ODT: Describe some of the struggles you've faced being a young woman in the film industry.
MH: The overwhelming lack of opportunity. It's so hard to break into this industry, let alone get ongoing work that you can support yourself with. That's hard for anyone. Then you add on the dynamic of being a female in this industry and your chances are even slimmer. And then to be a black female on top of that makes your chances slim to none. That's why it's so important to create your own work and tell your own story. That's the force that drives OR DIE TRYING. We're making what we want to make. We're telling our story through our voices in the way that only we can.
ODT: Tell us about your life outside of OR DIE TRYING?
MH: What life outside of OR DIE TRYING?
ODT: What other projects are you working on at the moment?
MH: When I'm not working on ODT scripts, I'm writing a novel series, a feature, and two other television show concepts. I have so many different characters in my head I should be committed.
ODT: What do you love about OR DIE TRYING?
MH: I love my characters. They're complex, flawed, strong, resilient--all of the things that women are. They're representative of every girl in some way, and they're inclusive. I want people to see themselves in these characters. I don't want them to be some unachievable idea of what women should aspire to be. I want them to be human, and to remain that way throughout the course of the story.
