05/11/2026
Ever since I started working toward becoming a motion capture/media systems engineer and media diver, I’ve realized people in this industry come from all kinds of backgrounds. So I wanted to share how I got started in live and media production.
I began in local theater in my school district. In elementary and middle school, I started on stage in background roles, but quickly realized I was more interested in working behind the scenes. By the end of middle school, I moved into backstage crew work—and that’s where I discovered my passion for being on set and helping bring productions to life.
In high school, I worked on theater productions under director Gordy Handeland, starting as a stagehand and eventually becoming stage manager. My first show, Lucky Stiff, is still one of my favorites. I also gained experience running lights, reading lines in rehearsals, and striking sets. As Christopher Lee once said, it’s important to “learn all areas of production.”
I also joined my high school show choir productions for with director Brian Johnson, The Austinaires and Choralaires. My first show with them remains one of my favorite experiences—especially performing “Thriller” in zombie makeup. I started off as a stage hand and worked my way up to stage manager by senior year.
After high school, I worked in theater at Riverland Community College, took a short break after transferring to UW–Stout, then returned in 2023 as a board operator for Summerset Theatre. This summer I’ll be back doing AV for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Spelling Bee.
Through all of this, I realized I want to focus on the technical side of live and media production in motion capture, virtual production, and underwater production. Most of all, I’ve learned the best part of this field is the people—performers, directors, technicians, and everyone in between. If you are interested in seeing more of my involvement with productions, they can be viewed on my website.
