-Who is Whitney Hamilton?

An artist, an actor, a writer/director, producer and lover of horses and history especially hidden history. I grew up in the Deep South – New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. I received an art scholarship to Pratt Institute and moved to Brooklyn, New York where I later focused on Theater as an actor then a writer and began exploring film as an artistic and storytelling medium.

–What inspired you to become a filmmaker?

As an art student at Pratt I would venture to New York City and see amazing art and amazing independent and avant garde films. Movies are moving paintings. Filmmakers I love are Jane Campion, David Lynch, Terrence Malick, Peter Weir. Frequenting the now defunct Kim’s Video in the East Village gave me a once in a lifetime glimpse into the obscure filmmaking of the world!

-Do you think cinema can bring a change in society?

I do. When truth is uncovered and revealed through storytelling I believe audiences and viewers are receptive.

-What would you change in the world?

I would change how the earth’s resources are consumed. I would want conservation and climate change issues to be top of the list in any endeavor be it political, philosophical and/or philanthropic . We are all called to be stewards of this beautiful life-giving blue planet.

-Where do you see the film industry going in the next 100 years?

Hopefully towards equality in all respects. Storytelling is as old as humanity and reflects the cultures of the time. As technology grows so will the way we make and view cinema. Perhaps immersive physical experiences within a film or story are not that far away into the future. Archetypes will always stand true but who tells the story, from whose gaze we experience the characters and from whose perspective the story is told will be important factors in the evolution of the art.