Alex Heider
On set of “Wonderfully Made”, a short film in which Alex was Director of Photography
In the near future, successful video and movie makers will probably thank delivery platforms like YouTube for their start. Alex Heider (’18) may be one of them. In his youth, Heider spent his hobby hours making videos and posting some on YouTube. He was drawn to the visual art of storytelling, and he was willing to practice its many forms, his favorite being the music video. Heider learned that “the draw to music videos is definitely just (one) being able to try new things and test new ideas out and new techniques, and then also just being able to see a project through . . . from start to finish.”
With cinematography as his passion, filmmaking was a clear career choice. Liberty University’s Cinematic Arts program enticed Heider because of its quality equipment and hands-on learning approach that matched his learning style. The program supported his need to put theory to practice through its filmmaking assignments. Heider says the department-wide project, “Paper Football,” taught him how to work on a full-scale set. He learned the flow of set operations and how to anticipate the needs of his supervisors. “Just being able to be on set . . . is very helpful because you get to make all your mistakes there, and it’s ok to make mistakes there.” Heider’s favorite part of the program was helping classmates shoot their thesis films. Those experiences built his demo reel (showcase footage of his work) and solidified his career goal as a Director of Photography.
Heider’s hunger for practice drove him to find work. While still in film school, he accepted a job on a production in Virginia Beach as a production assistant, and because of his educational experience in RED cameras, he was promoted to camera assistant. Two days after college graduation, Heider walked on to Bravo’s Top Chef TV show as a production assistant. Again because of his prior experience, he was allowed to “day play” (fill another crew member’s role in their absence) as a camera assistant.
From there, his experience opened doors for jobs in reality TV shows and music videos. Heider accepted each job as a stepping stone toward his goal of becoming a Director of Photography and ultimately to develop his own feature projects. He was surprised to discover how many people in film were not interested in producing their own projects. Some of them considered their work “just a job.” Over time, Heider learned why. “Making films is hard,” he acknowledges, and opportunities for feature film work do not open easily. But Heider remained faithful to developing his craft.
In 2019, he landed the opportunity to direct a music video for popular rapper Ace Hood. The hard work he put into that project produced a successful product and the highlight of his career so far. It brought him full circle, reminding him of the passion of his childhood and the dream of his future. He says he looks forward to focusing on narrative projects now.
Heider encourages film students and colleagues to let their passion for their craft guide them to give their best effort in all things. He offers hope via Colossians 3:23 – 24: “Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (NIV)
Follow Alex Heider at www.alexheiderfilm.com !
