Tom Scott Profile
Tom when did you first become interested in our industry-what was your first job/project/film?
Ever since I was young kid I have always been fascinated with cameras and film, I was always running around the house and at family gatherings taking photos.
During high school I was set on becoming a Music Teacher, as I play bass and drums. I was also right into extreme sports; motocross, snowboarding and downhill mountain biking. And one day when I was in year ten I watched a Red Bull motocross film, which involved Robbie Maddison flipping and tricking around in an aeroplane graveyard. I was absolutely blown away by it, and from that day on all I knew is that all I wanted to do was work with Red Bull and film extreme sports.
In year eleven I scored work experience at the Clipsal 500 shooting for a freestyle motocross team (I still shoot for them seven years later.) From that event I happened to meet a local freestyle motocross rider and spend nearly every weekend filming and photographing for his sponsors and various magazines.
My first real taste of Film and TV was in 2014 and just happened to take place during my final year twelve exams. Aaron Gully asked if I would be interested in work experience as camera assistant on a RAA TVC produced by KOJO. With out even questioning it I said “yes” not even really knowing what a camera assistant is.
Once the first day wrapped I honestly don’t think I could wipe the smile off my face. That shoot was really what sealed the deal on me joining the film and TV industry.
What did you do when you decide to further your career?
After I finished year 12 I decided to attend MAPS Film School. A lot of people I met through work experience highly recommended it. MAPS is an excellent school and I absolutely loved it. The staff do an excellent job at teaching all disciplines of camera, audio, editing and producing. And it's not every day you get have Roger Dowling as your camera studies teacher.
Did you find it hard to get started in our industry?
Fortunately I have been really lucky, once I finished up at MAPS a position as a Full Time Camera Assistant opened up at KOJO. I have now been with KOJO for just over three and a half years.
Throughout my time at MAPS I snuck away and did a fair bit of work experience on KOJO shoots. A massive thanks goes to Matt Byrne, Aaron Gully and Felice Burns for this job.
What is your current job in the industry?
I now work as a Technical Production Coordinator based out of Adelaide Oval for KOJO. This job includes during the week looking after all technical requirements for a match day, building graphics projects for AFL teams, through to managing / programming all the commercial LED and much more.
As for a game day I always use to be up on camera doing ball follow. But now I mainly work as a Systems Technician, this involves making sure all play out systems e.g. Xpression, EVS, Ross Carbonite and Grand MA are all in working order / prepped with correct content and how to fix them if they break. This role also means that I am responsible for half million dollars of commercial LED advertising that is played out every game.
I have also done a fair bit of broadcast work around Australia from building broadcast control rooms in Brisbane, Spotless Stadium and Alice Springs, through to filming AFL / soccer in Sydney and Perth and Rugby in New Zealand. While working at KOJO I have worked as 1st AC on many TV commercials and I have shot a bunch of pick up scenes for Hotel Mumbai and the Nightingale.
I must say I do love my job.
Your reputation for being enthusiastic at work in the industry is growing around town, so where do you think your future lies?
I believe my future in Film and TV is heading down the path as a Broadcast Technician / Technical Manager in world of live sports and TV. But being only twenty-two years old, I am still unsure on where I would like to focus and hone my skills. I really enjoy all the aspects of a live broadcast from technical directing, engineering, vision mixing, building graphics and of course my love for being behind a camera.
In my spare time I still continue to shoot extreme sports, and have managed to work on a few big projects. I still like to get out and photograph my mate’s ride; whether it is back flipping dirt bikes on farms or flying down the local mountain bike trails.
What’s your current/ next project?
My next major project is working on the 2019 / 20 International Cricket Season as KOJO has partnered with Cricket Australia as their Match Day event presentation team.
I've just finished working on the 2019 AFL season, definitely has been a chaotic and fun one so far. I also have a few motocross clips in the pipeline.
What’s your favourite film or TV show?
Favourite TV shows would have to be Breaking Bad and Seinfeld, as for movies my favourites would have to be HEAT, The Dark Knight and Terminator 2.
I also love my extreme sport films & docos and could watch them for hours on end.
Highly recommend watching the Art Of Flight, Return to Earth, The Motivation and Under An Arctic Sky
What has been your most interesting project so far Tom?
One the most interesting projects I have worked on so far was a short documentary for Red Bull documenting Aussie Motocross legend Toby Price and his journey during the 2018 Finke Desert Race. Which is now is playing on Virgin in flight entrainment.
This shoot involved everything from hanging out of cars and helicopters at high speeds, to lending a hand to remove a gearbox in the early ours of the morning. While on this shoot the amount of constant cleaning of equipment required was through the roof, SO MUCH DIRT/DUST! But trusty FS7 and RED Dragon held up well despite the conditions. The other issue was nothing at all went to plan e.g. cars crashed, locked gates at airports and engines blowing up. So it was very hard to plan out each day and shoot everything that was required as Red Bull had a very strict shot list, but everything was captured in the end.
Overall it was an unreal job, and big thanks to Lachlan Russell for having me on board.
Ed: I recently saw the 2018 Finke Desert Race and what a tough gig! Well done Tom.
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