With a broadcast audience of around 4 billion people tuning in from over 204 countries, the Olympic Games are one of the biggest sporting attractions on the planet. From Usain Bolt’s incredible record-breaking sprints to the most unlikely of heroes such as Steven Bradbury, the world’s imagination is captured every four years. But it’s not just imagination that is captured, it is hours and hours of live video footage. USQ Creative Arts students Dan Judson and Luke Mitchell are two of the people you can thank from your living room as they have been working with NEP Australia in Sydney to assist in delivering coverage of the Games from Rio over the last month. We caught up with Luke before he left, who is in his final year of study and says he feels like he’s found his niche.
“I feel like I just need to go down there, embrace it, dive in head first and put my name out there.”
'Coming into this [degree], I didn’t know what to expect. All I knew was that I liked film and TV and I didn’t really know how big this industry can get. 'With USQ, it’s really easy to find your path with your lecturer or mentor, because I feel like you definitely get that one-on-one experience as you go. 'Sport television is something I am really interested in and editing around that suits me well. 'I come from a big sporting background, so when it comes to editing I know what people want to see. 'Dream job? I would love to be on the Quicksilver Pro world tour, just be a part of that and travelling the world with them. In the water filming, that’s the dream. 'NEP started this program to go down to Sydney for the Rio Olympic Games, but can extend to work at the Commonwealth Games in 2018, so they are trying to train students and keep them on board for two years’ time. I was one of eight selected and that’s where I’m hoping to be in two years’ time and I can keep doing OBs [outside broadcasts] if I do a good job.
'The nerves haven’t really settled in, but I’m excited about this experience. 'I’ll be constantly working on it [study] in my spare time down there, but I am having chats to my lecturers now to see if I can come to an agreement with them. I don’t plan to fall behind, but if I do at least they know what is going on. 'Advice for my peers? Do as much as you can outside of class, whether it’s grabbing your camera and going out or getting together with people from your class. 'Don’t be afraid to stick to your strengths, sport is my strength so I’ve stuck to it with what I do.'
Australia may perform well on the medal tally, but we can proudly say Dan and Luke are bringing home gold for USQ. #usqpride WORDS: THOMAS SHERSON IMAGES: SUPPLIED