Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Browning.
Hi Hannah, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Ever since I could talk, I’ve been a natural storyteller. I spent my childhood reading, playing with American Girl dolls, and participating in church. My parents homeschooled me from elementary through middle school, giving me a flexible space that fed my learning style. I could talk as much as I wanted, read as many books as possible, and be as creative as I felt. I loved YA novels set in different parts of the world and points in time. Connecting with these stories showed me how storytelling can build bridges and foster empathy between unlikely groups. I mimicked the authors I read by creating complex characters and storylines for my dolls, which turned into writing short stories. I even ran a YouTube channel for a short time.
Film and TV became my mediums of choice when my family started watching a lot of faith-based movies on weekends. While they’re often criticized for low production values or poor acting, what struck me most was the lack of nuanced, diverse storytelling. Many leaned on clichés and only examined life from a white, evangelical perspective. This sparked a bold idea that I could make better films, and that idea has driven me ever since. I graduated from Oakwood University, an HBCU, with a degree in Communication Media in 2024. Now, I develop stories and help others tell theirs!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Sharing my own story hasn’t always been a smooth road. When I was fifteen, I started losing my hair—small spots at first, thinning, then my twists falling out. That’s a nightmare at any age, but as a teenage Black girl passionate about natural hair care, it was terrifying. I had always loved to shine, but suddenly, I wanted to hide. After being diagnosed with alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder, I shaved my head one summer and kept it under wraps—literally—for a long time.
It wasn’t until my senior year of college that I embraced my bald look day-to-day. I love it now, but it took patience, work, and grace with myself. I don’t just love my aesthetic; I love the privilege of being different. Most people want to blend in, and I can’t blame them. But I believe I have a job to help others, especially women who are different, feel welcome. That realization came through prayer and conversation. I’m now grateful God chose me to navigate and challenge the world this way. That mindset inspires my filmmaking and pushes me to create mindfully and unapologetically.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Although writing and directing are my first passions in entertainment, I’ve thrived in producing since college. My creative peers needed someone to handle logistics while they focused on the story, and I found joy in supporting their visions—assembling the right cast and crew to bring projects to life. I’ve interned with Hollywood companies like FIFTH SEASON and Franklin Entertainment, which sparked my interest in packaging and development. My experience helped shape my directorial debut short, PICS, which is currently in festivals and has won several awards!
I’m most proud of my flexibility—being willing to take on different roles depending on the project. I freelance as a social media content manager, producer, and production assistant in the Atlanta film scene, where I’ve had the privilege of working with established professionals I admire.
My focus on the intersections of Blackness, womanhood, faith, and authenticity in cinema sets me apart. I’m driven to tell stories I haven’t seen on screen in various genres. I never shy away from uncomfortable truths, knowing that struggle in an onscreen character can help us better understand that struggle in real life.
I aim to uplift the core of God’s character: love. Society and religion often overcomplicate or even misrepresent this, but I believe Jesus came to teach us how to love across lines. If we can do that, we’ll find peace in every other area of life.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The most important characteristic of my success is faith. To pursue an entertainment career, you have to believe in yourself enough to TRY. This has been the biggest lesson for me since graduating from college. Even if you don’t get that job, that role, that green light, you have to shoot your shot. That takes a foundation of faith, and my faith in God powers my self-belief.
I must believe that I am called and designed to be a great storyteller, even when outside recognition doesn’t come immediately. It also means I must work and know I’m not grinding for nothing. I’m expecting a payoff, so I keep going despite situational discouragement or lack of motivation.
Each win has been enough to re-inspire me to succeed, and I intend to keep going!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sites.google.com/view/hannahbrowning/home?authuser=0&pli=1
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahmknz/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-browning-124052206/
Image Credits
Pax Fordham
Everick Spence
III Oaks Studios
Pax Fordham
