You may have seen his cinematic masterpieces on the big screen in DPac or, perhaps, glimpsed his infamous Sted’s mullet blowing in the wind on North Quad. Others have described him as an “artsy hipster” or “a Notre Dame heartthrob with a camera.” Additionally, he himself has been known to describe mashed potatoes as “deceptively clean.” If that doesn’t tell you all you need to know, read on to discover more shocking secrets of sophomore Film and Peace Studies major John Haley.
Name: John Haley
Year: 2018
Dorm: St. Edwards Hall
Hometown: North Mankato, MN (Aka The Dirty K)
Major(s): Film and Peace Studies
Nicknames: JHalezzz, JH
Relationship status: Married to the streets
What are you involved with on campus?
Kellogg International Scholars Program, Human Rights ND, JIFFI, Human Development Conference
So tell me about Artsy Photography with John Haley. Where did it all begin? When did you realize you were a creative master behind the lens?
I wouldn’t say I’m a creative master, but I started dabbling in photography my senior year of high school, then got a camera as a graduation present, then brought aforementioned camera to Appalachia over fall break last semester…and the rest is history (looking at you, pimp mama).
Do you have a favorite thing or subject to photograph?
I like close-up nature shots most of all. #Artsy
What’s the coolest opportunity you’ve had through FTT?
Being a part of the Notre Dame Student Film Festival was pretty awesome!
In your opinion, what is the most challenging thing about your major?
I think there’s just so much work that you have to put in to get a result. For example, when Emily Dauer and I made “Platonica” for the Notre Dame Student Film Festival, we probably did a total of 25 hours of editing (one day we did 19 hours straight) for a 12-minute film. So getting used to that relationship of work input to payoff is a challenge, but I still love it and it’s always worth it.
What was it like being part of the film festival this past month? Did you feel legit?
I did feel rather legitimate. Shoutout to my awesome film partner Emily Dauer. It was incredible to see our film on the big screen and to get positive reactions from people who saw it! Random people would come up to me in places like LaFun and just tell me that they really liked our film, so that was really cool to see.
Where do you want to be in 10 years?
… 5 years?
…next week?
In five years AND ten years I think the dream would be to be making movies. I really like smaller budget independent movies like Short Term 12 and The Spectacular Now, so I’d really like to be working on films like those, maybe as a cinematographer or screenwriter or maybe even director? (a kid can dream).
Next week I will be in Spain and Ireland, and I can’t really think of anywhere better to be, so I’ll stick with that answer.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time, if you’re even familiar with that term?
Do you have any hidden talents?
I’m double jointed?
Is there anything that you’re shockingly really terrible at?
SPORTS!!!!!!
How does living in Minnesota compare to the stereotypes of being from Minnesota? Are you still trying to secede from the United States, or is that kind of a bust?
Ah, well, I think I pronounce words weirdly. I say “bag” really weirdly. Minnesota is no longer trying to secede (at least I don’t think); I think instead we’re just trying to convince every other state that they’re irrelevant and worse than us. Which is completely justifiable.
Mullet or no mullet: which do you prefer?
When I instagrammed a picture of myself with a mullet this year, my good high school friend Abby Leitch commented and said, “The fact that I don’t hate this is concerning.” I think that most accurately describes my feeings toward the mullet.
Thanks for the interview, John! And mullet or no mullet, you’re a pretty fly guy.
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All images provided by author