Meet Tracey Hague | Screenwriter, Director and Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tracey Hague and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tracey, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Every aspect of my life over the last five years or so has been about taking risks. Wanting to get into the film business is a leap in and of itself and when a person leaves a twenty-year career to pursue it, it’s all about the why. It can’t be just about movies. I got into folklore and mythology when I was educator in Rhode Island, and I was hooked on learning what makes characters and stories become part of our lives. Why do certain works of fiction stay with us? My dream is to create people and experiences that people will love as much as I have loved the stories and movies that have stayed with me throughout my life. The real wonder is that I keep gathering more as I go, the fiction I read and watch continues to inspire and change me every day. I taught English and Film Studies, but it was my Legend, Myth and Folklore class pointed the way. The class asked students to deep dive into the stories that define us and our families. Every semester taught me that everyone one of us has our own cultural and personal history that makes us who we are. Being a part of that discovery and continuing to explore that history here in Tennessee just proves every day that I’m going in the right direction. For me, it’s about learning how to tell my own stories, not just from my own life, but my own fiction. I had begun to write while I was teaching, but realized just how much I was leaving in fits and starts on my shelf. I knew at 49, I didn’t have time to keep it as a hobby. If I was really going to do it, I knew I had to jump. So I did. The amount of support and encouragement I have received from colleagues and family continues to be the biggest surprise of my life. Absolutely no one warned me off. No one.
When I left my career, my son told me “If you have a back up, you’ll back up.” It has been amazing to have that kind of encouragement behind me now as I work toward producing and directing my own first feature film.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have created my own production company that is really just a logo and me right now, but I know it’s a matter of time until people recognize Candlewick Productions. I am so excited to be at the beginning of my first feature film, a thriller based on an experience I had when I was twelve years old. It has many supernatural elements as well as horror, while delving into the difficult lives of three city kids dealing with problems far beyond their years. We have just filmed a proof of concept with five ridiculously talented actors as well as generous and gifted crew members. We are in post production now and looking toward the challenge of the next adventure – getting the feature made. I am most excited to share my short film and using the next challenges of pitching and funding to grow and learn the business side of film.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Downtown Nashville is where it’s at for sure! Tour the many music museums including the Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Broadway is just one place to explore the local music and food scene. The Opry House is the current home of the Grand Ole Opry – it’s a must! Don’t even look to see who’s playing, just go and experience the show and see Opryland while you’re there. There are many food tours and history tours all over Nashville that will satisfy every interest and palette.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The city of Nashville is literally the city of dreams. Since arriving here, I continue to meet people who inspire me and cheer me on. Everyone seems to be here from somewhere else to do something else, just like me. The creative energy and the positivity here is just something I could never have predicted. I spend my days and quite a few evenings as a tour guide right in the heart of downtown Nashville, so I get to watch it happen. People are here pursuing their dreams, in every art imaginable and there are constant opportunities to experience performances and have conversations with people at every many level in the artistic journey. And they are all eager to share their own experiences and help or advise if they can. Most importantly, I have learned that there is no “one way” to get where you want to go. Every journey and every person is completely different. If there is a secret, I have it. And here, I’ll share it: don’t quit. Don’t stop. Keep creating and moving.
I have a little pocket of people that are in this with me here in Nashville and they continually keep me motivated. I have been so lucky since arriving here and I know I’m in the right place for sure.

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