I recently graduated from Staffordshire University with a First-class Honours degree in Film Production Technology BSc (Hons).
The technological side of the TV and Film industries is something that has fascinated me for a long time; I love to know how things work (and how to fix them if they don’t).
Aside from course-specific skills, my degree taught me how to work efficiently and to a high standard in numerous situations, and to do so confidently. I am able to work alone on projects and maintain high levels of motivation, but I also enjoy working with a group to achieve goals, by leading the team, or otherwise.
I am aiming to develop a career with a technical focus, in the broadcasting industry.
Profile
I am competent with Apple Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems, and adept at using all basic software (e.g. Apple, OpenOffice & Microsoft office suites, web browsers). I have also been trained to use the following:
Equipment
Panasonic HVX-200, HVX-500 & DVX-100
Canon EOS 7D/5D, XL1 & XL2
Steadicam
GrassValley T2 Media Server
GrassValley VT machine
Studio equipment (lighting, vision mixing, CCU, graphics & VTR)
Software
Final Cut Studio
Avid Media Composer
Adobe Suite (including Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop, Encore, Soundtrack, Dreamweaver)
Canopus Edius
Flash Media Server
Skills
2007 – 2011
BSc (Hons) in Film Production Technology at Staffordshire University (First Class).
Subjects studied: Digital Broadcasting Systems, Multimedia Streaming, Studio & Advanced Studio Production, Video Editing Technology, Visual Media Applications, DVD Technology, Business for TV & Films, Internet & HTML to name just a few.
My final year project looks at the past, present & future of render farms and network rendering technology, and includes several practical experiments to aid research. The project also looks at using non-traditional hardware (such as the Sony PS3, cloud computing etc.) for rendering purposes.
2000 – 2007
Heathfield Community College & Sixth Form.
2 GCE A Levels: Media Studies, Mathematics & 1 BTEC National Award: Digital Media Studies
12 GCSEs (Grades A to C) including: Double ICT, Mathematics, English Language, Double Science, English Literature.
Education
June 2011 – Present day
Systems Technical Assistant at Moving Picture (MPC London)
Working at MPC has exposed me to a vast array of enterprise-level hardware and top-end production software, as well as allowing me to familiarise myself with the CentOS Linux variant.
General responsibilities include supporting the workstations of artists (both hardware and software), and well as building new machines and patching them into the network. Other tasks have included building playback machines for 2k 3D footage (which required a number of Solid State Drives in a RAID array) and deploying vast numbers of remote machines, using PCoIP technology.
MPC has also given me an opportunity to be the first line of support for users, and has increased my ability to fix problems on the spot.
2009 – 2010
Co-founder/partner of Reel Talent Productions LLP.
During my university placement year, I started a video production business with two colleagues. The focus was on creating showreels, but we also undertook some corporate work.
My day-to-day responsibilities included filming, editing/post-production and keeping track of finances. I was also in charge of the internet presence of the business (social networking, marketing, website development etc.)
Reel Talent gave me valuable experience and insights into working closely with colleagues/friends and has taught me how to better deal with problems that arise in this situation.
March 2009
Producer: “Hospital Resurrection” (A short film produced as part of my degree).
A colleague and myself produced a short horror film at a disused hospital in Romford, Essex. On the day of filming, I took on the producing role, but during the pre-production stage, most jobs were shared between the two of us.
On the day, I was in charge of a cast & crew that consisted of 5 main actors, 30 extras, 10 make up artists, a costume designer, a location manager, and an assistant producer. My duties on the day included camerawork, lighting, sound recording, scheduling and transportation of cast & crew. The filming was an immensely stressful, but extremely rewarding experience, one that I coped with well by delegating tasks to our assistants, so that I could concentrate on more important things.
I edited the film, and created still & motion graphics, although my colleague and I made decisions jointly.
The film was well received by lecturers and peers, and it came third in the Student Filmmaker Magazine’s Summer Shorts ’09 contest (a worldwide competition).
Experience
I enjoy challenging myself to learn new skills, especially those that are relevant to my chosen field. For example, my university final year project began as an experiment during my placement year, when I built my own small render farm.
I enjoy developing websites, blogging and I have had an article published on the http://mac.appstorm.net website.
Other Interests
Although I don’t currently plan on pursuing a career in video production, the work featured below shows how I’ve progressed over the last few years, with each example of work demonstrating a range of different skills.
Heart=less / Music Video / 2011
This video was produced for (and with permission from) Red Amber Green. It starred Sid Akbar Ali and was created by Hannah Gardiner, Jemma Hodkinson and myself.
Media News Show / Advanced Studio Production / 2010
This show was the result of several months of preparation and hard work from a team of 12 people. It was for the final year ‘Advanced Studio Production’ module, and was presented by Jono Molloy and Katy Taylor.
Hospital Resurrection / Short Film / 2009
A colleague and myself filmed this short horror film at a disused hospital in Romford, Essex. I took on the producing role, but during the pre-production stage, most jobs were shared between the two of us.
On the day of filming, I was in charge of a cast & crew that consisted of 5 main actors, 30 extras, 10 make up artists, a costume designer, a location manager, and an assistant producer. My duties on the day included camerawork, lighting, sound recording, scheduling and transportation of cast & crew. The filming was an immensely stressful, but extremely rewarding experience, one that I coped with well by delegating tasks to our assistants, so that I could concentrate on more important things.
I edited the film, and created still & motion graphics, although my colleague and I made decisions jointly.
The film was well received by lecturers and peers, and it came third in the Student Filmmaker Magazine’s Summer Shorts ’09 contest (a worldwide competition).
AFC Wimbledon / Short Documentary / 2008
This was a first year project with the brief being to create a 3 minute documentary. The only real stipulation was that the interviewees should talk as if they’re explaining the subject, rather than a conventional, prompting interview.
Examples of work
For an address and phone number, or anything else for that matter, please email m (at) mattlongman.com.
