Those who say there's no money in short films don't know about Ren Hinks, who's made his living with the art form for half a decade.
In 2005, Hinks left his video production job with Biosphere 2 to start Pusch Ridge Media Group, which makes films for nonprofits, including for capital campaigns and public service announcements, as well as political ads.
The organization has done work for the Humane Society, the Yuma Community Food Bank, the Tucson Hebrew Academy and the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council, among others.
Hinks, who is in his early 60s, was raised in Pennsylvania. He then worked in Los Angeles for a time before moving to Tucson in 1992 to start working on projects for Biosphere 2.
"My youngest daughter was 2 years old when I decided I wanted to work locally exclusively instead of traveling," Hinks said.
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What led you to get your company started?
"When Columbia University, then the manager of Biosphere 2, laid everyone off in 2003, I found that at age 54, getting hired by a local production company, or even those as far away as Florida, was difficult, and I really didn't want to move back to L.A."
Do you plan on making any documentaries or feature films?
"I have, off-again, on-again, been working on a screenplay, but who isn't? However, I have been filming material in the past six months that I plan to marry with some of the music I produced while making an album during my time north in New Mexico and Colorado in the early '90s. It might be traditionally called a music video, except that with the prevalence of YouTube publishing, one could call it anything they want."
Describe one of the projects you're most proud of.
"The work at Biosphere 2, ranging from building several studios that were used to connect people living inside to the outside world - first the press, then later, students and researchers from around the world, to living inside for a week during the second mission to shoot a documentary about life inside."
What's the main difference between industrial filmmaking and artistic filmmaking?
"With artistic endeavors, I don't have to make sense if I don't want to. That's obviously not the case with paying clients. But the shooting is the same - one is trying to put magic into a bottle."
What are your filmmaking plans for the next year?
"I'd like to go north onto the Colorado Plateau when the weather is reasonably cooperative, to finish shooting a personal film I've been working on. To that end, I have outfitted a pack that allows me to carry the digital film equipment on foot, and have bought an older four-wheel-drive Yukon truck to get me close to where I want to end up."
What would you like your company to accomplish?
"I want it to continue to produce films that exceed the expectations of my clients. I love having people be delighted that there is a realistic yet compelling way they can show the world what they do and why it's important that they do it."
If you're involved in filmmaking and would like to be featured in a Q&A, write to pvillarreal@azstarnet.com
