At Work With… Hillary Pierce, Documentary Film Producer
The ‘At Work With…’ Interview Series is our way of bringing you behind-the-scenes with the names and businesses included in our Texas Production Directory (TPD). We want to showcase the creatives that cover all levels of production experience, backgrounds, and geographies around the state.
This week's spotlight is Hillary Pierce, Documentary Film Producer, based in Marfa & Austin, TX and a Texan for the past 7.5 years.
What’s the most memorable experience on a project or production that you’ve had and what made it so special?
It's really hard to choose just one but it was really special to interview The Avett Brothers for A Song For You: The Austin City Limits Story. They're my favorite band and they're from my home state of North Carolina. I've been listening to them since they played dive bars back home and I went to their very first taping. So it was a full circle moment for me.
What are the skills required to succeed in your specific area of expertise?
Too many to list! But I always emphasize the need for both thorough planning AND flexibility. You have to plan enough to be prepared, but flexible enough to shift gears if things go in a different direction. Documentary can be very unpredictable.
Your claim to fame: What special skill or fun fact differentiates you from others?
I've been known to bake pecan pies for the entire crew amidst the busiest parts of production. I'm a stress baker.
In your industry, collaboration is the key to success. How do you best foster collaboration with your colleagues from project to project?
I think the key is reminding them that it IS a collaboration. Open the door and set the stage for the flow of ideas, suggestions, and contributions. Let your team know up front that you consider them collaborators and you welcome their creativity. Don't try so hard to be "the boss" that you miss the opportunity to truly incorporate the contributions of others. Mutual respect goes a long way.
What’s the best part about working in Texas?
This state will never run out of stories to tell. You can tell such a wide variety of stories from different times and regions. Texas is so much richer than some states when it comes to culture, history, and diversity. You could make documentaries for 50 years in this state and still feel like there are stories going untold.
Interview has been edited for brevity.
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