Alex Hakobian was born in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1946 and immigrated to the United States in 1951. He graduated from high school in 1964, and upon graduation immediately joined the Army Reserve. Active duty lasted for seven months and then he returned to the army reserves for another five years. Mr. Hakobian then worked at KJEO-TV an ABC affiliate from 1966-1968. He started as floor director, and then became a studio cameraman, learned audio/projection. While at KJEO he starred in approximately forty comedy commercials. Between 1962 and 1974 Alex worked in approximately fifty stage productions, Community Theater, Summer Stock, and College and University Theater. In 1969 he worked on his first film, Tick…Tick…Tick...starring George Kennedy, Jim Brown, and Frederic March…He continued to act in small film roles and stage productions while attending UCLA’s school of Theater, Film, and Television where he graduated in 1972. Throughout this time Alex was writing screenplays and in 1975, Writer, Producer, Director, Ivan Tors, creator of Science Fiction Theater, Seahunt, Flipper, Gentle Ben, Daktari, Cowby in Africa and many other TV series as well as feature films, asked Alex to collaborate with him on television and film projects. This relationship lasted for seven years until Mr.Tors’ Death. At least 9 projects were developed at Universl Studios and MGM during this time. The last one, a TV series (The Dolphin Chronicles, an ecology oriented series which was ahead of its time). The series was funded and ready to start shooting when Mr.Tors died. Mr. Hakobian had written the series bible, 26 segments, and 26 back up stories. As well as working with Mr. Tors, Mr. Hakobian collaborated with Kenneth Annakin, an English director who was a veteran of fifty films. Also, at least ten of Mr. Hakobian’s screenplays were optioned numerous times. Mr. Hakobian was a member of the Writer’s Guild of America (Screenwriters Guild), and the Screen Actor’s Guild for many years. After Tors’ death and the loss of the TV series, Mr. Hakobian’s first son was born. Mr. Hakobian had to decide whether to continue in the film industry and start from scratch or begin a new career. At 39 years of age he decided to try teaching. His first job was in a Jr. High School Communication Technology Magnet in the LAUSD, where he developed a very successful film production program. After eight years in Junior High, Alex moved to Grant High School in Van Nuys, also a Communications Technology Magnet.  In twelve years his students have won approximately 300 Local, State, National, and International Awards, including 8 CINE Golden Eagles, Four Regional High School Emmys and four honorable mentions. Eight Hollywood Radio and Television Society Awards, 32 International Student Media Festival Awards, 48 California Student Media Festival Awards, and 59 LAUSD Video in the Classroom Awards…there are many, many, more. Mr.Hakobian’s students have gone on to work in the film industry. After 21 continuous years of success, teaching Film Production, KNBC News did a story on Grant’s Film Program, calling it the best in the country.

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