Mac Hightower

Part I · Video

Motion pictures that catch your attention and stop your scroll.

I bring stories to life on-screen.

Finding Hero — production still
Finding Hero — hero still
Finding Hero — behind the scenes
012025

Humanizing Mental Illness

Creator/Screenwriter/Independent Feature

Finding Hero is an award-winning independent short film that I conceived, wrote on spec and pitched to producer Keith Lawson (ex-BET). It was inspired by my experiences growing up alongside a brother with schizophrenia. To date, the film has been nominated in more than 30 film festivals and has earned awards including the People's Telly Award (Gold, 2026), Best Actor at Newark International Film Festival (2025) and Best Short Film at L.A. Shorts (2025).

022025

The Red Cross- Military Partnership

Producer/Director/Editor

I connected with an active duty Army Lt. Col. deployed to Poland to capture first-hand testimony of the essential work the Red Cross does for service members and their families overseas. The video, produced on no budget and in under two weeks, supported national fundraising efforts at a prestigious donor summit.

032024

Marine Homecoming

Director/Editor/Featured in People

To generate national media attention, I helped coordinate a surprise homecoming for a service member deployed in South Korea over the holidays. Working with a regional team, I directed the reunion and edited the footage captured into a short-form Reel that became the line of business' most shared social video of the year. The story was later featured exclusively by People magazine.

Featured Exclusively In

People Magazine

Read the People exclusive ↗
042025

Self-Care, Mental Health Awareness Month

Videographer/Editor/Social

Every May, the Red Cross recognizes Mental Health Awareness Month. This piece features one of our own volunteers sharing genuine, practical self-care tips — paired with an interactive poll to keep the audience engaged.

052026

Mindful Movement — Launch Film

Director/Producer/Campaign Film

The signature launch film for Mindful Movement, a wellness workshop for military families. The video anchored an integrated campaign across editorial, social and web.