Our exclusive interview with Terence Bernie Hines
Award-winning Writer/Director/Actor Terence Bernie Hines has carved out an impressive career in the entertainment industry.
Terence, could you start by telling us a bit about yourself? Give us a brief introduction!
My Film and TV credits include dozens of films and tv shows including "Crossing Over" Stuck on You", "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia", "Criminal Minds", "I Think You Should Leave", "My Name is Earl", Raising Hope"
Well My bio is as follows:
My journey began in the tough neighborhoods of Detroit, where a life-threatening encounter at age 14 sparked the resilience and determination that would shape his future. Armed with this spirit, Terence headed to Los Angeles to chase his dreams.
My big break came when he landed a role in the short film Red Zone, which caught the attention of director Peter Farrelly. This led to a standout role in Stuck On You, where he shared the screen with legends like Matt Damon, Meryl Streep, and Cher. Since then, Terence has appeared in numerous high-profile film and TV projects, solidifying his place in Hollywood.
As a director, Terence has also been making waves and earning recognition, winning accolades like the 2022 Rising Black Voices Award for co-directing the documentary #hiplet alongside Sonia Machado-Hines. He recently took a major step in his career, writing and directing his first narrative feature, Mauler, further proving his talent for storytelling and visual narration.
Terence’s journey is not just about professional success but also personal growth. From overcoming the challenges of his youth in Detroit to navigating the complex world of Hollywood, his story is a testament to resilience and the pursuit of passion against all odds.
Where are you currently based out of?
Los Angeles
What inspired you to start creating films?
I’ve loved films ever since I was a kid. I was practically raised by TV, watching old and new movies and living through the characters on screen. From them, I learned that life can be tough, but it doesn’t always have to be. So I've always tried to see how things can be done instead of just taking what comes at me in life. When the opportunity to write and direct came up, I realized it was something I’d always wanted to do. So, I went for it—with tremendous help, of course, from my wife among others, who’s also a filmmaker.
Who most inspires/influences your style and specific execution currently and why?
I love the work of great filmmakers like Hitchcock, Coppola, Scorsese, Christopher Nolan and Spielberg, who’ve all made some classic thrillers. But I also think directors like Wes Craven and James Wan are pretty high up there in that genre. I study all of their work because I admire the results, and I do my best with the resources I have for each project. I am definitely not as good as I want or plan to be. With every film, I do, I try to learn and get better.
What is your favorite film of all time?
Off the top of my head, "Phenomenon". It’s the classic underdog story where a guy who is a "nobody" suddenly gets an unexpected super power that turns his world upside down, and ruins everything he had going on. I loved the questions it posed about life, love, friendship and survival. it inspired in me to be more than what I am—or what I’m supposedly ‘supposed to be’ or ‘should accomplish. I think if we look closely enough, we all have our own "super"power that belongs to just us.
As a creator, what do you find to be the thing that most drives you to succeed? We like to use this portion for others to learn from you!
I have what could be called a "morbid curiosity". I want to understand people and life. I want to know what they did that WORKED - and how I could do it too in my own way. I believe that a real professional never stops learning and I know that it takes work and persistence to get great or even good. So when you put that all together, and add in persistence and trying to treat people the right way, I think makes a difference.
What is your overall dream in life?
To make projects that have a great effect on people. I've gotten letters and emails from all over the world as an actor even before Instagram or TikTok etc. where people have told me how much they loved something or it made them laugh etc. Those are the types of things I got into the business for and my dream would be to be doing that on a regular basis.
What’s the title of your current project?
Mauler
What is your role in the film?
I don't act in this movie. I wrote, directed and produced it.
Who is the director & who is the writer?
Terence Bernie Hines
What is the film’s genre?
Horror/Thriller
What is the film’s logline?
Desperate for cash, five young friends enter a creepy murder house for a $25K dark web contest, only to end up in a brutal fight for their lives against a 7-foot-tall religious maniac with a sledgehammer who’s out to kill all sinners
What inspired the way that you went about executing this project?
LOL I have a producer who has the tenacity of a pitbull - who happens to be my wife! When you've been in the business for a few decades, you tend to either have some friends or some enemies in the business. Fortunately I have friends in the right places that put me in a position to just get this done, so I did! I learned a LOT in this first feature and there's still so much to learn and do. I figure as long as I keep learning and doing and having fun, I'll be honored to just keep going.
What was the most difficult part in the process of creating this film? How did you overcome it?
Several of the actors were fairly new to features. But fortunately I also am an acting coach and took the time to help them develop a chemistry with each other in this story. I had to teach and collaborate and learn from them all at the same time!
Comments