Name: Robert Dean

Role: Business Development Representative
 

Bio: Born and raised in California, Robert has spent most of his life working and studying in the Bay Area. His biggest adventure was studying in Ticino, the Italian canton of Switzerland, for two years. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Media Studies at Franklin University Switzerland before returning to the US. Before his time with Lightswitch, he worked as a freelance video editor. 
 

Get to know Robert:

What was the last TV show you binge-watched?

My girlfriend and I just finished watching The Dropout; however, HBO’s Peacemaker is our favorite show of 2022 so far. 

 

What do you like to do outside of work?

I really enjoy making videos for my Youtube channel with my friends. Pick-up sports are my favorite form of exercise, although I used to fanatically attend the gym before the pandemic. I’ve seen way too many films and read too much history. I highly enjoy discussing both. 

 

What’s your favorite season, and why? 

Spring is the best season in the Bay Area. I can’t complain when most days are around 65 degrees fahrenheit. 

 

What kind of music do you listen to?

I mostly listen to music during my workouts. My go-to rock bands are The Hu, Skillet and Fall Out Boy. I also really enjoy listening to original soundtracks from films and video games. My favorite composers are Howard Shore and Yuka Kitamura. 

 

What originally got you interested in your current field of work?

I wanted to begin my career in sales with a product I understood and believed in. Sales is a tough job but I’m confident in my ability to help bring in new clients and help the company expand.  

Connect with Robert:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Here at Lightswitch we have videographers that we work with all across the country, and we think that it’s about time we introduce you to a few of them! In each installment of our “Meet the Videographer” series, we’ll be getting to know a new videographer -- from where they’re based, to how they got started, what their favorite films and TV shows are, and more!

For this next installment, we sat down with Keith Pressman, one of our videographers based in Greenwich, CT. Check out what he had to say below.

Q: What originally got you interested in your current field of work? 

A: I skateboarded when I was younger and wanted to capture all my best tricks on video. I then began to spend more time recording video clips of other skateboarders and progressively became more interested in being behind the camera. Throughout middle school and most of high school, I ended up making a whole video series with my friends that not only involved our skateboarding footage, but also several clips of us jumping off buildings, crashing bicycles, causing public disturbances and wreaking all kinds of havoc. I later started creating videos on a more professional level outside of skateboarding and eventually made a career out of it.

Q: How long have you been a videographer?

A: About 8 years.

Q: What's your favorite project you've ever worked on in your career so far? 

A: A project I enjoyed working on the most is a Break Off the Edge video I created when I was in high school during my skateboarding days.

In terms of something I've done professionally, I really enjoyed shooting and editing a documentary-style video for an art gallery recently.

My favorite project I've done for Lightswitch is a promo video for the Darien Sport Shop.

Q: What's your favorite thing about working with Lightswitch? 

A: My favorite thing about working with Lightswitch is not having to worry too much about planning or logistics prior to each shoot and being able to count on the production staff to create schedules that are realistic towards getting everything done within allotted timeframes. It allows me to focus more on the main parts of video production that I enjoy.

Q: What advice do you have for aspiring videographers/filmmakers, or those looking to enter the industry?

A: Don't let your ego get the best of you, have realistic expectations and be prepared to have to learn many other things besides making stuff look good on camera.

Q: What's your favorite movie and/or TV show of all time?

A: Movie: Drillbit Taylor, TV show: Breaking Bad.

Want to work with our talented videographers? Get in touch to plan your next project! Feel free to take a look at our first installment of this series with videographer Jacob Dean, and the previous installment with videographer Travis Henry.

We’re so excited to announce the recipients of the Full STEM Ahead Film Grant! We were so happy with all of the submissions that we received, and the judges really had their work cut out for them to choose a winner.

We found our perfect match with Chicago natives Jonah Ocuto and Amaya Benbow. Ocuto and Benbow were chosen to receive the $5,000 grant to produce a short-form documentary about the STEM program of their choice, Blue Tin Production. Blue Tin Production will receive a matching $5,000 donation, and the final documentary will receive a showing at a local theater alongside a Q&A with the documentarians. 

The Full STEM Ahead Filmmaker’s Initiative is a first-year initiative designed to not only encourage STEM education and careers in STEM but to also cultivate the filmmakers of tomorrow in the process.

“As filmmakers, we are fascinated with how Blue Tin is using their platform in the fashion industry to create sweeping change in the lives of thousands of Chicagoans, and want to shine a light on the reality behind the clothes we wear,” said Ocuto and Benbow. “Led by BIPOC women, Blue Tin embodies the ways in which STEM programs can empower citizens to create drastic change, against all odds. We are inspired by those who, despite all circumstances, persevere, believing in a community’s power to better the lives of others. Like Blue Tin says, “It takes a village.’”

Blue Tin Production is an apparel manufacturing workers co-operative run by immigrant, refugee, and working-class women of color. Founded by author and founder of political fashion publication JooJoo Azad, Hoda Katebi, Blue Tin has been featured in various news outlets, including VOGUE and WBEZ 91.5, Chicago’s NPR news station.

"For our inaugural year doing this grant, it was inspiring seeing all of the amazing applications we received and the ideas that were shared. It was difficult having to choose just one project in the end,” said Andrew Nuño, a video producer at Lightswitch Video who helped judge the submissions. “That being said, we couldn't be more thrilled to be moving forward with Jonah and Amaya on their project and I'm excited to see what they end up creating."

Ocuto and Benbow will receive free consultations with Lightswitch producers on best production practices and post-production support from our world-class editing team – and we can’t wait to show you the finished product! Pre-production is already underway. The grant is sponsored by ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions.

 

 

Happy Employee Appreciation Day! We’ll take any excuse to shout from the rooftops about how amazing our employees are, so our founders want to tell you why each of them are such awesome, integral members of Team Lightswitch. We appreciate them today and every day!

 

Andrew Nuño, Video Producer

 

"Andrew is one of the most organized people I know, and is a master at multitasking. He leaves no detail to chance and his communication and creativity ensures clients come back to us for all of their video needs."

- Lynette Schwanger, CEO & Founder

"Andrew is professionalism to a T. Reliable, thorough and full of integrity with all projects. It's amazing that he can balance all the work he does here with his creative achievements outside of work as well."

- Bryce Anderson, Chief Revenue Officer & Founder

"Aside from being professional, thoughtful and amazing to work with I am most impressed with Andrew's positivity which has been integral in carrying tough projects through to the finish line and reframing tough work into success."

- Nat Seidel, Chief Operating Officer & Founder

 

Thom Pfiffner, Video Editor

 

"Thom can create compelling stories from any footage we send his way. He livens up our Slack chat every day with hilarious anecdotes and current events, ensuring work never gets too serious!"

- Lynette Schwanger, CEO & Founder

"Thom is an unsung hero of Lightswitch who comes to the table with 5 star Michelin edits like it's nothing. He also plays a key role in making all of our newer hires feel welcome and a part of the team. He either will share a genuine interest with someone new, or poke a little fun to make them comfortable."

- Bryce Anderson, Chief Revenue Officer & Founder

"It’s hard to talk about Thom as an employee as he is so woven into the fabric of Lightswitch and our culture that it’s impossible to consider the team without him. Dependable, talented, willing to do whatever is necessary to get something done, but most importantly essential to our team morale and making work actually fun."

- Nat Seidel, Chief Operating Officer & Founder

 

Alex Clark O’Donnell, Sr. Video Producer

 

"Alex provides amazing customer service to all of our clients. She’s quick to understand all facets of the project and offer solutions that fit the client’s needs. All of our clients love working with Alex, and so do we!"

- Lynette Schwanger, CEO & Founder

"Alex's care for her clients and projects is so evident. She forms such strong relationships I'm never sure if our clients are our clients first or Alex's friends. She's also such an amazing cheerleader and advocate for the work we do."

- Bryce Anderson, Chief Revenue Officer & Founder

"Alex has been so integral through so many challenges on Team Lightswitch. I can always go to her with a challenge and she’s excited to take it on. There’s no one I'd rather have in the trenches to have my back."

- Nat Seidel, Chief Operating Officer & Founder

 

Ian Becker, Video Editor

 

"Ian is a super talented editor and has a knack for finding creative solutions to client’s requests. He has an eye for great design and brings a polished look to every project he works on."

- Lynette Schwanger, CEO & Founder

"First of all, Ian has a magical ear for picking the right song out of a massive library of stock tracks. He also doesn't always weigh in on Slack with opinions or jokes, but you always know when he chimes in it will be gold. He's extremely reliable with his edits and far more talented than I think he would claim to be."

- Bryce Anderson, Chief Revenue Officer & Founder

"It's amazing to me that Ian still works for us, his willingness to learn completely new skills and create something from nothing are far beyond what we deserve. We are truly lucky to have him on the team."

- Nat Seidel, Chief Operating Officer & Founder

 

JD Davis, Video Editor

 

"JD has been a great new addition to our team. After just a few months he’s already editing large projects quickly and efficiently, never missing a deadline."

- Lynette Schwanger, CEO & Founder

"JD is our newest hire and brings a ton of great experience to the team. His background in both storytelling and concept ideation has helped him immediately take on challenging projects like the REX 150 anniversary and, JD specific pun incoming, knock them out of the park."

- Bryce Anderson, Chief Revenue Officer & Founder

"As our newest editor I've found that I have an immediate sense of trust in JD both as an employee and a creative force. With no questions asked he has taken on some large scale projects with easy and amazing results. I can’t wait to see what he brings to the table in the future."

- Nat Seidel, Chief Operating Officer & Founder

 

Courtney Kurhayez, Marketing Coordinator

“Courtney brings so much energy to all of our meetings and discussions. She’s the perfect cheerleader for our brand!"

- Lynette Schwanger, CEO & Founder

"Courtney has amazing energy and ability to anticipate next steps. She completes things, and completes them well before anyone even knew they needed them and is just completely on the ball. She also livens up every day's Slack conversation with either her references no one else gets, or her not getting everyone else's references."

- Bryce Anderson, Chief Revenue Officer & Founder

"Courtney makes me feel old, BUT… I would be clueless without her. I would have no idea what was going on in the world without her keeping us up to date. That same passion is evident in how she promotes Lightswitch. She makes every post and story not FEEL genuine, but actually genuine. Reminding people that we are a living breathing team, not just a faceless company."

- Nat Seidel, Chief Operating Officer & Founder

Emily Riebe, Video Producer

 

"Emily is a quick learner and always down to help out no matter the task. I love her positive energy and can-do attitude."

- Lynette Schwanger, CEO & Founder

"Emily picked up the role of producer so extremely quickly and only continues to impress. She keeps projects on track and clients happy seemingly with ease."

- Bryce Anderson, Chief Revenue Officer & Founder

“You would have no idea that Emily is the newest member of our production team, she has dove into this role headfirst and never looked back. It's like she’s been here a decade. Working with her is effortless."

- Nat Seidel, Chief Operating Officer & Founder

In honor of Black History Month, the Lightswitch Video team put together a list of a few movies brought to life by Black filmmakers. While Black filmmakers are still underrepresented in the entertainment industry, watching and talking about the films they make is one way to help create more opportunities for more stories to be told on screen.

Here are seven films that our team recommends you start with:

“Emergency” (2022) dir. Carey Williams

Ready for a night of legendary partying, three college students must weigh the pros and cons of calling the police when faced with an unexpected situation.

“Girls Trip” (2017) dir. Malcolm D. Lee

When four lifelong friends travel to New Orleans for the annual Essence Festival, sisterhoods are rekindled, wild sides are rediscovered, and there's enough dancing, drinking, brawling and romancing to make the Big Easy blush.

“Clemency” (2019) dir. Chinonye Chukwu

As she prepares to execute another inmate, Bernadine must confront the psychological and emotional demons her job creates, ultimately connecting her to the man she is sanctioned to kill.

“Get Out” dir. Jordan Peele (2017)

A young African-American visits his white girlfriend's parents for the weekend, where his simmering uneasiness about their reception of him eventually reaches a boiling point.

“Black Panther” (2018) dir. Ryan Coogler

T'Challa, heir to the hidden but advanced kingdom of Wakanda, must step forward to lead his people into a new future and must confront a challenger from his country's past.

“Deep Cover” (1992) dir. Bill Duke

A uniformed cop is recruited by a drug enforcement agent to infiltrate a drug smuggling ring looking to expand its operation.

“If Beale Street Could Talk” (2018) dir. Barry Jenkins

A young woman embraces her pregnancy while she and her family set out to prove her childhood friend and lover innocent of a crime he didn't commit.

 

Name: JD Davis

Role: Editor

Bio: 

Originally from Texas, JD recently relocated to the Chicago area from Corpus Christi. He has spent the last 10 years working in Minor League Baseball telling stories through video production, creative design, social media, and ballpark entertainment. While working for the Corpus Christi Hooks, he co-founded VideoTX, an annual conference that brought together creatives all across Minor League Sports to learn and grow.  Prior to his work in sports you could find him on the stage. JD is a graduate of McMurry University where he majored in Theatre.

Get to know JD:

What was the last TV show you binge-watched?

It probably doesn’t count as binge watching, but my wife and I just finished season 2 of Ted Lasso which is definitely our favorite show on TV right now. (I am guilty of binge watching video game streamer clips on YouTube though.)

What do you like to do outside of work?

My wife, Hilary, and I really enjoy exploring state and national parks. We are avid hikers primarily but we also try to work in other activities like rock climbing, mountain biking, and stand-up paddle boarding whenever we can.

What’s your favorite season, and why? 

I love summer. Growing up in Texas you become used to the heat, and now the other seasons just aren’t warm enough for me. I’ll take 90 degree heat over freezing temperatures anyday.

What kind of music do you listen to?

If you looked at my most played tracks I think most people would classify it as folk rock. Bands like The Tallest Man on Earth, The Avett Brothers, and The Head and the Heart are in frequent rotation. Lately I’ve become a little obsessed with Phoebe Bridgers and her associated acts (Boygenius, Better Oblivion Community Center). But my favorite band of all time is Dashboard Confessional and I’ll always be an emo kid at heart.

What originally got you interested in your current field of work?

I’ve been a storyteller my whole life. Originally it was through music, playing my guitar and writing songs. Later that morphed into theatre and live shows before I really dove into video production. I think storytelling regardless of the medium is a powerful tool and so any opportunity where I can help others tell their story is exciting to me.

Connect with JD:

Personal Website (hyperlink to website on “Personal Website”:  www.iamjddavis.com)

LinkedIn (hyperlink to his profile on “LinkedIn”: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamjddavis/)

Instagram (hyperlink to his profile on “Instagram”: https://www.instagram.com/iamjddavis)

 

Here at Lightswitch we have videographers that we work with all across the country, and we think that it’s about time we introduce you to a few of them! In each installment of our “Meet the Videographer” series, we’ll be getting to know a new videographer -- from where they’re based, to how they got started, what their favorite films and TV shows are, and more!

For this next installment, we sat down with Travis Henry, one of our videographers based in New Orleans, LA. Check out what he had to say below.

Q: What originally got you interested in your current field of work? 

A: I began work as a videographer to create content for my friends and myself as artists as well as to find a way to make a living following the 2008 housing crash. In lots of ways, this profession fulfilled the urge to be creative and the necessity of taking care of myself as a freelancer. It's worked out!

Q: How long have you been a videographer?

A: 10+ years.

Q: What's your favorite project you've ever worked on in your career so far? 

A: My favorite project is my first: A music video for my dear late friend Sean. It was great to work on it because I had few tools available to me and lots of vision. We were hungry to create. With lots of grit and the little we had, we made a nice video that became the thrust for me to pursue videography as a full time profession.

Q: What's your favorite thing about working with Lightswitch? How many projects have you worked on with us? 

A: I love the open line of communication I always had with the Lightswitch team and the freedom/flexibility to be their eyes and creative minds on the ground. I can't count the number of projects we've done.

Q: What advice do you have for aspiring videographers/filmmakers, or those looking to enter the industry?

A: If you'd like to be a successful videographer/filmmaker, you need to simply show up, aim to get better with each shoot, and be nice. I can't overstate the importance of having a positive outlook and willingness to problem-solve. Your craft, skill, and tools can all be beefed up over time. Your attitude is all you.

Q: What's your favorite movie and/or TV show of all time?

A: I really like Alfonso Cuarón's Children of Men. It still stands up.

Want to work with our talented videographers? Get in touch to plan your next project! Feel free to take a look at our first installment of this series with videographer Jacob Dean, and previous installment with videographer Patrick Janka.

Since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to work in video production. I remember going to the drive-in theater for the first time with my family and we watched E.T. It was my first time seeing a movie (at least that I remember) and I was absolutely mesmerized by the experience. I fell in love with the idea that for a little bit of time, something could transport us away to a different place and throw us into the lives of someone (or something) else.

And once I found out that you could have a JOB working in video production and play a role in creating that experience, I was sold. I knew this is what I wanted to do for a living. Whether it was making movies or commercials, I knew I wanted in on this.

There was one small problem: I was a Hispanic kid growing up in a suburban town that was around two hours away from a big city without any big ties to the world of film.

I quickly realized how tough the world of video production was to break into. I remember first telling my dad I wanted to go into film and he said it would "make a great hobby." At first, I was pretty disillusioned with his reaction but I had to remember that the reality he lived was SIGNIFICANTLY different than the reality he was able to give us. He grew up in a one bedroom apartment that he had to share with his nine brothers and sisters right after coming to the United States from Mexico, so he had his fair share of cold slaps of reality.

That being said, I remember being inspired by his professional story. Even though he had only a two-year degree from a technical school, he was able to work at great companies like Phillips, Motorola, Verizon, and Abbott simply because of his work ethic. He didn't have super big connections at the beginning. All he had was his limited English and his ability to work hard.

So, I followed suit in that.

Every year since I was 13, my twin brother and I decided we were going to make a film of some sort. We knew that our first few films would be pretty rough but we also knew that if we kept at it, we could make better and better films and forge our own path into the video world.

Our first few films were indeed terrible. And we keep them locked away for our eyes only, hoping the world never ever sees them.

But as time went on and we kept learning by doing, bit by bit, we were learning lessons about how to create the kind of content we wanted.

12 years later, we've made nine short films and are in the middle of getting ready to premiere the first full season of our first web series in November. We have had our work shown in three different countries and, most importantly, we have the fortune to be able to tell the stories we want to tell. I also have the good fortune of working professionally in video production with the most talented and kind collaborators there are.

In 2019, we attended a filmmaking conference for Hispanic filmmakers in Los Angeles and it shocked me how many of these filmmakers had the same story as me. None of us had big ties to the industry or rich parents when starting out. All we had was our work ethic to help us build the careers we wanted.

Reflecting on the fact that it's Hispanic Heritage Month, I keep thinking of how much our work ethic truly defines our culture. 

No matter where we started in life, no matter what advantages or disadvantages we were given, we recognize that hard work gives us the strongest chance there is to forge the path we want and to chase our own version of "the American Dream."

Not all audio and dialogue is recorded at the same time that the video that appears on screen is. In an earlier blog post, we explained what voiceovers are, but today we’re going to dive into two other features of post-production: ADR and dubbing.

ADR stands for Automated or Additional Dialogue Replacement. This audio is typically recorded in a studio, where the actor watches their on-screen performance and re-records their lines to either improve the audio's quality or to change the lines previously spoken. 

Sometimes when a video is being filmed on location, a variety of different factors impact the quality of the audio recording. For example, if filming is taking place outside, planes overhead could be unavoidable and get in the way of the actor’s dialogue. At a later date, that actor would then go into a studio to re-record the lines they had already said. This also happens when, for whatever reason, the dialogue in a scene needs to be changed from what was originally recorded and in the script. Using various shots (such as ones where the audience can’t see the actors’ face to read their lips) in a creative manner can be done so that lines, and a scene, can be transformed from the original one that was shot, with the audience none the wiser.

Dubbing on the other hand is when the recorded dialogue is replaced with dialogue that has been translated into another language. While foreign films and television series can be shown in other countries with subtitles, sometimes the decision is made to have different voice actors re-record the dialogue in a new language in addition to having subtitles, opening up the work to a wider audience who otherwise may not have watched it. 

A popular example of dubbing is the YouTube channel “Bad Lip Reading,” where voice actors dub over popular films with different, random dialogue.

Here’s a video they made for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire:

Check out our other posts in our “VIdeo Terminology 101” series:

 

• Voiceover

• A-Roll vs. B-Roll

• Video Resolution

Here at Lightswitch we have videographers that we work with all across the country, and we think that it’s about time we introduce you to a few of them! In each installment of our “Meet the Videographer” series, we’ll be getting to know a new videographer -- from where they’re based, to how they got started, what their favorite films and TV shows are, and more!

For this next installment, we sat down with Patrick Janka, one of our videographers based in Orlando, FL. Check out what he had to say below.

Q: What originally got you interested in your current field of work? 

A: As a lifelong connoisseur of the arts, I've always loved film and well-crafted cinematography. I wanted to express my creativity in the medium, as well.

Q: How long have you been a videographer?

A: I started in videography by shooting family vacations, comedic sketches with friends, and my own music and stand-up comedy performances. In 2010, I decided to take it more seriously by purchasing professional equipment and poring over tutorials. I found I had a knack for it and started getting paid work almost immediately.

Q: What's your favorite project you've ever worked on in your career so far? 

A: I did a really cool project filming a group from Kuwait who won a company contest to visit Central Florida. I documented them going through astronaut training at Kennedy Space Center, riding a helicopter to St. Pete to do a zero gravity flight, and riding an airboat through the swamps.

Q: What's your favorite thing about working with Lightswitch? How many projects have you worked on with us? 

A: I've worked on about 75 projects with Lightswitch. My favorite thing about working with them is the type and variety of projects. I also love the great communication and professionalism from the team, as well as prompt payments. 

Q: What advice do you have for aspiring videographers/filmmakers, or those looking to enter the industry?

A: With the state of technology, you don't need to spend a lot of money on gear to get amazing results. It has more to do with skill and a solid understanding of audio and light manipulation. Smartphones shoot excellent 4K and 8K footage, so if nothing else, you can start with the device you already own. It's important to be aware of current trends, but it's more important to develop your own style. Don't just copy what everyone else is doing. Lastly, focus on relationships and business skills.

Q: What's your favorite movie and/or TV show of all time?

A: My favorite movie is Vanilla Sky and my favorite show is Family Guy, but I absolutely love serial dramas like Sons of Anarchy, Handmaid’s Tale, and Ozark.
Want to work with our talented videographers? Get in touch to plan your next project! Feel free to take a look at our previous installment of this series with videographer Jacob Dean.