Dave The Camera Guy – Millenial Influx

A majority of people watch television as a source of entertainment. We don’t necessarily care for the production work that takes place behind the scenes.For Dave Jousma, this wasn’t the case.

Ever since high school, Dave, an audio visual coordinator at Trinity Christian College, always found himself working within the film production scenery. Coming from experience, most people take up their opinion about media, technological coordinators being geeks like sitcom character, Steve Urkel. But for Dave, it was more than just the coordinating film.

“I enjoy the whole process of collaborative effort, with a tangible result that you can see.”

The production process helps you enjoy the journey of creating incredible film pieces. Having a passion for something can allow you to experience new things concerning that gift. Dave started working with film at a young age. His passion, drive, and determination allowed him to experience different aspects within the world of film production.

“I was making film in high school with a super 8 film camera” Dave said, “I purchased a small editing system from Sears and made splices with tape.”

After high school, he realized that this was something that he wanted to work with for the rest of his life. He also found out that film wasn’t his only gift that he could work with.

“I graduated from the film/television program at Columbia College” Dave said, “It was a terrific experience, but I also took all the writing courses they offered and dabbled into radio.”

Because of having some experience as a teamster on different film sites, Dave was able to land his first job in Chicago while at Columbia.

“My first job was in 1978 when I was hired as a camera assistant to a cinematographer” Dave said, “We shot on 16mm film and I assisted with the lighting and I had to load the 16mm film in a black bag.”

Dave worked with nothing but the best while at Columbia. He expanded his talents by working on not only film, but writing and radio as well. After leaving Columbia, Dave received an opportunity to work within televised production for a long period of time.

“I worked in broadcast television production at the Christian Reformed Church agency, Back To God Ministries” said Dave, “It was tough in my final job there as production manager for their TV news magazine, Primary Focus.”

While working at his last job at Back To God Ministries, Dave was able to hire and work with some the top production camera and sound operators in the country.

After working there for a long period of time, Dave left that job and walked into another open door. He was qualified to have a fulltime position as the coordinator of audio visual services at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights.

“Currently I’m part of the Creative Services department with Tyler Minnesma and Justin Vander Waal and we’ve been working with some new tools to advance Trinity’s profile in video by doing quality work” said Dave, “ I do however continue to manage the day by day A/V on campus and Justin still has his job as lead tech, so that keeps us both busy.

With retirement in that 5 year plan, Dave still seeks to continue to work his passion out. But until then he wants to leave a note with anyone who has a passion and goal to have a career in the film production world.

“If you have the passion, that’s most important, but not all. You have to get the first job as close to what you want to do” said Dave, “Study and continue to learn before and after getting the job. Get to know the equipment, take workshops, I still do.”

So if you are thinking about taking up this career, don’t think twice about taking this advice from Dave. As you can see, his resume speaks for him.

Homeschooler in the Real World

Emma Folts, a sophomore at Wheaton College, shares her experience about her transition into college and how homeschool has both helped and hindered her.
How has your homeschool experience benefitted you, especially in your transition into college?
I think the one thing that homeschooling did that was really helpful as I entered college was that it taught me time management. As a homeschooler I had the same freedom as a college student has to put things off during the day and go see a friend instead. Since I had that experience, I knew the cost of that.
Also, personal responsibility and accountability with assignments. I feel like a lot of the other students had more expectations for gentler grading and that the professor would give them retakes or extensions, but that wasn’t something that ever happened to me in school. That learning curve wasn’t added because I never had it the other way. I think another thing was that because I was homeschooled, I was familiar with the format of teaching and then studying on my own.
Did you see any issues with your transition socially?
I think that homeschooling had two ramifications for me socially. One was helpful, one was hurtful.
It was really helpful because as a homeschooler, I had spent a lot of time realizing and developing who I was as a person and learning to recognize people who were being themselves, and those were the people I sought out as friends. Friendship as a homeschooler takes a lot more investment. I knew I was choosier with my friends which made me a lot less anxious and a lot more content.
The only real negative impact of the social bit was that I was really used to getting to choose the time I got to spend with people. As a homeschooler I spent a lot of time with people, but that time was controlled by me. As a college student, I found that you can’t really control the time you spend with people and alone time is not really available. Learning to deal with that was a lot harder than anticipated.
Any last comments on homeschool and how it has affected your college experience?
I think homeschooling is really helpful, however it does take a slightly increased amount of advocacy with your peers when you’re entering into college. I think a lot of people come in with certain assumptions about homeschool, especially students. You’re going to get a lot of, ‘oh my gosh, you don’t seem like a homeschooled person!’ [You can’t] take that too personally and explain your experience so that friends can understand it’s an important piece of you, though it might not look like the homeschooling that they’ve seen.
My encouragement to anyone who is a homeschooler transitioning into college is to realize the benefit that you have having been homeschooled, and to realize that the bit of advocacy and explaining that you need to do with your peers is totally normal and that it’s not a big deal. Once they understand your experience, it’s not something I’ve experienced being looked down on for.