¶ ‘In a film, each frame should be a masterpiece. That’s why I look for the beauty all around me.’

By Haylie Peacock

Early beginnings of Haylie Sunshine

John Denver and Three Dog Night floated around my childhood home through the 2000s, bumping my little hips back and forth while I head-banged with Dad, the horrific green carpet our backdrop. The treasured cassette stereo worked day in and out to keep up, while the boxy TV gathered dust a few inches to the left.

I grew up living a life that didn’t need television. It was better than anything you would see on screen: grandiose mountains of Glacier National Park rose above my backyard, an escaped elephant from the local circus at the backdoor, daily adventures with my grandparents, and riding horses bareback through the woods hardly left time for sitting inside.

Recently, my great grandmother made a remark to my mom that she remembers me as a toddler telling stories at family get-togethers that left everyone in stitches. I certainly remember writing plays for every holiday with my cousin and forcing the rest of the family to watch our poorly written musicals that involved long renditions of the Witch Doctor song. I was published a few different times and won a scholarship for writing before I hit high school, and was filling notebooks with songs telling the tales of my junior-high era boy problems. Mid high school, with an iPod camera in hand, I continued to do what I had always done. I told stories, and made the realization that I could translate all of the things happening around me into movies.

Videos about my sister’s cancer

I fell hard into the world of filmmaking in college. My greatest fears, loudest worries, and deepest pain showed up in videos about my little sister’s battle with cancer.

My sense of humor weaved itself into everything, like a screenplay poking fun at my experience having my dad as a substitute teacher. I found community in including others on my projects, helping my classmates with theirs, and working for clients in the greater Missoula community.
When thinking about my goals, I am brought back to my inspirations. Stacks of National Geographic magazines under my parents’ bed used to tempt me to sneak them away to look at the pictures and read about people, animals, and ecosystems that exist outside of my Montana valley.

Feature films about women in my family

This, combined with my home full of nature, wildlife, and unique folk, drives me to pursue making documentary films for National Geographic. Movies like Little Women, which left me sobbing in the theater and profoundly affected my soul, made me want to make films that evoke that kind of emotional reaction. One of my greatest goals is to write and direct a feature-length film loosely based on the lives of women from generations of my family, because I can tell you there are surely few things more inspiring than those women.

Now, the dreams I’ve had since listening to John Denver’s stories through the stereo as a child are at my fingertips. The film industry is one dominated by men, a challenge I am inviting.
In the coming years, look for me. I will be building my art, telling stories, and adding to the community of incredible women changing the industry. Look for Haylie Sunshine films participating in the Montana community, working with local businesses and individuals to propel themselves forward.

Look in the world of science, nature, and cultural documentary filmmaking, as well as fiction filmmaking.

Have a project in mind? Call me!

And please, my biggest request is to reach out. Visit my website, www.hayliesunshine.com, and fill out a contact form introducing yourself. I want to work with you, hear your stories, and engage in my community. Send your friends, family, and neighbors my way!

This is not only a great opportunity for us to create something lasting and tell stories of the human heart, but also a chance to change the trajectory of the film industry.

I am a young female filmmaker, and I am excited to be here.

Haylie Peacock is founder of Haylie Sunshine, Films of the Human Heart. She is a filmmaker, media artist and sports model from northwestern Montana. “My passion is listening to the world around me to find the next thing that I am going to turn into art,” she writes.