The Work That Made Me: Ayanna Hart
Ayanna Hart, director of production operations: Ayanna is an experienced producer with almost three decades of experience in production and post-production. She has produced documentary and narrative series, commercials, plus social and branded content with studios such as HBO, Netflix and NBC. As a partner and co-owner of Fancy Films, a multi-faceted company that offers post-production services, Ayanna was responsible for the day-to-day supervision and management of all staff, including producers, technical and artistic operators, and freelancers, as well as long-term company goals and projections from the C-Suite offices.
The ad/music video from my childhood that stays with me…
Ayanna> Hype Williams' music videos from the golden era of MTV have always stayed with me. I mean, the guy directed over 200 music videos! His work shaped the visuals of the late ‘90s and early 2000’s hip-hop and R&B scene. He brought a cinematic quality and a distinct flair to music videos that have yet to be replicated. Busta Rhymes’ ‘Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See’ and Missy Elliot's ‘The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)’ were particularly transformational. They didn't just complement the music; they added an entirely new layer.
The ad/music video/game/web platform that made me want to get into the industry…
Ayanna> MTV, without a doubt. 120 Minutes and MTV Raps, in particular, were huge influences. MTV was where pop culture happened in real-time, and they represented a blend of music, culture, and creativity that I found just so inspiring. The power of these programmes to shape culture and introduce new trends and artists made me want to get involved in that world.
The creative work (film/album/game/ad/album/book/poem etc) that I keep revisiting…
Ayanna> The ad "Coin" from Super Bowl 2015. Bud Light really knocked it out of the park with that one. It made downtown LA into a life-size Pac-Man game with a 3D ghost projection. I mean, come on! It's a nostalgia-packed adventure that still gives me a kick every time I watch it. It's not just an ad to me; it's a celebration of pop culture and childhood memories.
My first professional project…
Ayanna> The first professional project I got paid on (yes, I did do free labouring back in the day) was at age 16, and it was a New Kids on the Block EPK about their new comic book. I hated the music, loved the job!
The piece of work (ad/music video/ platform…) that made me so angry that I vowed to never make anything like *that*…
Ayanna> I never diss other people’s work on public platforms, but some soulless ads out there make me cringe at the lack of creativity across the board.
The piece of work (ad/music video/ platform…) that still makes me jealous…
Ayanna> There are probably too many to mention, I’ve been doing this a long time, but the recent Netflix series 'The Bastard Son and The Devil Himself' was so much fun I wished I not only had the idea to create the novels in the first place, but I would also have wanted to be a producer on the series; to help bring my baby to the small screen. Vampires, European cities, and the countryside gave Betty Blue meet The Hunger; I loved everything about it.
The creative project that changed my career…
Ayanna> Working on a spot with the one and only Miss Piggy was a major pivot point for me. Going from watching 'The Muppets' as a kid to producing one of its most iconic characters was surreal and intensely rewarding. This project showed me the power of storytelling, nostalgia, and a great diva pig to connect with audiences on a deeper level.
