Meet Harleigh Wilder | Script Writer/ Director

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

Hi Harleigh, how do you think about risk?
I love risk taking. Without risk taking you will never know what you are capable of. I feel as if I have always taken risks, either something big, such as moving to a different state on my own, or a smaller risk, such as running for a position on my senior class council. Taking risks means putting yourself in a position you aren’t comfortable with, but the more success you have when taking risks, the more confidence you have in your ability to accomplish goals.

I moved to Arizona in the fall of 2021. My application for an apartment was accepted, but I hadn’t been accepted to ASU yet. I told my parents I was moving 14 hours away, either to go to college, or just to experience life somewhere else and three months later I was living away from my whole support system, working part time and going to school full time. It was hard, it was very difficult at times, but I knew the risk I was taking, but I wanted so badly to prove to myself I could do it. Now, here I am, graduating in a few months and knowing that whatever risk I take, I will have the confidence in myself to push through.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In my work, I want to show the gritty, non-filtered version of humanity and family that isn’t always spoken or shown in film and television. A film I can compare this to is “Marriage Story,” directed by Noah Baumbach. As a child of divorced parents, the emotion in this film gripped me. I want to create films like that. A story that gives you goosebumps and makes you feel in the room with the characters. My work doesn’t need to relate to everyone, but for those it does relate to, I want them to feel like they aren’t alone in their story.

I am currently writing a pilot episode for a TV show I am going to direct and produce with SpeakYaMindz Filmz. It is about a psychologist navigating his new job in a mental institute, confronting his forgotten past while battling a malevolent entity that feeds on the suffering of patients. This story dives into mental health, the way it has negatively been treated and how it should be treated. I myself struggle with lots of anxiety, so I want this show to be an outlet of my fears and anxieties that people can relate to.

Alongside going to school for film production, I also worked a few part time jobs. At one of them, I met my great friend, Ashley Griffith, who introduced me to Rod McCord, the manager and CEO of SpeakYaMindz Ent. Through her, I have started collaborating with Rod and Ashley on several projects, content and ways to expend and make a name for SpeakYaMindz. Getting to where I am now was not the smoothest ride, but it was exciting and opened a lot of opportunities for meet new people, collaborate on project and built up my reputation with the people around me. One of the things that constantly pushed me forward was the passion I have for this industry, the amazing artists I get to work with and the expected outcome when everything is said and done. I also know that all the creatives I surround myself with are always a phone call away for anything I need help with, and having a great support system willing to help whenever you need makes jobs less daunting.

Some hard lessons I’ve learned along the way is learning to pace myself with projects. It gets really exciting having all these offers come up, but sometimes it is okay to say no. Time management in this career is very important, so making sure I am allowing time outside of work for myself and family and some self-care will keep me energized and continuously giving 100% to the project I am committed to.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am a huge nature and animal lover, so when it’s not too hot in Arizona, Bryce Thompson Arboretum is stunning. It is a huge botanical garden with unique desert plants, buildings and some very picturesque bridges. When it is too hot, the OdySea Aquarium is my go to. It is a great escape from the heat, offers some cool exhibits and diving with sharks in one of their main pools.

My dad always BBQs for us, and that is one of the things I miss most about living at home, so whenever I have a friend visit, going on a BBQ lunch date is always my first option. Little Miss BBQ is to die for. For drinks, I am not big into alcohol, but The Yard Milkshake Bar always hits the spot. They have souvenir glasses as well. If it is hot, and you need a cool down, The Yard is the spot to be.

When my best friend does come into town, we go to the Salt River. You can rent a tube, bring an ice chest with drinks, bring a small speaker and go tubing down the river for a few hours. It is relaxing, cools you off when it is hot and is always a blast.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shoutout Gabe Castro, my high school video production teacher. If it wasn’t for him, I would have never pursued film as a career. His love and passion for film production paved a pathway for me to find my own path within this industry. He showed how difficult, fun, inspiring and invigorating creating films and being part of a set can be. Joining the Sidney Poitier Film School has only strengthened the excitement I have being in this industry.

Website: www.speakyamindz.com

Instagram: harleighwilderfilm

Linkedin: Harleigh Wilder

Image Credits
Headshot Credit – @reganmariephoto BTS photo Credit – @lucashillmedia