Video Production is Not a Job – it’s an Adventure! | Jury Rodionov’s TFS Story
For Jury Rodionov, the Online Video Production Diploma at Toronto Film School presented the perfect opportunity to merge his passions for film and travel.
“My passion is to film during my travels. I like to capture life from a reality perspective,” said Rodionov, who was recently named valedictorian of his graduating class.
“I always try to position myself in the role of a participant and not just an observer.”
A native of Belarus, the 45-year-old Calgarian launched his own video production company, Floatosphere Videos, while he was still a Toronto Film School student.
He was also able to put many of the skills he learned during his studies to immediate use by securing work on various film and video projects in both Alberta and Los Angeles, California – filling many on-set roles, such as sound mixer, camera operator, director of photography and video producer.
Since graduating from Toronto Film School, Rodinov has concentrated his efforts on applying and expanding his video production skills on various domestic and international projects.
He recently sat down to reflect on his time at Toronto Film School, his passion for film, and his plans for the future. Here’s what he had to say:
What brought you to Toronto Film School Online? Where were you in life when you decided to continue your studies with us?
Before school, I changed professions many times. I began as a food industry technologist, then became a geography and biology teacher, then I spent four years in Brazil running geophysical surveys and prospecting for mineral exploration projects in the states of Rondonia and Bahia (diamonds, iron, and manganese). I then switched my career to project management and achieved a Project Management Professional designation.
What made you decide to pursue your passion for Video Production?
Working as a Project Manager in oil and gas manufacturing lead me to realize that my skills and experience can be applied to something more creative, so I decided to try video production. I quickly realized that, aside from project management skills, I would also need a strong set of skills related to filming, which is important for achieving the best results in my projects. That was the main reason why I joined the Online Video Production program at TFS.
What is the most important thing you are taking away from your studies at Toronto Film School?
While I have learnt vital technical and creative skills that help me in my day-to-day projects, the most important thing I took away from my studies at TFS was my confidence in the profession. When I start preparing for a new project, I know exactly what needs to be done, and I always have a Plan B for any deviation from the original plan. I have learnt how to network and collaborate with like-minded professionals.
What are your plans after graduation, both immediate and long term?
My immediate plan after graduation is to further expand my video production company, Floatosphere Videos. We already created a few projects for customers in Canada, Australia, the USA, Colombia, and Mexico. And I would love to do as many international projects as possible in the future. I’m also waiting for a premiere of two feature films, where I had the pleasure to work as a camera operator.
If you offered one piece of advice to an incoming student, what would that be?
Always look around! Life is so beautiful and every moment of it worth being captured. Remember, video production is not a job – it’s an adventure!
