Patrick Leutholtz Recording Assistant |
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Q. When did you know you wanted to be in the television/film industry? A. I have always had a love for cinema and what it takes to put together a TV show or movie. As a child I was always found around a video camera trying to put together little skits or filming family events, but it wasn't until high school that I decided to pursue my hobby and turn it into a career. Q. What are some of the sacrifices that you made to get where you are at in your career? A. I would say the largest sacrifice I made was moving to Southern California. I left behind my family and friends to pursue my childhood dream, a career in the movie/entertainment industry. Another sacrifice I had to make was starting off at the very bottom. Having a college degree in filmmaking doesn't automatically guarantee you an executive position or an instant picture deal. This business is very competitive and hard to break into. I spent two months trying to find my first break, which was at the very bottom of the entertainment food chain. I was barely able to live paycheck to paycheck for the first six months, but after I started establishing myself, my salary substantially increased and I started moving up the ladder. Q. What is a typical day at work for you? A. I am the first to arrive and a lot of times, the last to leave. I will come in and open all the studios, then set up morning snacks and coffee. I'll then load any previous sessions that need to be loaded for the incoming sessions, set up mics, prepare the studios for clients and make sure the engineers are up to date for their sessions. I copy scripts, design labels, make dubs, transfer calls, help with scheduling, prepare invoices for shipping and coordinate lunches. Those are just a few of my daily duties. Q. Where do you see yourself in five years? A. I would like to start establishing myself as a producer for short movies or commercials. Q. Where do you see the future of the television/film industry? A. This business is ever-changing. Always has been and always will be. The computer age has completely changed the way we view movies and TV programs. It is at a point where there are movies that are completely made digitally, no film crew needed. The creative aspect of film is now being taken from the film crew and given to computer techs. It is really hard to say where the future of this business lays, but I do know that whichever direction it goes there will be computers. Q. What advice do you have for the folks aspiring to be in the television/film industry? A. Patience. It's not the easiest business to break into nor is it the easiest business to move up in, but if you are persistent, patient, hard working and a team player you will survive in this business. Q. Who is your role model and why? A. My family and friends are all role models to me, but while I was in college I had a professor, Harry Hamburg. He taught me far more than any college textbook could ever teach. His teachings were matter-of-fact and drawn from his life's experiences as a camera operator and cinematographer. Not only did he have a way of inspiring students to be more creative, he was like a father figure. Each class with Harry was a breath of fresh air. He had a positive way of passing on knowledge and his door was always open. He'd listen to our problems, give antidotes and taught us valuable lessons on how to survive in the industry. To this day, I still draw from his teachings. Q. How do you manage your work life vs. your social life? A. For the most part, I don't have much trouble balancing the two. However, there are times when I am completely consumed with work. When we are busy, I may work as many as 17 hours a day. Sometimes, my social life is put on the back-burner. Then there are days where I'm sitting around doing nothing all day. It's really hit and miss and does balance out fairly well. It's just a matter of being understanding and having friends who are understanding of the fact that I work in a very unpredictable business, so plans can change at a moment's notice. I've learned to be more flexible and patient, because I had to postpone things because of work. Q. What is the most important thing you hope to gain from your career? A. I hope to have a sense of satisfaction. I am a creative person and to know that my knowledge, time and effort has gone into something that will be seen or heard by others gives me satisfaction of a job well done. Q. What inspires you? A. I draw inspiration from people, life's experiences, and a never ending need for knowledge.
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