Hana Backland

Your areas of practice

Filmmaker and visual artist.

How did you get to where you are now?
I was at university studying film. I never thought I’d go to uni, but after travelling, drawing and photographing everything in sight I felt like I was missing out. Aside from the extremely talented friends I made, I found university frustrating, and quickly saw the disadvantages to studying such a practical art-form in an often non-practical way and resented the restrictions that were imposed. I became friends with some of the technicians, borrowed kit over the holidays and started to mould the course I had to do, into stuff I wanted to do. I’ve always had a grand plan and from an early age I only ever wanted to make films for children and draw. So in amongst the scores of student gangster flicks there was me and a puppet doing some painting for the camera. From then on I’ve been certain to include art, film and kids in everything I do which has brought me to where I am now. It seemed to sneak up, but I guess, actually this is exactly what I wanted.

Describe the work you are doing at present, or things coming up in the near future
I’m currently working on short freelance filmmaking contracts, some education, a slither of commercial and some independent drama. I’m an artist in residence in a Plymouth primary school, and the Project Manager for Screen Actions, the Cornwall Young People’s Film Festival, so mostly at the moment I am being extremely resourceful with my time.

What has recently been the most revelatory or transformational moment for you?

Setting dates to shoot the pilot for my children’s series Nettlecatfish. It has been a long time coming, it’s easy to put off risking everything. But ultimately I got fed up of waiting to make it.

Who or what has had the most profound influence on your career?
About 5 years ago, I was making a film with a group of kids at the beach. They were talking to a puppet I had built, then came round the back to operate him, then back around the front to talk to him again. This straddling of imagination and reality became the basis of my whole ambition. I’m utterly fascinated to tap into a human being’s ability to do this no matter what their age.

If you had three wishes for the future what would they be?
Somewhere to live in Cornwall and know people in the street, to reach as many children as possible with a slither of escapism and to be one of those old ladies who swims in the sea every day of the year.

What key thing would you say to creative people setting out on their careers?
Find like minds and work hard. Expect to come home broke, exhausted and happy but wishing for seven more days to a week.