Meet Hailee Dyer | Producer, Director | Founder of Applewood Productions

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hailee Dyer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hailee, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Starting my own business definitely came with its on mental hurdles. I did have the thoughts of can I do it? How? I realized that it was the first leap of faith that was going to come with many more risks. I had to think about a few things as I began. The first question I asked myself was why. Our why is the main thing I can come back to when things get hard. The reason I started and my goals in mind successfully re-sparks my energy when I need a pick me up. For us, the why is to inspire a world to redefine artistic identities. We found many different avenues to do that. Inside of each one we realize that creativity is not just about art but it is allowing yourself to live on the edge of who you know yourself to be. Even picking out your clothes in the morning is a creative act. All the way down to what you decide to eat is creativity. This is the thought process that keeps my life and my business going with excitement.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Applewood Productions is quite the unique production house. Established in 2020, we have had the honor of working with musical artists, independent writers, non-profits, etc to ideate and produce their videos, films, and plans.

We have set a goal to innovate what the world of theatre and film looks like. With more diversity in cast, crew and stories being told we believe that this is the next phase of content in the entertainment industry. There are generations of people looking for something new to experience as well as to see the growth that we have had emotionally as a society be depicted on a large scale.

This is what we provide at Applewood Productions.

The world is not the same as it once was, and our biggest gift is being able to share new feelings through art to a world longing for something new.

We have had many challenges in our span as a company. We have had to learn how to communicate who we are, communicate with others, find creative ways to problem solve, and overcome. The mission is never to quit so we have to stay on our toes after any win or loss to keep the ball rolling in a healthy direction.

One thing I have begun to learn as a founder is that there are many people who may have similar if not the same goals as you. You would be surprised at how many people would be willing to help you achieve your visions and dreams.

The first step is trust. Trust what God put inside of you. Trust that things are working in your favor. Trust that you are capable of achieving your next level and one day you will look up and realize you are living a life you once prayed for.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Dallas is such a beautiful city. There are many things to do. My perfect day would look like waking up early to grab some coffee at one of. my favorite coffee shops. Merit in Deep Ellum or Full City Roosters in the Cedars area. Full city has some of the best coffee/chai in the city. Micheal (The owner) Is a huge fan of art and finds so many creative ways to include what is going on in the city. The place is also like a mini art gallery. Next I would probably go explore Dallas Contemporary Art Musem or other places like the Nasher to experiece new works being presented. The Art District has many different Galleries and events happening to witness some fantastic art. For Nature – Katy Trail is a large and beautiful place to bike ride, run or walk around the city. For food I would take you to Kai Thai in Uptown for the best Thai food. Following that We would head to Bishop arts to grab a yoga class at Black Swan Yoga and explore the bishop arts area after and maybe grab some food to end the night.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutouts go far beyond just one person or thing. I would really like to use this section to shout out Steven D Morris who is the executive producer of Theatre Arlington in Arlington, Texas. Steve was one of the main sources of encouragement when it came to me learning all of theatre as well as my own strengths and weaknesses. He is still a huge part of my success. Secondly I think of the books that have helped me trust what God put inside of me. Books like Think and Grow Rich, The power of Now, This here Flesh, The Alchemist, The Artists Way, The bible, I would also like to say thank you to anyone who was ever on my path that has actually believed in me. Who pushed me to excel or asked questions that filled in my blind spots. I do not believe that I would be where I am today if it wasn’t for the support of those around me. I thank God for trusting me with his children and all of the ideas that flow in and out of my life. I am so grateful to be able to say I have been a part of so many successful things in life and in the City of Dallas.

Website: ApplewoodProductions.com

Instagram: Haileemdyer | ApplewoodProductions | YogawithHaileeD

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/

Facebook: Hailee Dyer

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIqmeeNPG7o

Other: I also work independently as a yoga instructor in the city: Which can be found at Instagram: @YogawithHaileeD and Youtube at Hailee Dyer https://www.youtube.com/@haileedyer9334

Image Credits
Photos by Tyler Woodruff Jessica Taylor