Meet Kimberly Hauser | Actress & Filmmaker

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

Hi Kimberly, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I think of risks as an inherent fact rather than some one-off choices we make. You’re always “taking a risk.” Every decision inherently comes with risks and repercussions. Understanding that every moment innately has risks has helped me put less focus on if a risk I’m taking is the “right” one and instead put my focus on if this decision/risk is one I personally want to take. It’s helped me gain clarity on which risks I want to pursue and which ones I don’t. If a risk feels aligned and true to you, do it and move on. Doing this has increased my trust with myself and with the process. I believe there must’ve been something I secretly yearned to try, explore, and experiment with. So, no matter how it turns out, I have peace.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m an actress and filmmaker here in Atlanta, Georgia. I actually got my B.A. in Communications, which, as you can tell, is not a traditionally creative field. While storytelling may be at the heart of my artistry, so are people.  I’ve always been quite introspective and observant, and this served to open me up to understanding there’s an entire world inside of me as well as outside. This meant that, at all times, two worlds were colliding- a personal one and an “outside” one. I was drawn to studying communication because it’s all about both of these two worlds and gaining a clearer and deeper understanding of these “collision points” and how they interact. This education foundationally supported my ability to not only understand how to engage with the world around me, but also how to engage with the world within me.

I loved learning about Communications, but worried it might end up derailing me from fully pursuing my creative passions and desires. The incredible thing about Art, though, is that it finds you wherever you are. It isn’t biased to a studio or stage- it’s in every place, every thing, and every person. And the beautiful thing about Communication? It functions the exact same way. No matter where I went, I repeatedly found myself experiencing both art and communication topics. The most exciting part was when they overlapped– because why wouldn’t they? Both topics are about the same thing: the truth of life and people.

When it comes to why I wanted to pursue acting and filmmaking, the core of it is really about exploring and expressing Truth. As artists we reflect humanity back to ourselves. Art is healing and endlessly growth-producing for not only the artist, but also for the audience. I suppose I was drawn to acting because it felt like the most intimate and challenging form of artistry I had come into contact with. To have a story literally flow through you- impacting the words you say, the thoughts you have, the feelings you experience, the movements you make- it’s the most physical and literal form of empathizing. It feels like you are literally embodying the practice of empathy. It’s humbling, connective, and incredibly insightful. In a self-serving way, I do it because it reminds me that I’m not alone in this experience called “being human” and that I belong after all. Yet, I do it not because of how it serves me, but more because it’s the most intimate and honest form of service I’ve ever experienced.

In a “Create Your Own Content” class I was taking at the Carol Hickey Acting Studio, I was able to see that I have more resources available to me than I previously thought. Such as a camera, basic video editing software, an actress (me), and a storyteller/creator (also me). That meant I didn’t have to wait around wondering what it was like to be “on set” or tell a story. I could start now. I’ve been incredibly lucky to have made 3 short films thus far with their own film festival premieres and awards. And now I’m onto writing another.

In all transparency, being a filmmaker can be a touchy subject for me simply because it was not a part of my original vision of myself. My ego still rears its ugly head when I own up to “being a filmmaker.” I’ve had a lot of resistance in allowing myself to own that title and share my projects because I feared it threatened my credibility as an actress.  I suppose in some ways, I still fear this. Yet every time I’ve allowed myself to grow as a filmmaker, it’s only increased my artistry two-fold, especially as an actress. It equipped me with a wider perspective on the process, a deeper appreciation for all the individuals/roles involved, and a sharper focus on what really matters when we create: the story.

Though I don’t entirely know what lies ahead for me with my acting career or filmmaking, I’m excited to continue forward and invest in my evolving artistry. One of the scariest parts of pursuing a professionally creative career is not knowing if you will ever grow beyond your own backyard. While we create because we love to and we must (it’s in our DNA), at the end of the day we create to connect beyond ourselves and our own little bubble. My aim as an artist is to continue growing to where I do this work at the highest level with others. I’m excited by the idea of telling stories with other brilliant artists and using some of the best talent and resources available. I can’t wait to create and serve on that scale to be a part of what brings more healing, challenges, and truth to the world at large.

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.
Oh gosh, let me just say that I’m probably the worst tour guide of this city. Although I’ve been here for 2 years, I haven’t invested nearly enough time in exploring all this city has to offer. However, I’ll admit some of my favorite places thus far have been the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and the Aquarium. (I’m a sucker for nature.) Also, the classic thing I always tell people is to do is walk along the beltline. No matter what direction you go, you’re bound to have a great time and are free to hop off at any point and explore places directly connected to the path. I’d most likely plan a day of hiking as well. (Gotta love the fact that Atlanta has so many great places to hike that aren’t too far away!) Lastly, although it’s cliche, I’d take them to Piedmont park for part of the day. (Especially if there is an event going on at the park!)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shout out to my mom, Debra. She’s been my safe place to dream in front of and be my fullest, imperfect self with. Because of her generous heart, I’ve been able to see more love in the world. And when you see that kind of love, there’s no turning back or losing hope. A million thanks to her for being the loving mother, supportive wife, thoughtful daughter, and brilliant woman that she is.

Instagram: kimhauser5

Facebook: Kim Hauser (my personal profile) or Kimberly Hauser (it’s a FB page)

Other: vimeo link: https://vimeo.com/user91341261 imdb link: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10518366/

Image Credits
Main photo with teal background was taken by Joe Funk.