Today we’d like to introduce you to Heide Barber.
Hi Heide, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Born in Heidelberg, Germany I moved at the age of three to Lansing, Kansas. Both of my parents served in the Army, so I was bound to be an artist (Sorry, Mom and Dad). In school, I was known as the girl who was involved in everything, and I mean everything. I was on the DECA board for apparel marketing, yearbook editor, show choir, swim team, and the dance team, just to name a few. But my happy place was the theater. I was heavily involved in my thespian board and theater leadership, always advocating for a space for the arts to thrive. I was in multiple staged productions, 0such as Godspell, James and the Giant Peach, and the high school Kansas premiere of Heathers: The Musical. When it came time to decide my next steps in life, I chose theatre; I chose the thing that made me the happiest. And what esteemed collegiate education did I choose to study theater at? An all-girls school in the middle of nowhere Missouri. I’m not going to get into the details of that, but it was truly character development. Then COVID hit that fun time where we were stuck at home and stuck with ourselves. I knew I wasn’t happy where I was at, and I had lost my love for theater which was a huge part of my identity. So, I wanted to make a big move and find myself again. I moved to Chicago and attended Columbia College Chicago for (you guessed it) Comedic Writing and Performance. Yeah, I did a full 180. I found a passion for writing over the pandemic that I wanted to pursue in tandem with my love for performance. After two years of studying under very funny people, I found that my love for writing had grown. I was only learning how to write sketches and standup (which is awesome), but I wanted more. That is when a really special person in my life introduced me to SCAD and I never looked back. I’ve been at SCAD for two years and have grown as an artist, creative, and storyteller. I was able to find that missing part of myself and even discover new interests, such as producing and directing.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has most definitely not been a smooth road. I mean would I even be a writer or artist if I didn’t have a weird journey that caused me to question what I am doing? I think the biggest challenge was when I was in Chicago at school. I was so happy because I absolutely loved the city of Chicago, but I wasn’t in love with what I was doing. I looked around at my life and saw myself at a crossroad. Do I continue down this path where I’m in Chicago, the place I want to be, but not fulfilled in what I’m doing, or do I search for the thing that will make me happy? Make me feel complete? I took a leap of faith and moved to Savannah and left all my friends, my favorite places, and my central standard time zone to become the best writer I can be. To be pushed and challenged so I could go out into the real world and pursue what I love with all the tools necessary.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a storyteller, first and foremost. I have been acting on the stage since I can remember. Bringing the words on the page of a script to life made me appreciate the art of storytelling. That is what sparked my interest in writing, as I wanted to truly learn the intricacies of telling a story from thought to page to the stage. That is why I think I took such an unexpected turn and studied comedy for a second. Because it is probably the most difficult form of writing. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done as I had to have very thick skin to write and perform comedy in a classroom full of comics. I will be forever grateful that I did it because it taught me so much about timing within stories and also how to be funny duh. Again, I became stagnate and found myself wanting to know more about writing, not just for the stage but the screen. Since attending SCAD, I have not only written for the screen but also found a love for producing. Finding a story and making it happen. SCAD has given me so many opportunities to explore roles within film, TV, and theatre. Right now, I am the head writer for a Late Night Talk Show, “Too Late with Andrew Badami,” that will be filmed on a stage in front of a live studio audience. A short film I produced with all of my best girlfriends titled “Faded Out” is in post-production. And a film that I wrote for my friend’s thesis titled “Thank You, Come Again” shoots in the Spring quarter. Overall, I have been booked and busy because I love making stories come to life. My theatrical and comedic background inspires my love for storytelling and makes me always pursue new ways to tell stories.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
This is pretty generic of me, but my biggest supporters have been my parents. Especially my mom. When it came to me pursuing the arts, she has always been there. She has never once questioned my decision and has always pushed me to go further. Even with how nerve-racking this career field is, she has always been there to remind me that I am special and my stories deserve to be heard. Maybe that is the classic mom thing to say, but no matter what it means the world to me coming from her. Everything I do is for my family and for all the sacrifices my parents have made to let me pursue my dreams. I also have to shout out my friends because, at the end of the day, they have been there through thick and thin.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidebarber/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/heide-barber-475807237
