HAMMR Productions

12/05/2025

RIP Ken Hackman, lovingly known as “The Godfather of Military Visual Information”

Ken Hackman was one of the most influential figures in the Combat Camera and Public Affairs community. His legacy stretches across generations and continents. You can see some of his incredible work as you swipe.

From photographing USO tours in Korea during the 1950s, to documenting nuclear tests at Christmas Island, to covering the wars in Vietnam and Laos, to capturing presidents and Bob Hope on film, Ken had seen and recorded it all.

But his impact went beyond those historic images. Ken devoted himself to mentoring the next generation of military storytellers. Through seminars, workshops, and one-on-one sessions, he shaped the careers of so many of us who followed in his footsteps.

The photo at the front and back of this post is me, Sergeant Ham, just back from Afghanistan after winning the 2009 DoD Military Videographer of the Year. That was the first time I met Ken, and from that moment on, he had a profound influence on me both personally and professionally.

Hearing of his passing this week stirred up a lot of emotions and memories. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and everyone who knew him. His legacy lives on.

Thank you, Ken.

11/15/2025

Austin Film Festival was a blast and truly a highlight of my filmmaking adventure. Our film Zzaslow K-427 was honored to be one of ten documentaries featured at what’s known throughout the circuit as a premiere film festival, particularly for writers. This documentary took a lot of thought, scripting and storytelling structure to come together and I was excited that Austin got that.

The audiences were full and so engaged with great Q&As afterward. Much of our story takes place at Lackland Airforce Base in Texas, it felt like an amazing way to bring this film back to Zzaslow’s first home.

Thanks Austin FF and all the staff that made this happen and KXAN Austin for having me on their show to talk about why we made this film, to honor victims and first responders of 9/11, our veterans and our little furry heroes like Zzaslow. Thanks also to for coming to our showing and having Banzo and his owner Phil (an Air Force Veteran) on the red carpet. Thanks to my brother who joined me for the showing with his Afghan friend Hizbullah, always love seeing my dear friend Ismail. Was also great to see .mihara a fellow scholar, who took time out of his campaign for state representative to come see the film, Vote Mihara! Thanks to my love for always being by my side and for the grands for taking care of the kiddos!

11/10/2025

I love this crew, my fam, our modern day Brady bunch.

Social media is weird, and I always overthink what to post, but I like to share snippets/highlights of my life, like everyone. However it’s the everyday stuff that gives me the most pride, these four kids, Brooke and the life we’re rebuilding together.

Blended families aren’t always easy, we work through a lot and it takes sacrifice, understanding, empathy, compassion and above all love. We’re doing it day by day, sometimes hour by hour but I am so proud of these four kids, erm teens, uh young adults. They’re all amazing and each have their own super powers. Through the wins, losses, hard days and beautiful days we have each other’s backs. Here’s a few of my fave moments with them this year. Ok that’s it, bye.

10/28/2025

Thank you Austin Film Festival for an amazing showing of our Documentary Zzaslow K-427 and thanks to KXAN Austin for having me on their show to discuss our film. Here’s the full interview. Thanks! 🙏🏽

A new documentary spotlights the longest-serving & most highly decorated bomb-sniffing dog in U.S. Army history – a black labrador retriever born and trained...

10/22/2025

Happy anniversary babe. Another amazing year sharing our world together with all the crazy ups and downs of life. From first days of school, to birthdays, to film festivals, to family events, to the wins and the losses, to just adulting together, I love and appreciate everything you are and everything you add to my life. An amazing partner, an amazing mom, an amazing friend, and I’m thankful to God for what we are building together. Here’s to spending the rest of my life with you and declaring it awkwardly in the obligatory social media post 😚🥳

10/01/2025

Exciting festival news! 🎬🎥 We’re having our Texas Premiere of Zzaslow K-427🦮 at the Austin Film Festival! This is one of the most important festivals for writers and filmmakers and we’re so honored to be there.

A large portion of our story takes place at Lackland Air Force Base Military Working Dog facility in San Antonio, so the Texas roots of this film are deep, it’s where Zzaslow was first trained as a puppy 🐶

We’re one of ten feature documentaries, come and check us out. I’ll be there for Q&A, 10/26 at 1:30pm and 10/27 at 2:00pm. See you at the movies!

09/30/2025

09/29/2025

Grateful to Gig Harbor Film Festival and for another amazing year honoring independent filmmakers. Our film Zzaslow K-427 won the Founders Award (the top festival award) and was also nominated for best director and best documentary! Thank you 🙏🏽

This film was not only a labor of love but a way of honoring all those we’ve lost on and since 9/11 - Ira Zaslow and the other innocent lives lost that day - our firefighters, first responders. All those we lost in GWOT - Iraq and Afghanistan, including our war dog Zzaslow K-427. And all those continuing to fight 9/11 related cancers.

Thanks to Adam Zaslow and his family for trusting me with this film. Thanks to Juan for sharing his and Zzaslow’s journey. For my hard working and talented crew .sound . And the rest of those featured in the film . Thanks to my amazing wife for all her support and to our four children🥰

More festival news coming shortly.

08/26/2025

Yesterday seemed like a big step forward in continuing to make the changes necessary to turn the West LA VA campus into its original intended purpose as the Pacific Branch of the National Soldiers Home in Los Angeles. Have to shout out to veterans and personal heroes of mine Rob Reynolds and Jeffrey Powers who’ve been leading the charge.

We had an amazing committee full of veterans from all eras speaking their minds and hearts about what must continue to be done on this property that was originally deeded to veterans in 1887. A place for returning military service members to heal and grow and transition, not just a hospital where we get our services.

I am so honored to be a small voice in a room full of amazing veterans and advocates. I’m thankful that three Los Angeles Congressmen/women took their time to listen to us, .

We hope they will take our suggestions back to the White House. My focus is on restoring the Wadsworth Chapel which was originally built in the late 1800s by both union and confederate soldiers who moved to Los Angeles from the north and the south after the Civil War for peace and healing. Please go to my link tree to watch the full committee panel discussion and also you can watch the film we made about the history of the historic buildings on that property. Swipe to hear my thoughts. Much more to follow.

07/10/2025

I had a colleague/friend from USC reach out to me last week just to check in, reminded me how long it’s been since I graduated, 2017! He goes “holy crap bro, you got tattoo arm sleeves, awesome!” And my only response other than appreciate him reaching out was, damn, life has changed completely for me over the past 5 years and I n so many ways I’m such a different person.

I’m still growing and learning but in so many ways I’m proud of who I’m becoming. I think some of the ways I’ve changed are I’m more compassionate and empathetic, I see so many things I was unaware of before, I see people, animals, our world, and God with a 3D vision that is ever evolving. I’m more grateful and thankful, I’m more passionate and loving. I also will continue to vigilantly stand for my beliefs, defend those I love and fight for the causes I care about. I’m so happily in love with my wife Brooke and am so encouraged in our marriage, I’m proud of our four kids and how much they’ve grown.

Showing my film Zzaslow, was such an emotional roller coaster for me, from revisiting 9/11 and that horrible day, to telling a story about military and first responders, to human’s best friend our amazing dogs. This film has opened my heart to a new world.

Thanks again to Dances With Films for showing my films two years in a row! I’m very excited about what’s next for me, but I try to walk humbly as I watch the war, suffering and darkness in our world, my heart just breaks.

Here’s a few more pics from this great festival. Great photos by Onward!

06/27/2025

Never saw that U.S. Army shared this way back when. I had the fortune to direct this as part of a larger U.S. Army Field Band that aired on CBS after the Army v Navy Game back in '22. Made this awesome piece with We Are The Mighty Toni Trucks and of course the great John Fogerty and so many other amazing folks. The link to full Songs Of Service is in the comments. This also won a New York Emmy!