Full Sail Grads

Simon Mathews? Long Road from Malaysia to Clair Bros.

Fri, 11 May 2012 12:00:00 EST

The Show Production grad has worked on tours for the likes of Black Eyed Peas, Elton John and Billy Joel, and Guns n’ Roses

Show Production graduate Simon Mathews

The harder you work for what you want in life, the more rewarding it is when you finally get it. For years Simon Mathews’ goal was to move from his home country of Malaysia, get a degree in concert touring, and secure a job with Clair Bros. – one of the premiere live production companies in the industry. To learn that he actually made his dream come true is impressive on its own, but hearing the steps he took to realize it is a humbling lesson in the power of determination.

“I always wanted to work for Clair, and that meant going to school in the U.S.,” he says. “I found out about Full Sail, and knew it was where I wanted to study. It took me seven years to save up the money to move. I did sound and lights at shows in my town, took on odd jobs, whatever I could do. There was really never any other choice for me, I wanted it that bad, and I did it.”

Simon enrolled in our Show Production program in 2006, and flew to Florida sight unseen the day before his orientation armed only with a pair of suitcases. It was his first trip to the States, and you can only imagine how he felt throwing himself into this new life. Wasting no time, he immediately focused on learning as much as he could, and took advantage of every resource available on campus. That’s not an exaggeration.

“I spent a good 18 hours in school every day,” he says. “I’d just get up and go to campus, it didn’t matter to me if I had a lecture or not, I was there. Even in my first month I was going to the labs for later classes in the program and asking if I could just sit in and listen.”

Not surprisingly, Simon began prepping for his job search months before graduation, and worked with our Career Development department to put together his resume and research potential leads. As an international student, once he was finished with school he only had 60 days to land a job in order to extend his Visa. Not long before the deadline, he got a call for an interview with his first choice, Clair Bros.

“They called on Friday night and wanted me to interview Monday in Pennsylvania – I told them I’d be there,” he says, “I flew up that morning, took a cab from the airport, walked into their building on the dot and had my interview. I flew back to Florida that same day feeling great about everything. It finally got down to two days before I had to report to the government, so I called the person that I’d interviewed with and they said I’d been hired.”

Days later Simon made his second major move in less than two years to join Clair as a sound technician in early 2008. He spent his first six months at their shop learning their processes for loading trucks, mastering and troubleshooting proprietary gear, and how everything works together on the road, after which he was given his first pair of gigs – touring with a production of Kidz Bop and the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics team. Not long after proving himself, the company began sending him out on a series of major productions, which to date have included globe-spanning treks with such artists as the Black Eyed Peas, Elton John and Billy Joel, and Guns n’ Roses.

“Those are all people I grew up listening to, so to be doing shows for them is a big thing for me,” he says. “The Black Eyed Peas in 2010 was definitely a favorite. They were great people to work with, and just a huge tour. There were 26 trucks, 100 people on the crew, and we did shows every night in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and South America.”

It’s obvious that Simon Mathews has come a long way, both geographically and professionally, since he started working towards his career in live music. There’s a well-earned sense of pride as he’s now able to share rock n’ roll road stories like a seasoned vet, but what’s important to keep in mind is that his own journey to this point is just as fascinating.

“Looking back, the thing I’m most proud of is that I kept my goal in front of me, went after it, and never gave up,” he says. “Now that I’m actually here, I just love all of it. When I see the crowd enjoying the show, the happiness on their faces gives me the satisfaction of knowing that I did my job right. So it’s all been exactly what I thought it was going to be, and I finish my nights thinking ‘Wow, I did that.’”

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Justin Graves: Staying on the Social Radar

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:00:00 EST

The Game Development grad created software that helps companies make sense of consumer research data and social trends.

Game Development graduate Justin Graves

When Justin Graves launched his career as a game designer, he could never suspect that it would lead him to founding one of the leading marketing research programs on the net. Justin grew up in Gladstone, Missouri, where he developed an interest in computer programming at the early age of 12, thanks in large part to his older brother.

After graduating from Full Sail in 2004 with a Game Development bachelor's degree, he and his brother were sought out by an ad agency looking for a more accurate way to correlate its data. This company was looking for people specifically like Justin with game design experience to create systems and 3D models to better explain customer information.

“They wanted to be able to harvest this data and to have a system that could learn things, to adapt,” Justin says.

It wasn’t long before Justin realized that what he and his coworkers created was a concept that businesses everywhere could benefit from. Justin struck out on his own, and today, he is the founder, CEO, and CTO of Infegy, a company that delivers consumer research based on analysis of natural language on the web.

Infegy's Social Radar software is an adaptable marketing research program that allows users to obtain on-the-spot information from a broader range of targeted markets than you would get through traditional survey methods. Justin explains that it’s like a constant stream of data, personally analyzed for a company that looks at current news articles, blogs, Facebook, and Twitter trends.

Users have multiple options for interacting with the site. They can create and monitor focus groups and surveys online that incorporate thousands of people and get results back almost instantaneously. They can even input details of new products and receive analytics that help target what messages and features are most marketable.

Today, Infegy features 13 full-time employees plus contractors. Justin says the company employs IT professionals with the “hacker” mentality: people capable of writing code at lightning speed, which allows Social Radar to deliver its results quickly. Even though he’s technically “the boss,” Justin still stays true to his designer roots by working with the IT staff to build the next generation of his company’s software.

“I’m there in the trenches with them,” he says. “I enjoy creating new products and writing code.”

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Rob Boyd: Account Supervisor at Hanapin Marketing

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST

The Internet Marketing Grad Also Writes for the 'PPC Hero' Blog

Internet Markering graduate Rob Boyd

Rob Boyd will be the first to tell you that it doesn’t matter how you end up in your career as long as you love it when you get there. Before catapulting through the ranks at Hanapin Marketing, a Bloomington-based internet marketing firm, Rob managed a banquet hall, sold professional audio equipment, and installed high-end A/V products.

“I even sold furniture for a brief period of time,” he chuckles. “I wasn't terribly interested in any of my past jobs because I feel I need a lot of stimulation to keep motivated. With my current employer, I work for a CEO that has allowed me to grow into my current role through lots of horizontal skill growth, meaning my role expands before I see vertical growth within the company.”

Rob started with Hanapin as an account manager immediately after graduating from Full Sail’s Internet Marketing Master’s Program in May 2010. He was promoted to his current position, account supervisor, within a year and now leads the company’s paid search team of account managers, a group that manages client spend levels of up to $250,000 per month while focusing on increasing sales volume and maximizing efficiency of PPC budgets. “The job is challenging and rewarding every single day and offers a limitless opportunity to grow my skill set as a marketer and manager.”

Besides analyzing client accounts, developing client strategy, and working with his account managers, Rob also writes on PPC Hero, a popular and respected internet marketing blog.

“Writing for PPC Hero has provided me opportunities to network with other industry folks, be featured in other industry publications, and build a name for myself as an individual rather than merely an employee of Hanapin,” says Rob. “I've also been invited to a few speaking engagements including MBO Conference, PRSSA at Indiana University, and most recently at Hero Conf, which was a paid search conference that Hanapin produced and developed to be the premier conference in our industry. Working at Hanapin allows me to be a driving factor in our industry, rather than merely a participant.”

Rob has always known that he had a passion for the Internet and that he wanted to work within the web industry. “It just took me a while to find a path that resonated with me,” he says. “The spark that set it all in motion was actually an email from Full Sail, announcing the addition of the IMMS program. I think I was enrolled a few months later and the rest is history.”

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Justin Garand: Graphic Designer for the Orlando Magic

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST

The Graphic Design grad has built his career at three major sports franchises.

Graphic Design graduate Justin Garand

When you think about your favorite sports team you may not understand how important graphic design can be in establishing a franchise’s public presence. Developing this branding and advertising requires an artist that’s able to blend sharp visual aesthetics with the attitude of a team and its home town, and putting his own stamp on the marketing for a number of southern sports franchises has been Graphic Design alum Justin Garand.

Following graduation, Justin was picked from a pool of 50+ applicants for a design internship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their 2009-2010 season. Loving the fast pace of the sports industry, he has since taken a design position with the Atlanta Falcons for their 2011 season, and recently returned to Central Florida to serve as graphic designer for the Orlando Magic, where he interned for the 2010-2011 Season.

"When I was offered the position to return to the Orlando Magic I was thrilled to be able to work for my mentor Kelly Romano again, the organization’s Creative Director," he says. "I learned so much from her during my internship, so I knew in my mind moving back to Orlando was the right choice for my career."

“It's amazing to think that while I was at Full Sail if I knew that I’d eventually be working in sports as a designer I’d be like ‘Get out of here, that’s not possible.' I always thought that teams just outsourced stuff, I didn’t think they had an internal creative team – that was a shock to me. I love that my career path has taken me to different teams, and I've had some amazing experiences that I’ll never forget."

Justin is part of a small internal design group in the Magic’s marketing department, where he helps develop the print material used to promote the team. This includes billboards, newspaper ads, tickets, and the large banners seen around their home court at the Amway Center and throughout Orlando.

“I can definitely attest to this – sports advertising is the hardest design I’ve ever had to do,” he says. “It’s a fine balance between marketing and being artistic, and you have to find that comfortable medium. You want it to stand out and get people excited, and it’s really rewarding trying to come up with new approaches for pushing the creative every year. It’s about how we as a team can make our brand stronger than our competition and get Orlando excited for
Magic basketball."

The Magic’s administration has been a big supporter of the designers and their efforts to develop fresh ideas, creating an atmosphere that has given Justin a real sense of connection to the success of the organization and his creative co-workers. “When you work with a great group of people that has one common goal, there’s nothing like it,” he says. “It feels like a family here because the ownership really cares about us, the team, and Central Florida.”

Justin’s experience with the team comes full circle when he walks into a sold out Orlando Magic game and sees these efforts being enjoyed by fans – whether they’re wearing t-shirts featuring his department's designs or clutching a playbill he helped create. His work helps give people a physical connection to their NBA heroes, which combines with the action on court, roar of the crowd, and blaring lights of the Amway Center’s video displays, to create a complete entertainment experience.

“As a designer it’s exciting to see this stuff out there in the community, and it puts a big smile on your face knowing that it’s working and fans are gravitating towards our brand,” he says. “It’s amazing to think that I graduated in 2009, and now this is my career. I’ve been a lifelong sports fan and couldn’t be happier waking up every day and coming into work. If it wasn't for the support I received from my mom and dad, making the move from Connecticut to Florida and helping me chase my dreams, I wouldn't be where I am today."

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Kenny Carkeet: From Paralegal to AWOLNATION Guitarist

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST

The Recording Arts and Entertainment Business grad has taken a unique path after Full Sail.

Recording Arts and Entertainment Business graduate Kenny Carkeet

It’s amazing how much someone’s life can change in only a few years, and even Kenny Carkeet sometimes has trouble believing the wild path he’s taken since graduating from Full Sail’s Recording Arts and Entertainment Business programs. Shortly after leaving school in 2007, he began building a successful career as a paralegal at an Orlando law firm. Today he’s the rhythm guitarist and keyboardist for AWOLNATION, one of the breakout bands of 2011 with a hit album and two Billboard-charting singles.

“This has been one hell of a ride, but getting there was no easy task,” he says. “Music was always what I loved, and even the people at the law office would tell me I should do something with it. My sister had just moved out to California, and kept saying ‘this is where people like you are.’ So I just sold everything I had and drove out there. I didn’t have a job set up, but I knew I wanted to work with artists, and thought it was worth a shot.”

After settling into his new life in Los Angeles, Kenny began picking up audio work, taking roles as diverse as creating music for video games at Activision to doing postproduction for an action sports film company. During this time he met music producer Jimmy Messer (Enrique Eglesias, Kelly Clarkson), and was hired as an assistant at his recording studio in Venice Beach. Kenny would spend the next two years there, setting up gear, engineering tracks, and eventually writing and playing music – which is how he met AWOLNATION singer Aaron Bruno.

“Sometimes Jimmy would write songs to pitch to different singers,” he says. “So he would lay down some guitar riffs, I'd do some programming, and Aaron would do vocals. Aaron and I would spend a lot of time together in the studio working on these songs, and one day we just decided to do something of our own and see what we could come up with. That’s how the song ‘Sail’ came about, just us messing around.”

The strength of the track inspired them to keep working, and Jimmy and Aaron quickly wrote three more songs. After assembling a full band, the group started booking gigs, with their debut at L.A.’s famous Viper Room selling out. Their unique sound, a blend of hard rock and electronica, attracted buzz from the industry, and led to Red Bull Records jumping in and signing them. Shortly afterwards the band completed their first album, Megalithic Symphony, and spent the majority of 2011 touring to support it.

“Everything has just been crazy, I felt like I was home for about 20 days combined last year,” Kenny says. “We started out doing these small tours in a van, and now we’re doing three months in Europe. We played on Jimmy Kimmel, Leno, MTV, and we’re going to do a set at Coachella. If you're a student and you want to do this, don't wait for anything, just go out and get it. Be the first into work and the last to leave every day. The hard work doesn't stop, and you can't let up at any point."

AWOLNATION’s Megalithic Symphony broke the top twenty on Billboard’s Alternative Albums chart, with the singles “Sail” and “Not Your Fault” also charting. The band is currently working on material for the next record during breaks from the road, and Kenny is also continuing to pursue his own engineering projects. This includes work with up and coming rapper Zeale, as well as a side project with AWOLNATION drummer Hayden Scott and Justin Sisley, guitarist from his former Orlando punk band.

It’s all a far cry from Kenny's days in a suit and tie working on legal briefs, and he never stops appreciating the hard work and good fortune that helped him get there.

“It’s insane to look back and see how far I’ve come, and it hasn’t even been that long,” he says. “Everyone tells me I took the shortest route to get where I am, but I’ve been working towards it for a long time. I practiced everything I did at Full Sail at home, and I think all of that really paid off and gave me the confidence I needed to do this. It’s what you do apart from everyone else that really helps you shine. That approach in a career for anybody is important – to surpass your goal. There’s not a finish line.”

Nicholas Madonna Revisits ?Halo: Combat Evolved?

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST

The Game Development grad was associate producer on the tenth anniversary edition.

Game Development graduate Nicholas Madonna

Playing through Halo: Combat Evolved was a defining experience for a generation of gamers. The ambitious game was unlike any other shooter on consoles when it was released in 2001, featuring innovative weapon mechanics, unparalleled multiplayer, and consistently surprising story and gameplay elements. There are few other titles of the era that match it for moment-to-moment highlights, and ten years later, the landmark game has been revitalized with the recent release of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.

The game was developed by Saber Interactive, who have updated the original Halo with high definition graphics, 5.1 audio, new multiplayer components, and Microsoft Kinect support. The resulting package is stellar fan service, and we learned about the studio’s painstaking labor of love while catching up with Game Development graduate Nicholas Madonna, who was associate producer on the remake, and just one of the many gamers raised on the Xbox classic.

“I was a huge [Halo] fan before and during my time at Full Sail,” he says. “I had a big apartment with two other roommates and we used to have everyone over after class for LAN parties. Guys would bring their Xbox, a LAN cable, extra controllers, and pizza money. It was insane.”

Halo has always seemed to inspire that kind of devotion, thanks to the barrage of memorable moments – the first time landing on the Halo ring, taking out grubs with the sniper pistol, the introduction of the Flood, let alone the late nights battling against friends. As someone deeply invested in the source material, Nick understood early on the scrutiny he and the design team would face in reimagining the game, and was relieved to see their attention to detail recognized by both fans and critics.

“To be honest, the whole production was a challenge – it was the first time the studio worked on a huge franchise, and it doesn't get any bigger than Halo,” he says. “While we were confident in our work, we were also nervous about how fans would react. At E3 2011 we debuted our trailer and as the show went into Day Two, our booth was covered with ‘Best of E3’ nomination stickers and ribbons. It was such a great feeling to see that. We were ecstatic that the press was excited for the game and all the hard work we were putting in.”

There’s always a danger in reimagining any pop culture phenomenon, whether it’s a classic movie, album, or video game. This makes Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary all the more impressive, as the modern-day tinkering has only improved upon the spirit of the original. Walking through these environments in high definition is a real treat for both new players and longtime fans, and perhaps the most inspiring moment is a special feature that allows you to switch back and forth between the original graphics and the high-res update at the press of a button – offering an instant history lesson on the last decade of gaming.

“The game is a real testament to our technology team, those guys came up with the engine stitching solution that allowed us to plug the original Halo into our proprietary engine,” Nick says. “Switching between ‘Classic Mode’ and ‘Remastered Mode’ on the fly is like 10 years of evolution mapped to one button – pretty incredible stuff if you ask me. I'm really proud of the whole product and what we were able to accomplish.”

Erin Hinojos: Artist Management Coordinator at Rock Ridge Music

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST

The Music Business grad works with artists including Tony Lucca, contestant on ‘The Voice’

Music Business graduate Erin Hinojos

Few people are watching NBC’s The Voice with as much intensity as Erin Hinojos. That’s because as Artist Management Coordinator at Rock Ridge Music, he has a vested interest in one of its contestants, Tony Lucca. Lucca is one of his artist management clients and Erin would love to see him take top prize.

Erin has a particular passion for helping people succeed in what they love to do probably because he feels so grateful to be doing what he loves to do. “I love my job. It’s exactly what I want to do,” says the Music Business grad, who started working at Rock Ridge Music last November.

“I support social media efforts, funnel press requests through publicists, and help the artists keep their blog content fresh and up to date,” Erin says. “The artists that we work with are talented but also really, really nice people and easy to work with.”

Erin has loved this line of work from the moment he enrolled in Full Sail’s Music Business program in 2009. A few months after his 2010 graduation, he moved to New York City where he juggled several artist assistant internships, including one with Vedette Productions. “I had been crashing on a friend’s floor for 3 months, so it was great to finally be able to afford my own place,” he laughs.

Now at Rock Ridge Music, an indie label based out of Newark, NJ, Erin works closely with artists to keep their business running smoothly – handling show bookings and working with promoters to coordinate and maintain the tour. Oh, and he never misses an episode of The Voice.

Amanda Blumling: Rigger with Cirque du Soleil?s 'Viva Elvis'

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST

The Show Production grad "handles anything that flies" during the show.

Show Production graduate Amanda Blumling

When it comes to starting your career, you never know when an opportunity is going to present itself or where it will end up taking you. For Show Production graduate Amanda Blumling, that moment was a late-night phone call shortly after graduation asking if she could fly out to Las Vegas and take a position working for magician David Copperfield.

“I had applied with them already, and one night they called me at four in the morning and asked if I could get there in the next 48 hours,” she says. “I packed my bags and went to Vegas not really knowing exactly what I was about to do. David put everybody up at the MGM Grand, and I lived right there on the strip while I trained and worked on his show. It was kind of crazy.”

Copperfield had a residency at the MGM, which Amanda joined as a props artist, setting up the illusions on stage during the show. The performances ran seven days a week, with two shows a day, and three shows on Saturdays. It was a surreal world to be thrown into, but she quickly adjusted to the fast-paced lifestyle, and would eventually head out on a massive world tour, helping mount the large-scale production in different venues across the globe.

“The tours were really the best place to learn because you had so much to do,” she says. “We’d unload the trucks, build all the props, test them to make sure they were safe, do the actual show, then pack the trucks up again. We started at about eight in the morning and then got done around 2 a.m. the next day. It was a lot of work, but I got to go to places like Australia which was a lot of fun.”

After a year with David Copperfield, Amanda wanted a break from the road, and began looking for new opportunities in Vegas. Following their success with the Beatles-themed Love, Cirque de Soleil was just about to launch their latest licensed show at the Aria hotel, Viva Elvis. By using contacts she’d made in the city’s entertainment community, Amanda landed her current job as rigger with the production, which blends Cirque’s signature acrobatics with key moments from Elvis Presley’s music and film career.

“I handle basically anything that flies during the show, like the harnesses the performers use, a zip line, and props like a flying piano,” she says. “It’s great to be a part of because there’s so much going on, and I really love the interaction between the artists and the audience. At the end we throw down red scarves that say ‘Viva Elvis’ on them from the catwalk. Some people get so excited about it and actually start crying because they get a little extra piece of the show to take home with them.”

If you’ve been to a Cirque du Soleil show, you know the level of artistry and craftsmanship that goes into these performances, and Viva Elvis has been praised for its high energy and creative interpretations of Presley’s work. Amanda explained that after two years with the show she still gets a thrill from each night’s performance, as well as the infectious energy of being a part of the Las Vegas community.

“I had actually been out to Vegas when I was younger, and always told myself that I was going to live here, not knowing that someday I would,” she says. “I really love working for Cirque and being in this city – they’ve both given me so many opportunities. I bought my own house at 21 years old, just 10 minutes from the strip. Not too many people can say that. I didn’t really think this would all happen for me, but it’s been wonderful.”

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Film Graduates Work on ?The Hunger Games?

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST

We spoke to grads Jeff Wallace and Chrys Blackstone about their work on the film.

Film graduate Chrys Blackstone

Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy has captivated readers, telling the gripping story of a future North America where each year a group of children are selected to compete against each other in a televised battle to the death. The story was ripe for a Hollywood adaptation, and the first entry in the film series is set to hit theaters this Spring.

The ambitious project was filmed during the summer of 2011 in different locations across North Carolina. The state has become a growing market for feature film and television production, which has attracted a number of Full Sail Film graduates to the area, including Sarah Duryea, Chrys Blackstone, and Jeff Wallace, who worked together on The Hunger Games.

Sarah was a production assistant on the project, while Chrys and Jeff both served as set lighting technicians. We recently caught up with Chrys and Jeff to learn about their work in the state helping produce one of the year's most anticipcated releases.

“North Carolina is blowing up right now in terms of production,” Jeff says. “There’s a lot of great people here and many of them were involved with Hunger Games. I think the level of talent here really contributed to making the movie turn out as good as it has.”

A good portion of the movie takes place outside, and the filmmakers were able to take full advantage of the state’s lush scenery. Jeff was on board the project during the location shoots, which filmed in towns like Asheville, Hickory, and Shelby. They also spent a number of days shooting in the mountains, for scenes involving the ‘cornucopia,’ where the contestants first gather before heading off to fight.

“It was just beautiful land, but it was definitely tough from day to day,” he says. “We were up in these mountain forests in North Fork filming scenes where the actors all pop out from these tunnels and make a big break for their weapons. We’d have to use these four-wheel drive vehicles to haul the gear up and down, and we could only shoot up until about 5:30 p.m. because we were under the canopy of the trees and would lose light earlier. We really had to fight to get all our shots done, but it turned out great.”

The location scenes were shot over two months, after which Chrys joined the crew to help with filming on the interior sets. Their base of operations was an abandoned Phillip Morris cigarette factory, which they gutted and used to build massive sets for some of the biggest set pieces. Despite being a controlled environment, the structure offered its own set of challenges for him.

“They built entire compounds inside of the plant, and it was a lot of hard work for us because they were huge sets, so we had very big lights,” he says. “I had to do a lot of climbing up into the rafters and dropping cables down through the first floor into the basement so we could hook up to the generators. One of the massive sets we were using was the training ground where they had a lot of the stunts going on. You really had to mind where you put things and how you lit. It was mind blowing to be a part of something that size.”

Throughout the production, both grads were impressed by the quality of talent they were surrounded by, and the amount of effort that the different departments put into keeping faithful to the aesthetics outlined by the books. When you’re dealing with fans this loyal, each aspect from the dialog to the appearance of the characters is going to be heavily scrutinized, but Jeff isn’t too worried about the reception.

“It just looks great, and really lived up to my expectations that way,” he says. “The set design, costumes, and makeup are amazing. Everyone has their own vision when they read the book, and I think they took a good route with it, and people will be pretty impressed by the look of the film.”

“Having watched it on the monitors during filming, and now seeing the trailers on TV – it’s just a gorgeous looking movie,” Chrys adds. “Our director of photography Tom Stern did an amazing job of coloring it and giving it that dark, gritty feel that the book has. They really nailed that.”

Readers can judge for themselves when The Hunger Games hits theaters on March 23. The film is pegged as the first major blockbuster of the year, and Jeff and Chrys are proud to have their names attached to such a beloved property. They’re also already looking forward to news of the production of the remaining two films in the series, and the possibility of them returning to shoot in North Carolina.

“These books are on a different level than some people might think, they’ve got darker aspects to them, it’s good drama mixed with action, and then a little bit of romance too,” Jeff says. “After working on the movie, I really understand why it’s so popular, and I hope the sequels come back to the state so we can do it all over again. The production had a good time and I think they realized the crew based here is something that they can benefit from.”

Tommy Wingo: Sound Engineer in Orlando

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST

The Recording Arts grad specializes in production and post-production sound

Recording Arts graduate Tommy Wingo

Tommy Wingo has a job that he loves, but it wasn’t always this way. In 2001, he graduated from a state university with a bachelor of science degree and took a job with a petroleum company in Houston, TX.� Four years later, he was totally uninspired by his career. So, with an interest in recording that stretched back to his college radio days, he found himself in Orlando and enrolled in Full Sail’s Recording Arts program.

“At this point, I already knew what I didn’t want to do,” says Tommy. “The second time through [college], you have a much better idea of who you are and what you want to be doing.”

After graduating, Tommy dove into several freelance gigs, some with the magazine giant Bonnier, who sent him to sunny locales like Key West and Aruba as sound mixer on episodes of their Florida Travel & Life television series.

These days, he’s enjoying the stability of a full-time job at Treehouse, an Orlando-based online education company. Since November 2011, Tommy has become the company’s one-man sound department, working in both production and post-production sound.

“Treehouse provides education for anyone interested in web development, web design and programming, and we deliver this through a series of online educational videos on different topics,” explained Tommy.� “I’m the sound mixer when we do anything on camera, as well as handling final editing and mixing duties.”

Besides finding his groove in his professional life, Tommy’s also enjoying Orlando beyond the “Full Sail neighborhood,” and now lives in the eclectic neighborhood of College Park. It’s a long way from Louisiana, where he grew up, but he’s making a good life for himself here.

“I’m already doing quite a lot of what I wanted to do. This is a wonderful company and it's been a great experience so far,” says Tommy. “I’m really happy where I am right now.”

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Pablo Rendic Olivieri: Multimedia Journalist for Florida?s Blood Centers

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST

Pablo has put his Film and Graphic Design degrees to work on successful PSAs for the organization.

Film and Graphic Design graduate Pablo Rendic Olivieri

Florida Blood Centers has been working to expand its media presence over the past few years, producing a range of content from original videos to websites that are raising awareness for their donation programs. These campaigns have seen an increase in support for their blood drives, and one of the content developers behind this success is Pablo Rendic Olivieri, a graduate of Full Sail’s Film and Graphic Design programs, who joined the organization in 2009 as multimedia journalist.

“Right around the time I graduated the Blood Centers were opening up this new department,” he says. “I came for the interview and showed them what I did at school, and have been with them ever since. There was no rulebook written for my position, so I’ve been able to try new things and write it myself every day. I’m really proud of what we’ve done here.”

It doesn’t take long to understand Pablo’s passion for media, and working with the Blood Centers has allowed him to apply a number of his different skills. On the filmmaking side, he specializes in directing their promotional videos, internal training videos, and television commercials, while also using his graphic design knowledge to create print material and serve as webmaster for both their English and Spanish websites.

“It’s been great being able to help build this department,” he says. “In my first year we actually filmed about 150 video packages, including one I did for YouTube called ‘What is Blood,’ which has over 33,000 views. I also help handle our social media, and we now have the number one Facebook fan page of all the blood centers in the country, with about 8000 people following us. The medical field isn’t always known for having this kind of output, but there’s so many opportunities for the power of media and we just have to keep pushing it.”

For a company not based on art or technology, the Florida Blood Centers is producing an enviable amount of creative content thanks to a small investment in the right technology and the people to use it. That commitment has helped their efforts to help those patients in need of blood, and continues to inspire Pablo as he works to create promotional material that encourages new donors.

“It’s really about getting the message of blood donation out there so we can help people,” he says. “We’re trying to educate the community about how important it is, and to be able to using video and graphic arts to create that message is such a blessing. I interview a lot of kids who have cancer who survive because of the blood that they receive. The fact that I get to tell their stories, and then those stories have a direct impact on others, is an incredible feeling. When someone asks what I do, I can really say that I help save lives for a living.”

Julie Lockwood: Web Designer at GSL Solutions

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST

The Digital Arts and Design grad is designing websites for senators and congressmen

“Politicians have quickly learned that the web is the fastest and most effective way to get their views out to their constituents,” says Julie Lockwood, a Full Sail Digital Arts and Design grad who, in the last three years, has helped more than 30 congressmen and senators enhance their web presence through the websites she has designed.

“Their websites are capable of more and more things every day. Our company provides the tools they need to stay up-to-date with web trends and new capabilities so they can consistently produce quality content and get their message out there in the most effective way.”

Sound tedious? Not at all, according to Julie. “I assume most people would think that the work would be boring. I mean, who enjoys politics? But it's really quite the opposite. It's my job to make a client's content more enticing, more interesting.”

Julie still finds it strange that she ended up in web design, having always thought she would apply her degree to print. But after months of job-hunting, she applied for the web position at GSL Solutions in Tampa and crossed her fingers. “I only had a couple web projects in my portfolio along with a ton of print work, but GSL saw potential in my work and got the sense that I could translate my print creativity over to the web. I got the job, and now it's three years later and I couldn't be happier with what I'm doing.”

Julie has worked on all websites for Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Mike Lee, and Senator Ron Johnson, as well as Senator Lisa Murkowski's, which won the Congressional Medal Foundation's Platinum award in 2010 for the best Senate member website.

And it’s not simply web design either; Julie and the GSL team help their clients with social media as well. “Social networking is huge now. Every client that hires us has a YouTube channel, Facebook page, and Twitter account. They know that their constituents are using these services on a daily basis, and that if they really want to stay connected, this is how they're going to do it.” Additionally, GSL provides mobile solutions including the creation of apps that allow voters to stay up-to-date on the latest press releases and issue statements.

“It's certainly never what I expected to be doing - designing websites for senators and congressman - but I really enjoy the work that I do.”

41 Full Sail Graduates on 10 Oscar-Winning Films

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST

A total of 99 Full Sail alumni were credited on 29 Oscar-nominated films.

Alumni contributed to top Oscar winners.

Hundreds of movies are released throughout the year, and the Academy Awards are a chance for Hollywood to recognize the projects that have made a special impact on audiences and the industry. The 2012 ceremony celebrated a range of memorable features and the artists who created them, and we were proud to see that 41 Full Sail graduates worked on 10 films that won awards in 18 different categories.

The Artist took home the evening’s biggest honors, Best Picture and Best Director, as well as securing statues for Best Actor, Best Costume Design, and Best Original Score. The crew of this critically acclaimed silent picture included five graduates of our Film program, Joe Crowder (rigging grip), Jennifer Ann Henry (first assistant “A” camera), Michael Krikorian (production sound mixer), Nathan Lewis (camera trainee), and Joseph Mason (art department assistant).

Martin Scorsese’s masterful 3D film Hugo tied The Artist with five awards, winning Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects. The movie featured a total of eight Full Sail alumni behind the scenes, including four from our Computer Animation program who worked on the Oscar-winning effects – Christopher E. Brown (digital effects artist), Joe Harkins (CG supervisor), Rob Price (digital artist), and ZhouTao Zhang (character modeler).

Best Supporting Actor went to Christopher Plummer for his affecting performance in the drama Beginners. Two Film graduates worked on the movie, Michael Loomer (on set dresser) and Joseph Mason (art department assistant). Film grad Patrick Redmond also worked as an aerial camera technician on The Help, winner for Best Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer).

The winners in both two of the animation categories also featured our graduates. Rango took Best Animated Feature, with a crew that included five Recording Arts alumni, Jeremy Luena (editorial production assistant), Dee Selby (Foley editor), Chuck Choi (score technical engineer), Daniel Kresco (music engineer), and Sebastian Zuleta (score technical engineer). Best Animated Short Film went to The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, which had Recording Arts grad Oliver Benavidez (sound designer) and Film grad Stephanie Sousa (lighting technician) on its production team.

The biggest collaboration was seen on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, winner for Best Editing. David Fincher’s gritty adaptation of the popular Swedish novel included the work of 11 graduates combined from our Recording Arts, Digital Media, and Computer Animation programs. Another group of four grads from Film and Computer Animation were also credited on The Muppets (Best Original Song).

Finally, Full Sail alumni contributed to both of the winners for writing. First was Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris (Best Original Screenplay), which had Film grad Ryan Duffy as scanner. Best Adapted Screenplay then went to The Descendants, which included the work of Brett Voss (foley mixer), Nicholas Hasson (on-line editor), and Jason Skweres (researcher).

As you can see, the 84th Annual Academy Awards highlighted a range of diverse stories, performances, and technical achievements that continued to inspire movies audiences. In addition to the 41 grads who worked on this year’s winners, there were a total of 99 Full Sail alumni credited on 29 Oscar-nominated films, and our staff would like to congratulate each of the artists who contributed their talent to the industry’s most recognized projects of the past year.

David Kimery: Creating Multimedia for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST

The Digital Arts & Design grad and Operation Iraqi Freedom vet is a multimedia designer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Digital Arts & Design graduate David Kimery

Artists can come from anywhere. After six years working in military intelligence for the U.S. Army, David Kimery returned to civilian life, joined Full Sail’s Digital Arts & Design program, and has since developed a successful career as a multimedia content developer. It might not seem like transitioning between those two worlds would be seamless, but as Dave explained, he’d always had an interest in art, and the discipline he learned while serving his country made all the difference in his approach to his education and career.

“Even before joining the military I was tinkering around with web design, graphic design, editing videos, so it really makes sense that I’d end up doing this now,” he says. “If the military did anything for me when I came to school it was about the maturity level I gained, and being disciplined with my work. It also helped after graduation because I knew exactly what I wanted and was just able to go for it.”

After completing the Digital Arts & Design bachelor’s program, Dave went after a position as a audio visual specialist at West Point, the country’s leading military academy in New York state. While he hadn’t considered the armed forces as a possible outlet for a computer graphics career, the role gave him the chance to create a range of audio and video content for the school, as well as handle A/V support for live events. “Pretty much everything I learned at Full Sail, I was able to apply to my job there,” he says. “It was a great place for me to start out.”

Two years after joining West Point, Dave began looking for a change of pace and climate (those New York winters got to be a little much), and would eventually find an opening as a multimedia designer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Jacksonville, Florida. He landed the job, and has enjoyed the added creative freedom he’s been afforded as a one-man team in charge of filming, photography, and design work that highlight the efforts of the Corps of Engineers across the country.

“I’ve got kind of a special position so each day is really something different,” he says. “Anywhere in the United States where the Corps of Engineers need me, they can tap into me and I’ll fly out there to assist with any multimedia project needed. It’s great to be able to show people what the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers doing with multimedia.”

From his own time as a solider during Operation Iraqi Freedom to his role promoting the efforts of current personnel, Dave continues to appreciate the opportunities he’s been afforded through his connection to the U.S. military. It might not be the first place you’d expect a digital artist to be flourishing, but his work is a reminder of the diverse career paths your talent and education can open up for you.

“I don’t know if I’m just lucky, but everything has worked out for me,” he says. “This is where life has taken me and I’m doing pretty good so far. I’m really still kind of in shock everything that’s happened to me.”

Craig Richter: Lighting Director for Miranda Lambert

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST

The Show Production graduate is traveling with international lighting company Bandit Lites.

Show Production graduate Craig Richter

“It’s funny how a kid from a small town with some hard work and determination can make it to this point.” The point that Craig Richter is talking about is being the lighting director for Miranda Lambert, arguably one of the fastest rising stars in country music today. Craig landed the gig in late 2011 after two colleagues threw his name into the hat when Lambert’s production team came looking for new talent.

“It just goes to show you that it’s not just what you know in the live production industry but who you know as well,” Craig says. Having connections was helpful but Craig also was well-prepared by the time this opportunity came along.

Since graduating from Full Sail’s Show Production program in 2006, Craig has worked on many large and small productions including touring with multiple different artists, most recently with Seether as their Lighting Designer/Director. “It was the best gig of my life and I'm glad to call them my friends,” he recalls.

Craig is currently on tour with Miranda Lambert in what the industry calls a "weekend warrior" tour. “We leave Nashville on a Tuesday or Wednesday, do three or four shows, then back in Nashville Sunday or Monday for two days off. I'll do that for about four months as of now.”

Craig is responsible everything lighting-related in the show, including setup. “Once the show starts, I operate the console and call spot cues to four spot lights. After the show is over, I pack up my front-of-house stuff then head back to the stage and start taking down the lighting rig we put up earlier in the day.” Then everything gets loaded into trucks that roll into the next city to do it all over again.

Not that you’ll ever hear Craig complain; he loves his job. “Yes, I work long hours and it is an odd job, but I get to hang out with a bunch of great people and make a bunch of new friends. I get to have fun, share laughs, and at the end of the day, maybe even make someone’s concert experience the best one of their life.”