Today we’d like to introduce you to Hilliard Meeks.
Hi Hilliard, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As a writer and film director, I started off at San Jose State University in their Radio Television and Film program (RTVF). During my time at state, I felt the call to join the Marines. While in the Marine Reserve (later changing over to the Army Reserve), I moved to Hawaii and continued my studies at University of Hawaii at Manoa in their Academy for Creative Media (ACM).
In Hawaii, I caught the acting bug, and began studying under a well-known acting coach there. Training as an actor, I was blessed to body double on sets like Hawaii 5-0 and then made my way to films like Triple Frontier (on Netflix) and Go For Broke: The 442nd Origin Story.
After moving back stateside, I was still able to act in Hawaii while working hard to get established in San Diego and LA. My best resource has always been acting classes. Here, in San Diego, my favorite acting school is The Rehearsal Room with Carey Scott. From Carey’s classes I was able to gain industry relationships that I still have till this day. Most importantly, from Carey’s classes, I gained a tribe of actor friends that I can always return to train with.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have never had a “smooth road.” Life has thrown its fair share of curveballs at me. From dealing with depression, financial trouble, to working my way through divorce, my road has not been easy. Faith, however, can change things for the better in drastic fashion. It’s through my faith that I have got past depression and even reconciled my pasted. Through faith, my ex (at the time) and I patched things up and remarried each other. Point is, through my faith that I have in God, I gained hope for the future. Life may not always be smooth sailing, but calm seas never made a good sailor anyway.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am known more for acting and directing in the local San Diego community. One of my favorite projects that I have made was Breath, Slow, Steady, Squeeze. That was a short film created with Marc DeLeon and Alan Vazquez. I have also had a co-star role in Magnum PI and have a pretty good list of acting credits on IMDb.
Currently, I’ve been writing more and more. I have written an hour long tv pilot that has won awards in various screenwriting contests. Also, I am working on a couple half hour pilots as well. I think the elements that set me apart from others is the perspective I have from grown up as a product of a single family, to becoming a father and a husband. I think I live to give my family the things that were not afforded to me while taking stock of the blessing that I did have. Infusing those experiences into my writing and performances, hopefully, helps give honest and real aspects that set my creative works apart from others.
How do you define success?
Success is living our purpose every day. It may not be easy, but that commitment to purpose is fulfilling. I may not make a ton of money at it, but having that joy knowing I am doing exactly what God called me to do is worth more than anything money could buy.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @hilliard_meeks
Image Credits
Greg Crowder
Jermaine Doyley
