Robin Hauser
December Filmmaker of the Month
PROFESSIONAL BIO
ROBIN HAUSER – FILMMAKER
Robin is an award-winning director of documentary films at Finish Line Features. Robin’s most recent film, bias, delves into unconscious bias and how it affects our lives socially and in the workplace. Her exploration into implicit gender and racial bias in artificial intelligence led her to introduce the subject to the TED stage in December 2017. She also presented at TEDx in 2019 on “The Likability Dilemma for Women Leaders.” Robin’s previous film, CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap, premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in 2015, screened at The White House, and caught the attention of the international tech industry and of policy makers and educators around the world. Robin has been featured in international publications including Forbes, Fortune, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic, and has appeared on Bloomberg TV, CNN, NPR, CNBC, and more. Robin is a diplomat for the American Film Showcase and speaks about unconscious bias, the importance of diversity and inclusion, and on behalf of women’s rights at US Embassies, conferences and corporate headquarters worldwide. She is currently working on $avvy, a film about women and financial wellness: savvy-film.com.
Filmmaker Interview with Robin Hauser
Filmmaker Interview
Tell us your backstory. How and why did you get into filmmaking?
My runway to becoming a filmmaker is rather unconventional. I did not go to film school. When I earned my MBA many years ago, I never imagined that one day I would be directing and producing documentaries.
I have always had a love for photography and for visual storytelling. In my 30’s and 40’s I told myself that “someday” I’d make a film. It was in late 2010 that “someday” landed in my lap. My daughter’s high school cross-country team drew international attention when they won the state championship, making their coach, who was recently diagnosed with fatal ALS, the winningest coach in California history. I was approached by a documentary team who wanted to tell the story, and I jumped aboard and eventually took the project to completion. The result was Running for Jim. Since then I have made CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap (2015), Bias (2018), Tino (2018) and I’m currently making $avvy (2021). Filmmaking gives me a creative outlet that I crave. It’s an opportunity to share my passion about issues that deeply concern me. Filmmaking allows me to feel like I’m contributing, in some very small way, to society. When one of my films inspires, motivates or positively impacts even just one person in the audience, I feel fulfilled.
How many films have you completed? What is your favorite project you have worked on and why?
I’m nearly finished with my 5th film: 4 feature-length documentaries and one short documentary.
There is something special to me about each film I have made; they are unique and meaningful in various ways. Running for Jim gave the filmmaking team and I a chance to highlight Coach Tracy’s extreme devotion to high school cross country, his lifetime accomplishments and the impact he had on his runners in the years leading up to his death due to Lou Gehrig’s Disease. CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap exposed the lack of gender and racial diversity in tech, catching the attention of The White House and policy makers worldwide. Bias was a well timed film that allowed me to look inward at my own unconscious biases. This film continues to impact vast audiences as our society and others grapple with racial and gender bias.
What are the specific qualities that, in your opinion, make a film great?
I believe that a “great” film speaks to the smartest and to the least informed in the audience. It offers fact-based information without shaming or pointing a finger. And a “great” film has just the right touch of humor to bring levity to a concerning problem.
What is your favorite aspect of film production?
Though I love interviewing experts and capturing testimonials, I think the editing phase is my favorite. Seeing your footage come alive, from a concept to the screen, is thrilling. And as nerve wracking as it can be, I get a thrill out of the very first public screening. So much work has gone into making that film; seeing it on a big screen with a full audience is exhilarating – especially if they laugh at parts of the film where you intended it to be humorous.
Can you describe the business behind independent filmmaking and how you are trying to get your film seen?
That MBA I earned has ended up being useful in filmmaking. The business aspect of making a film is something that intimidates and eludes many filmmakers. For me, I see making a film like a start-up.
First, I have to hire a trustworthy, dependable, amicable and skilled team. This is crucial. I need diverse opinions and skills – and most importantly you need to get along and respect each other.
Then, in the case of my films, I need to raise money. This can be daunting and is never easy, but my business background has given me the tools I need to creatively raise funds from individuals, private foundations and corporations.
Understanding how to read a spreadsheet and being familiar with basic accounting skills is essential in filmmaking, as every penny counts when you are an independent filmmaker.
And marketing is also a great skill to have – being creative about getting your film to the audience who will appreciate your art.