Max Hauser on Producing, Editing, and Building Aromavision From the Ground Up
- TYREE POPE III
- Apr 20
- 2 min read
At the Milwaukee Film Festival, producer and editor Max Hauser represents the kind of hands-on creativity that defines independent filmmaking in Milwaukee.
With Aromavision, Hauser didn’t just help make a film.
He helped build it.
From scratch.
When Producing Gets Personal
For many producers, the job involves coordinating logistics.
For Hauser, it became much more.
When the production needed a location, he offered his apartment.
What followed was a full transformation of his living space.
Dozens of crew members.
Furniture replaced.
Rooms reimagined.
Even personal belongings became part of the set.
It was chaotic.
Unpredictable.
And exactly what independent filmmaking often requires.
Building a Film Through Community
Funding a film without studio backing requires creativity.
Hauser helped organize pop-up events to raise money, turning the process into something interactive and community-driven.
Instead of waiting for resources, the team created them.
That approach reflects a larger truth about Milwaukee’s film scene.
It is built on collaboration.
People show up.
They contribute.
And together, they make something happen.
From Actor to Filmmaker
Hauser’s journey into film began in front of the camera.
As a kid, he traveled for acting roles, gaining early experience in the industry.
Over time, his interest expanded.
He moved behind the camera, exploring directing, producing, and editing.
That evolution allowed him to develop a broader understanding of the filmmaking process.
One that he now applies to every project.
Finding a Creative Home
After years of working in the Fox Valley, Hauser moved to Milwaukee.
The shift was immediate.
For the first time, he found himself surrounded by a community of creatives who understood the work.
People who didn’t need explanations.
People who lived the same reality.
That sense of connection made a difference.
Not just professionally, but personally.
Editing the Chaos
As the editor of Aromavision, Hauser faced a unique challenge.
The film was shaped by many voices.
Many ideas.
Many creative inputs.
His job was to bring those pieces together into something cohesive.
To find the story within the chaos.
And turn it into a finished film.
The Cream City Mindset
When Hauser talks about Milwaukee, he doesn’t focus on industry status.
He focuses on people.
The ambition.
The openness.
The willingness to collaborate.
That is what makes the city stand out.
It is not about competition.
It is about creation.
Building Forward
For Hauser, filmmaking is about momentum.
Each project leads to the next.
Each collaboration builds something bigger.
And each challenge becomes part of the process.
Because in Milwaukee, the work doesn’t wait.
It gets made.
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