MHCC Integrated Media Program

IM Video Graduates work at

• Grimm
• Portlandia
• Leverage
• Gradient Records
• Channel 13
• KPIC Televsion
• Laika
• Channel 49
• Professional Video and Tape
• Picture This Productions
• Fanboy Pictures
• Lifetime
• The Learning Channel
• Foodchain Films
• KPTV
• Flip Skateboards
• Globio
• KGW
• FunnelBox

Graduate Stories

Featured Graduate: Kurt Hayashi

Kurt Hayashi has filmed some of the most skilled skateborders in the country and created breathtaking videos of their stuntsñ and in the credits of every video he produces, Hayashi always includes a "thank you" to Jack Schommer, his Television Production instructor at MHCC.

"If I hadn't taken classes at MHCC and met Jack, I don't know where I'd be today," Hayashi said. "He believed in me and helped me pain the knowledge and experience I needed to get where I am now."

Hayashi is one of only a handful of successful skateboard videographers. He has collaborated with skateboarding legend Tony Hawk for a popular video game and a behind the scenes documentary. He's created half-hour shows for Fox Sports, contributed segments for the Hallmark Channel, MTV and Sony Playstation. "The MHC program covers every aspect of editing and producing a show," Hayashi said. "Because of that, I know how to conduct interviews, how to light, shoot and edit a video to create a well-paced segment for a client."

His interest in video first started in his teens when he borrowed his father's video camera. Hayashi shot a lot of footage of his friends, but thought of it more as something fun to do, and never thought of it as a career. After he graduated from high school, his parents wanted him to go to college. Since he grew up just down the street from MHCC, he decided to give college a try. "Then I discovered MHCC had a Television Production program, so I enrolled; after that, everything just fell into place. I learned what it takes to create more than just average videos, I learned how to make great videos."

His first big break came while still at MHCC. Hayashi took his camera to a skateboarding contest in Canada to practice his video techniques. While there, he met the man in charge of filming the event for a video magazine. When the hired videographer unexpectedly missed an entire day of filming, Hayashi was more than willing to contribute his footage. That connection led to others, and upon graduation in 1998, he was well on his way.

He now works for Flip Skateboards, and is frequently sent to various parts of the U.S. and the world to film promotional videos. His work schedule sounds gruelingñhe frequently works 11 hour days, four days a week, and rarely has more than a few days at his home in Californiañbut he doesn't mind at all.

"It's great to meet so many people and travel the world," Hayashi said. "I love what I do and it's sometimes unbelievable that I get paid to do something that is so much fun. I wouldn't trade my life for anything, ant it wouldn't have happened if I hadn't come to MHCC and met Jack. That's why for the rest of my career he will always be listed in the credits of any video I produce." ---story by Janet Brayson

Featured Graduate: Dan Morris, class of 2005

A friend of mine brought me some pics she took at the Pillow Fight Club, just to pass a few on to you. So far this summer is going well. I was able to get work here and there, and I was also able to get one of the busiest directors in town and also a gaffer who everyone knows to let me put them on my resume as a reference. As soon as I did that I got a call from a producer from LA that is going to be shooting a reality doc. for The Learning Channel. they booked me for twenty six weeks. I started last week. Thursday we will be going camping for the weekend. Getting paid to camp sounds pretty good to me. although I will be working 12 hour days for the next six months. Another neat thing is that everyone but me on this shoot is from out of town. Seattle, Boston, LA. So they seem pretty damn impressed so far.

"I was hired on as a PA and have been doing AC, and key grip work. I went to my family reunion this weekend and the producer called me while i was there and told me "her words" everyone loved me and wanted me back as soon as I could. They had two PA's filling in for me during the weekend. I'm hoping to maybe work my way up to something else, but I know that doesn't happen most of the time. This crew has been moving from one job to the next for about two years. I hope that maybe if I do well enough that they will think of me for the next job. They obviously don't mind hiring from out of town. Although they didn't hire any PAs from out of town. Wwho knows, all I know is that I got a job that will take me through the winter. They also told me that if I find a job I want to do for a couple of days I can get a day player to come in and cover for me. So in wrap up things are going well..."