Since founding HRDWRKER in 2014, J.J. and Tito have worked with trailblazing organizations like Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY, Studio Museum in Harlem, LACMA, and Lululemon to produce culturally rich content that honors working-class people of color. Their approach prioritizes collaboration over competition and alignment over hustle—building sustainable creative practices rooted in community and authenticity. This interactive workshop will explore:
● Finding value in yourself and your community – Who are you? What do you bring to the table?
● Building meaningful creative partnerships – Money goes far, relationships go further
● Lessons in creative failure – Flow, don’t force; All money ain’t good money
● Authentic storytelling in documentary, commercial, and brand work
Featured Work: J.J.’s recent projects include Sometimes I Feel Like I Am Almost Home (CAAM), Sacred Soil: The Piney Woods School Story (Hulu), and Home/Free featuring John Legend (Amazon Prime). Tito’s iPhone-shot short film De Tal Madre, Tal Hija was honored by the Oaxaca Film Festival.
Interactive Element: Students will participate in breakout sessions to identify potential collaborations and support systems within the CalArts community. This workshop offers invaluable insights for students across disciplines—particularly those interested in building communities, filmmaking, commercial production and cultural storytelling.
