box can be hard. But praying and having faith to have the strength to do what you were called to do can make all the difference. Once I make the effort to do edits, make content, send emails, getting the work done, I get all the inspiration, and I can’t stop.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am the owner and founder of Regeneration Productions. I am a videographer and editor that provides video content/solutions for businesses, churches, weddings, and much more. On top of that, I’m a writer, director, and producer. I love telling my own stories, but I also love helping others tell their stories, whether it’s through a product, love, or faith; visual storytelling is my specialty. Regeneration is most definitely my proudest moment.
What sets me apart from others is that I’m big on merging faith with creativity and innovation. I strive to push boundaries when it comes to creative faith-based content. I am committed to real, raw, and relatable storytelling that inspire, uplift, and entertains anyone and everyone.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I’ve learned that nothing is impossible. I launched my production company in the middle of the pandemic just because I wanted to. I felt like this was something that I couldn’t hold in. Even though it was tough when it came to clientele, my drive was strong. If I really wanted it, I was going to do the work to have it. Yes, there was a slow start because of COVID, but the work is really starting to begin.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://regenerationprods.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/regenerationproductions
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/regenerationproductions
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/RegenerationP
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiwG68gLjViGe4LbmojJvHA
