Daily Inspiration: Meet Hunter James Cox

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hunter James Cox.

Hunter, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey within the entertainment industry has gone in every possible direction, like a feather in the wind, but it all started in Streator, Illinois because of some trouble I started. I was born on September 16, 1991. Primarily, I excelled at two things growing up; building with KNEX and drawing pictures/writing stories on the attendance cards at church. Unbeknownst to me, these were the fundamentals of filmmaking I would later build upon.

I was introduced to indie filmmaking by a friend in junior high school. After winning my first camera in a raffle, I started to experiment on my own storytelling. I started writing/directing short films with friends, family, and pets. I took on projects from the community and created content for my church as a hobby. Who would have thought my hobby would soon get me in trouble right? Well, it most certainly did!

In 2006, I was fired as my high school mascot for making a light-hearted comedy with no bad intentions. Even with telling the school, I made a film showcasing the Streator bulldog mascot, they dismissed me and over the next couple days everyone in town knew what had happened. I was on the radio, in the papers, even on the Chicago news because the school essentially overreacted. It wasn’t until a teacher stopped to tell me his take on the situation that really opened my eyes. He said, “Firstly, I loved the film, but have you thought about film school? You’ve really got something here and this little short was put together extremely well.” Prior to this moment, I looked at my filmmaking as just a hobby, but now I was thinking there could be more behind the lens. I tried my talent on stage and quickly became an asset to local theatrical productions performing as Danny in “Grease” and Horton in “The Seussical.” Even though I did well in front of an audience I was determined to tell stories for film and television behind camera.

Taking the advice of my instructor, I attended Columbia College Chicago from 2010-2014 for film school. I made several award-winning short films and documentaries. Projects such as “The Guitar” and “The Starved Rock Murders” were brought to discussion in newspapers, radio, and several podcasts across the United States including crime stories with Nancy Grace. I did extremely well in school being one of the few people permitted to direct for practicum; an elite filmmaking course designed for only 5 directors per semester. It was also during college I went through a near-death ski accident which landed me on a respirator for a week. Even though this accident set me back, God allowed me to see how short life can be and how I needed to make the most of it.

I always knew upon graduating I would move to Los Angeles to live the dream. Having never been to California, I drove into Los Angeles and ended up living out of my car the first three days because my living situation fell through. I lived with a friend taking up a cashier position at Pavilions to stay alive. During my time as a cashier I handed out business cards and got fired for it! What?!?! I realized pretty quickly how cutthroat Los Angeles was and it didn’t matter the success I had in my small town nor the fact I had a degree. Many of my friends who came out as part of a school program were forced to return home financially, but I was determined. I lived on food stamps and claimed unemployment between work. Over the next six months I worked at Umami Burger, took an unpaid internship, worked as a temp marketing assistant at Paramount Pictures, and interviewed for a dental hygienist position just to make extra money. I even wrote Steven Spielberg weekly letters until Amblin told me to stop! However, I knew without a doubt something would land.

I lived across the street from Paramount Pictures so I stood outside the front gate handing out business cards on the regular. Eventually, one person took me into the studio lot and introduced me around. Somebody on the lot suggested I enroll at Central Casting and work as a background actor. So, I did! Through background, I was able to network with assistant directors and work as a production assistant(PA). I even worked as a clapper for game shows like “Idiot Test” and “Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader” just to get by financially. I remember pulling all nighters freezing in the audience clapping for “Ninja Warrior” just to pay my rent. It was exhausting, but to me I was “living the dream” and just having pure fun! I worked in the background for a solid year trying to make the transition to production which proved to be extremely difficult.

As a background actor I would take my lunch to scour the studio for anyone willing to listen to my story. I was pretty aggressive and full of spirit in all honesty. Once, I worked my way into the office of Pretty Little Liars acting like I was best friends with the UPM. After I got past security and the front desk I knew my acting abilities were improving from all that background work. Haha! The conversation with the UPM went something like this… “Hello Skip, my name is Hunter Cox and I am actually in your background today. I found this call sheet in the garbage and saw your name on the top of the crew list so I figured you’re pretty important and that I needed to speak with you. I actually have no clue what a UPM even means or does, but I just moved out here from Illinois and I want to be on your team. Who do I need to speak to make this happen?” That UPM was so taken by me we ended up speaking for 30 minutes and then he hooked me up with multiple jobs as a set PA.

That was my IN to the industry! The next six years I worked primarily as a set PA running background and first team all over the LA area. I worked on scripted television shows such as Lucifer, Criminal Minds, Grey’s Anatomy, Scorpion, Jane The Virgin, This Is Us, Always Sunny, Parks and Rec., etc… Additionally, I found work as a technical director, director of photography, camera operator, editor, writer, and even an actor.

Despite all the success, I was actually unhappy with my career because I was still only making minimum wage and on target to join the directors guild of America(DGA) as an assistant director. The other reason I was upset is because the only directorial success upon moving out to Los Angeles had been working with James Franco. He financed my short film “One Thousand Cranes” as part of a reality show through his acting school Studio 4 and I was recognized as an up-and-coming director securing festival awards across the country. It was absolutely remarkable, but I was not genuinely happy. When Covid-19 hit I really did some soul searching. I needed a stable career with better pay. Truthfully, the entertainment industry started to feel more like a hobby again. So, I did leave the industry.

I decided to go to nursing school in the winter of 2021 and even consider structural engineering as a new career. I did very well in school, but something was still off. I always regretted leaving the industry and I knew I would regret that decision the rest of my life. During school a friend from the film industry asked if I could help in crafts service because she knew I was a good worker/smart and she wanted to help me pay for my schooling. I took her up on that and what turned out to be a few weeks ended up changing my entire life.

I ended up joining IATSE Local 80 as a Crafts Service Laborer and I went from making minimum wage to well over 100k/yr. Concurrently, I became a 3rd area 2nd Assistant Director in the DGA because of all the PA work I had completed. This was a total reversal! They always said you need to be in the right place at the right time and have a bit of luck. This was not an easy road or a straight one at that. I have been working at Universal Studios for over a year now doing crafts service with great benefits and a pension plan! I occasionally work food handling on major productions around the LA area. I have been blessed and I give all credit to God for giving me the ability to persevere and open doors. The difference between dreams and reality is defined by the action one takes. I took every opportunity to live the dream and I am proud of those choices.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing in the entertainment industry is a smooth road and many times sacrifices need to be made. I struggled for quite a while until it occurred to me what “living the dream” actually meant. Not being able to see loved ones, friends, and family because of the hours you work was a major struggle for me. I would occasionally struggle financially because work is oftentimes temporary and you never know what will happen day to day. Physically/emotionally exhausting your body was unbearable some weeks and this put a strain on my relationships.

Therapy is your friend. Initially, I wanted nothing to do with therapy, but it truly has helped create balance in my life. I encourage anyone struggling emotionally to look into this because it truly does work. My relationships, career, and perspective have improved overall as a direct result.

I was very bitter about the industry and being an artist in general until I learned to cope with the struggle and understand the sacrifices involved. You will make minimum wage for a long time with no raises, benefits, or pension. I was lucky to join several unions. You must be prepared to face defeat your entire life because it most certainly could happen. You might see friends surpass you even without a college degree, but that is the nature of this business. When I chose to leave the industry, that was a moment of weakness. The stress of not moving forward was unbearable and I had to make a sacrifice.

It is expensive in Los Angeles. While most friends were eating out and having fun I remained focused on paying off all my school loans and prioritized the most essential needs to live. I think it is important to fully embrace the decisions you make and that nobody’s path is the same nor is it linear. You learn from every decision and in truth, you should not get into the film industry to make money or seek attention. There is a lot of money to be had, but ultimately this will stand in the way of your passion. In hindsight, I spent too much time worrying about where I should be/comparing my success to others instead of where I was in the moment and thanking God for the opportunity! With every mistake or low point, we awake ourselves to the moments that are good. Struggle is inevitable, but how you handle the stress defines you. Never compare yourself to others or become jealous because all good things come to those who wait. My only advice is to have a goal and change your course frequently, not placing all your eggs in one basket. Figuring out what’s best for you in terms of “living the dream” is part of life and everyone has to make difficult choices for the betterment of themselves and their family.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a film director! I say that with so much enthusiasm and passion because I love telling stories through a visual medium more than anything! Primarily, people know me for making silent films with a proclivity for themes such as mental illness and death. Dark as that sounds, it actually brings me a peace of mind because I enjoy tackling subject material that helps myself and other people get through real-life situations. Living life to the fullest is something I strive to do on the regular, so I tend to write characters as if they are living the last day of their life. Placing this kind of importance on a character will not only up their stakes, but consequently strengthen the overall plot. Mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anger management, and suicide have all been brought to the forefront of my work with the hope of shedding light on these issues. As a filmmaker, I want to inspire and give hope to my audience more than anything else.

A straightforward drama with a dose of comedic appeal is my go-to genre. I have also experimented with psychological thrillers and suspense. Having worn many hats creating my personal projects of the past, people would most definitely consider me a major control freak. I confess, I do have a hard time trusting people to carry out my vision and I am still looking to collaborate with like-minded professionals. Additionally, I just enjoy managing a project from start to finish.

My work has been screened all over the world at more than 100 film festivals having won award titles such as best short film, silent, family, children, comedy, and best original concept. I have been awarded best director at many festivals and snagged audience favorite awards. I have crafted more than 250 short films, several features, documentaries, commercials, and music videos. I briefly spoke about several projects I have done in the past, but now I would like to speak about those in more detail to provide more insight to how I work in general.

“The Guitar” was my senior thesis in college focusing on a widowed grandfather who had difficulty letting music back into his life. The program I was part of at school assigned us to a writer and the reason I mention this is because of what I changed upon being placed on the project. I was intrigued by the heartfelt story initially, but something felt odd about the grandfather being the main character in such a dormant type of state. I was worried about an audience being able to relate and not investing. Prior to shooting, I switched the point of view character and convinced everyone of the new direction. It was a major reversal, but I knew this would bring everything to life. I took our supporting character, the grandson, and centered everything around him. Through the eyes of a child, we learn the backstory of his musical grandparents. The innocence and emotional maturity of the child over the course of the story help the grandfather let music back in his life. The boy is then taught his first note on the guitar with the understanding of what it means to lose someone. I chose this direction because as an audience we journey with the more active character and it made more sense learning about the relationships from this perspective. I stripped all the dialogue and allowed the visuals/silence of a musical instrument to tell the story. To this day, it brings me chills watching the grandfather embrace his wife’s guitar.

“The Starved Rock Murders” follows a triple homicide that occurred in 1960. I directed, shot, and edited this feature documentary and it has gone viral. A controversy to this day that remains in debate because the individual pegged for the murders, Chester Weger, maintains his innocence. I wanted to investigate the crime and showcase the evidence in a chronological timeline. Chester and I were writing letters back and forth while he was in prison for several years. Having spent his entire life behind bars you could definitely see his circular thought pattern and how the evidence of the case does not align with his thoughts. I interviewed Steve Stout, the author of the book, whereupon he shared his opinions of the case. As a filmmaker, I wanted to present the facts with an unbiased opinion allowing the audience to make their own decision. However, the film itself spurred so much hatred toward me I received death threats and social media backlash. I figured I had to be onto something with my work to generate such a response. I encourage everyone to check out the crime itself because even HBO has picked up the project.

“One Thousand Cranes” is a project I directed, edited, and wrote for James Franco. When I met James he seemed like a great guy and I was not aware of the illegal activities associated with his acting school at Studio 4. He paid me $1000 as part of a reality show and I knew I needed a powerful narrative to win the competition. There is a tradition in Japanese culture that if a person folds 1000 paper cranes they are given a wish. Loosely based on this idea, I developed a story around an ill-fated couple who put all their faith in this legend of origami having been diagnosed with leukemia. The film went on to sweep festival awards across the United States. I showcased my ability to direct on stage as well in front of industry professionals. During the competition, I wanted to highlight my ability to handle both comedic and dramatic narratives. Overall, the film and stage work were a major success leading me to consider a comedy as my next project.

“Dog-Gone It!” is a short film I directed, produced, written, acted, and edited. All the animals were played by real people in costume. What separates me from everyone else is my ability to hyperfocus and lead with a visionary voice despite all the negative critics. I knew this concept was ludicrous, but I wanted everything about it done professionally. This whimsical fun loving story centers on a young man and his abnormal human-like dog. One day the inseparable duo are split apart by a sneaky black cat sending the man on a journey to retrieve his best friend. Will they reunite or be lost fur-ever? The themes of loss and love are what really attract audiences of all ages. I generally spend several years working on one project at a time because I love the process. The effort on this short paid off because over 80 people donated to funding the project and we have screened at over 50 festivals making it my most successful short.

Occasionally, I work in the camera department. What started as simple BTS on set with my cell phone turned out to be a side hustle. Friends started hiring me to coordinate their films as an assistant director or get creative as a director of photography. I have filmed weddings, feature films, documentaries, crowdfunding trailers, and even just BTS for various productions. Shooting my own material allows for my innate creativity. I enjoy coording a shot list with story/photo boards. I also thrive in a guerilla filmmaking-type environment because it forces me to work under pressure and keep an eye open for inspiration.

Aside from directing I am very much an editor. In some ways, my skills as an editor have helped me direct for the edit. Thus, saving time and money during production. I love taking on projects and salvaging what others believe is futile. The art of putting a puzzle together and figuring out what shot progression impacts an audience most is like a fun game to me. To better my skills as an editor I have taken courses such as Master The Workflow and other coursework on LinkedIn Learning. I primarily work off of Avid, but I also know Final Cut and Premiere. I have a straightforward editing style with direct cuts or the use of crossfades for time changes. I excel with montages and nonlinear editing as well. Dream sequences or memories are often recognizable because I tend to use a trail effect allowing an audience to understand the feeling of a character. No project is ever the same and nor is my edit. I never edit to music because once you do the audience becomes disengaged knowing when to expect a cut. I have a bunch of rules I like to follow and that is the reason for my reputation as an editor.

I actually utilize my understanding of editing, camera, and blocking to write my scripts. Having studied body movement and how behavior translates to both stage/screen I can move past a spec script variation, but only if I intend to shoot the project personally. I have been working on a feature script involving a severely depressed character trying to reinsert themselves into society for a few years now. Essentially, we watch a fragmented family grow closer from the loss of a loved one. I am hopeful to finish this project one day as it would be my first feature directorial debut. In terms of writing, I have been hired as a script doctor and as a writing consultant. Looking at a script I can generally rearrange a narrative to cut down the cost and tighten the plot in a more succinct way for that of an audience. I am most proud of having built a foundation in Los Angeles and working my way into the entertainment industry.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I might be a little old school, but I only use my Facebook/Messenger as a social media outlet. Please shoot me a message or email. My youtube channel is geared toward video game content primarily because I work as a streamer as well. I love playing video games, especially virtual reality! If that is something of interest, maybe we can get you in on that as well!

Helping on personal projects in a variety of capacities is something I always try to devote time toward. I thrive in a creative position such as director, editor, or DP, but I am also open to script coverage or even budgeting a project. The amount of resources I have at my disposal are quite vast in the Los Angeles area. If you are someone unsure of what to do next consider me as a mentor. We are all in this together and with the right group of people we can make anything happen! I want to work with passionate filmmakers not afraid to take risks and learn/grow as a family. I am currently working to craft my first narrative feature as a director and would love your help and support. Thank you so much for your time and I hope to hear from you!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunterjamescox7/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Huntermathman
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunterjamescox/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_KKXulSkjEX5dCSJrGWE4w?view_as=subscriber
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4911354/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
• Email: hunterjamescox@gmail.com