Alex Hackworth ’16 is a storyteller, part artist, part technician, and aspiring cinematographer who’s made the most of his Whittier experience both on and off campus.
Using his extensive technical and people skills, Hackworth serves as the senior executive manager of the student-led Video Production Studio (VPS) and technical advisor for the Whittier College Sports Network. He was also one of the first student Tech Liaisons for the Center for Digital Liberal Arts, helping others access technology.
In recognition of his many accomplishments, Hackworth was a nominee for the 2016 Fulbright Fellowship. And, last year he was one of three students awarded the Whittier College Undergraduate Fellowships for Organizational Leadership in the Arts, made possible through generous gifts from the David Bohnett Foundation, trustee Christopher G. Caldwell P ’13, ’15, and Richard Llewellyn P ’13, ’15, which gives students the opportunity to take an unpaid internship in this competitive field and gain valuable hands-on experience.
Hackworth took a summer internship with a small production studio, Larry Jordan and Associates, which is owned by one of the leading Final Cut Pro editing trainers in the world and the owner of the longest running podcast on film and television news.
“At Larry Jordan, I was able to apply my passion for cinematography by analyzing film aesthetics,” said Hackworth. As a production intern, Hackworth was in charge of all operations in the studio including redesigning, installing new equipment, and managing lighting for the live shows, segments, and prerecorded productions.
During May term, Hackworth collaborated with Richard and Billie Deihl Distinguished Chair in Music Danilo Lozano to film a documentary in Cuba. This project was funded by a Center for Collaboration with the Arts Mellon Fellowship.
“My documentary explored the music and culture of Cuba first-hand across the country from small rural villages to big cities like Havana or Cienfuegos,” Hackworth said. “I went around and filmed the live performances and a lot of the small-town life and city-life in Cuba and got to meet local musicians, including local bands, singer-song writers, jazz bands, and rock bands.”
He highly anticipates the release of his short documentary in 2016.
Hackworth also studied abroad at the Prague Film and Television School of Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU) in Prague, Czech Republic during his junior year.
“At the end of the day, I find that I’m passionate about cinematography because it’s a way to tell stories, and there’s nothing better than seeing someone in an audience lose themselves in a movie or find inspiration in the story that you’re telling.”
