By Khalida Sarwari
You might notice Chris Halkovic’s name in the credits at the end of your favorite action flick someday and possibly wonder where you’ve heard it before. If your memory serves you well, you will associate the name with a talented Westmont High School graduate.
Working behind the scenes of feature films is Chris’ ultimate ambition, but for now the 18-year-old honor student is focused on goals that are just a little more accessible: graduating and getting ready to start school this fall at Arizona State University.
In preparation for a career in special effects, Chris has chosen to major in graphic information technology, but the lifelong actor is not ready to go completely behind the scenes yet.
“I hope to work someday for a tech company, like Apple or Google, but I wanted to at least minor in theater,” Chris explained. “I still want to keep my foot in the door.”
Chris’ love affair with acting began in the sixth grade when he auditioned for a role in Hello, Dolly! at Rolling Hills Middle School. He enjoyed it so much, he returned the following year to assist with another production, this time opting to explore the technical side of theater as a light board operator.
“I liked it, but it wasn’t as fulfilling as being on the stage was,” he recalled.
Chris closed out middle school with a role in Mulan Jr., a shortened stage adaptation of Disney’s Mulan, then took another year-long break from acting. He became acquainted with Westmont’s performing arts department during his freshman year there and realized he enjoyed the theater atmosphere at the school.
“It was very professional,” he said.
He jumped into his next big role in his sophomore year, playing the character Paul in Moon Over Buffalo. His proudest drama achievement was a spring musical, in which he played a lead role–his first–during his junior year. The production was a murder mystery-comedy titled Curtains, and he played Frank Cioffi, a Boston detective who is also a musical theater aficionado.
“Even looking back on it now, we talk about how well Curtains went,” Chris said. “It was the best show I’ve done. I had a great time working with everyone on it.”
This year, he played six different characters in Westmont’s production of The Wiz, including that of Lord High Underling.
It’s easy to see why drama was Chris’ favorite class at Westmont.
“It helped my confidence level,” he said. “It helped me get up in front of an audience. I know how to present projects in an entertaining way.”
Asked to describe Chris, drama teacher Jeff Bengford called him “responsible, trustworthy, intuitive and one of the most genuine young people I have ever met.”
“Christopher Halkovic is one of those rare gems that every teacher hopes to find in their treasure chest of students,” Bengford said. “He consistently has a smile on his face, and has become the dependable rock of our drama department.”
Chris’ love of drama is evident in the activities he was involved in off stage as well at Westmont. He was a member of the drama club and this year served as the club’s vice president. In his junior year, he received an award from the club for the best male lead.
In March, Chris was in charge of organizing a group of 42 drama students to go to Southern California for the state thespian society festival.
As part of his senior project this February, he created a video that was shown to an audience of 400 incoming freshman and their parents at an orientation event.
For the video, which is now on the school’s website, he took photos of the campus and interviewed Westmont principal Michael Posey and vice principal Karen Stoneham. In the process, he learned how to sharpen his video editing skills.
“It was [my] first large video project, and I got a lot of feedback on it,” he said. “It helped me develop as a person.”
Chris plans on putting some of those new skills to use this summer when he and his friends make short, funny films that they’ll post to YouTube. Aside from that, he’ll be spending time with his friends and getting ready to start college.
The most exciting part of the move, he said, is meeting new people and making new friends.
“I’m excited to see what Arizona has to offer,” he said, acknowledging that he would also miss the friends he has made in California.
And while he’s looking forward to learning more about technology and special effects, Chris admitted he is afraid he’ll miss doing theater and that the tech field won’t be as satisfying.
To the incoming freshman class, Chris has a simple message: “Do what you’re most passionate about,” whether that means drama or sports or any other activity. At the same time, he advised, “Stay on top of your grades and make sure that grades come first,” even if that means sacrificing a game or missing rehearsal.
And finally, “Don’t be afraid to try new things,” he said.
Grad leaves Westmont, but takes the love of the stage with him
