Meet Chris Hill | Film Maker

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

Hi Chris, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I think my company’s continued growth boil down to two major factors. 1. Work ethic. A continued drive to accomplish a project no mater how many boundaries and barricades are in your path. A few years ago I was Gaffing an A24 film called Waves by day and at night I was editing a VR film that I was premiering in London a few weeks later. At that time VR editing software was in its infancy, I spent over 100hrs with Adobe techs in India that didn’t start till 11pm est. Needless to say my girlfriend at the time was not a happy camper haha.
2. Never stop learning. If I’m not out there working on set or editing photos or videos at home, I am taking online software courses. Or reaching out to lighting company’s seeing if they can send me demos of the new equipment and beta testing their software. Reading trade magazines or listening podcasts.

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.
Growing up in small Midwest town films where always an escape to different worlds, different lives, different paths. I spent a lot of my free time at the local movie theater and then once turning 16 would make the 1.5hr drive to the next big town with the closest indie theater. Every Tuesday I would be at the local video store to buy nearly every movie that came out on DVD that day. I was like my own Blockbuster by the time i graduated High School. But with all that, I never really thought of it as a valid option for a career. Once I graduated High School I kinda just went on with my life as people do in a small town. I was managing a Wendys and hanging out with friends on my days off, no real plans or drive.

At a certain point I had made the decision that I was going to join a small Eastern European circus that I had come across on a Geocities site. They where looking for English speakers and Splinterheads.

But shortly after I had begun the process of getting my passport and figuring out the logistics of moving across the world, my mother fell ill to cancer and I knew I couldn’t leave the country and go run around Eastern Europe without any means of contact. That being said, I also knew I couldn’t stay in the same small town I grew up in, I had see too many stories. I had seen too many places on the screen that I needed to see for real.

So I decided to pack my bags and move to Fl where I began working on tiny tiny indie films. Over about a 3 or 4 year period I slowly meet people and formed bonds and began to help create bigger and bigger projects. Then in 2007 I was asked to work on Marley and Me. It was by far my biggest project and I joined the union. After that it was one large scale production to the next. But it wasn’t completely fulfilling, I was here working with the absolute best in the world at what they do but I still wanted more.

It was around that time that Jacques Bruna (Local hip hop artist that goes by Bleubird) asked me join an art collective known as the Black Locust Society. It was a collection of Musicians Graphic artist and other creative individuals. It was there when I began to make closer bonds with local musicians and artist and began to photograph and film videos for them. From that day forward I have been challenged with the task of trying to balance both Large scale film productions and creating quality content for local artist in hopes to bring their amazing talent to a wider audience. Making life long bonds with many of south Floridas leading acts along the way. One such act is The Haunt, Ive made probably nearly 10 videos with at this point. Its an amazing experience to be able to be with a group like that from its inception. To watch how much both of us have grown and challenged each other to create more and more amazing art to expand both our creativity.

From then i have been steadily creating projects with local musicians as well as having a few smaller solo projects hopefully in the works soon.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Some of my favorite spots, hmmm that’s a bit tricky. I’m a big fan of old Florida. Some of my favorite places are like The Skunk Ape Research Headquarters down in the deep everglades. They have amazing gift shop and tours. If you’re there make sure to go back in the back and give Goldie a tickle (shes a 24ft long albino python that’s super ticklish). There is also a really great little dinner right down the street where you can get an ice cold beer and a good meal called Joaie’s Blue Crab Cafe. And if you’re feeling a little nostalgic for back home make sure to pick up a post card from one of the two places and mail it from the country’s smallest post office just past the cafe.

Down in the Everglades there are also gems like Night bike rides in Shark Valley or if you don’t mind treading through some water head out to the old AeroJet facility where there is still a full sized rocket in the ground.

Some of my fav places to grab a drink will always be with the fellas at Laser Wolf and Invasive Species. Amazing selection and always interesting conversation.
South Florida is also blessed with some of the best record digging in the nation, with amazing stores like Technique Records and Radio Active Records.
Then it wouldn’t be a tour from me if we didn’t head down to Miami to see South Florida’s own Nyiab Estefan and is amazing Niteowl Drive in theater.
Other honorably mentions would have to be The Swap Shop, Jalisco Mexican Restaurant, and if you’re in Miami Gramps and Ms Cheezious

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
“I have no idea where this will lead us, but i have a definite feeling it will be a place both wonderful and strange.” Dale Cooper

Website: www.digitalcypherproductions.com

Instagram: @digitalcypher

Twitter: @digital_cypher

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCypherProductions

Image Credits
final image was shot by Ian Witlen