New York Film Academy (NYFA) was thrilled to welcome award-winning Director of Photography, Jordan Haro as part of The 20/20 Series in May 2021. The 20/20 Series was created by NYFA’s Creative Director of Filmmaking and Cinematography, Liz Hinlein. The conversation was moderated by Hinlein and held virtually, allowing individuals to join NYFA and the special guests from all over the world.
Haro is known for his work on TV shows like Snowfall and Archer, as well as feature-length films including Machete (2010), The Wolverine (2013), and Balloon (2011). His long-spanning career titles include photographer, writer, editor, and keen observer. The Austin, TX-native filmmaker bounced around the globe telling stories for massive clients including National Geographic, Atlantic Records, TLC, and Sony Pictures. Aside from always watching, learning, and growing, Jordan’s current goals and aspirations are squarely set in the world of narrative filmmaking.
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Haro and his partner rented an airstream to travel across the United States in order to film, “we rented one airstream trailer back during the pandemic, just when we were coming out of the lockdown phase, that was actually a great trip. That experience sold us on buying one,” says Haro, “It just so happened that a hurricane bore down on us at the same time as this deal. What started as us filming each other, became a tour of climate change across the country. We hit a crazy electric storm in Oklahoma, a horrible snowstorm in Utah, and then got stuck in Colorado while California got hit with those forest fires.”
Haro, originally from Austin, Texas was raised on breakfast tacos and barbecue. He has mainly worked as a director, although has many years of experience in producing, editing, and shooting movies of all shapes and sizes. Jordan runs a production company, Homecourt Pictures, that specializes in producing and editing directly to the network, behind-the-scenes marketing, and promo materials.
When asked about how he looks for new work Haro answers, “I’m still figuring that out. The main thing is that during certain periods, I’ll be really busy with work that pays the bills, and then I’ll be hit with phases where I can ask ‘what do I want to do?’”
As an independent filmmaker, Haro sees owning a camera as a positive investment. Not only is he always at the ready for when a story is breaking but it is a great tool for collaborating/bartering with fellow filmmakers.
About Liz Hinlein and The 20/20 Series
Liz Hinlein is the Creative Director of Filmmaking and Cinematography with the New York Film Academy. During her tenure, she created our popular weekly virtual event, The 20/20 Series.
Hinlein is an award-winning DGA director and graduate of the NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Her background in filmmaking and media content includes a robust portfolio of work that spans feature-length films, commercials, and music videos for artists including Mary J. Blige, Britney Spears, Quincy Jones, Incubus, and Fishbone.
The 20/20 Series is a pop-up virtual event that takes us into the homes, hubs and workspaces of an array of dynamic creative visionaries to allow for relaxed, engaging conversations on craft, creation and artistic vision.
Each conversation with a creative visionary features 20 minutes of discussion with a moderator and a 20 minute Q&A from YOU, the audience. This event is open to the public, as a means of promoting global connection and creativity, a key mission of NYFA.
You can catch videos from The 20/20 Series as they are released, here.