Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt McLindon.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Matt. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My interest in video production began in high school where I was part of a television class that produced a weekly show for the school. My teacher, Mark Ciesielski, was very passionate about production and it was contagious. We competed for state awards and by the time I was a senior, I was Editor in Chief of the show and knew I had to have video in my life after I graduated. Up until this point, I had dreamed of being in the FBI after growing up watching endless reruns of real-life detective shows such as the “FBI Files.” Three months before graduation, I told my family I would be turning down a scholarship for Valparaiso’s Criminal Justice program and shifting my focus towards Columbia College Chicago. They were nervous for my future, they weren’t so sure there would be opportunities for me in this field but I knew that something I wanted so bad couldn’t be wrong. Giving up scholarship money meant having to pay for some of my classes and supplies out of pocket and so the summer before I began my studies, I put the skills I had learned in high school to use and started filming weddings and commercials for local businesses in the area. I couldn’t believe I was making money doing work I was only getting grades for a few months prior.
Columbia was an interesting experience where I did my best to learn as much as I could going full time while commuting every day from Indiana on the South Shore train and juggling two jobs as a bartender and one job as a video producer for Ideas in Motion Media, a small media company in Indiana. For four years, I ran on three energy drinks a day in a blur of missed trains, late night term papers and four variations of “vegas bomb” recipes.
Some of the best advice I received from a professor was how important it is to simply listen first, and then make a truly engaging connection. This all clicked a few weeks away from graduating when I was trying to grab a nap on the train ride home. The person sitting next to me took a phone call and was talking loudly. I was pretty annoyed until I overheard him mention something about a show called Windy City Live. I had a college professor who was a news director for ABC 7 Chicago and he would often talk about Windy City Live in class. I introduced myself and officially met David Plummer, a Producer for the show. We talked the whole train ride home, even got off at the same stop, and he mentioned a possible opportunity at an internship.
So, I graduated from Columbia College Chicago on a Saturday and started an internship with Windy City Live the following Monday. I was promoted to directors intern, which allowed me to work personally with the director and assistant director of the show. Once the internship concluded, I received a call from Windy City Live with a job offer as a production assistant for the show. I did that for a couple of months before I was promoted to associate producer of the show which was exciting because I got to be more involved with coming up with ideas for segments. I was also given the opportunity to start filming out in the field and soon became the show’s second editor.
I think my absolute favorite thing about working in video, is that nothing is ever the same for too long. There are countless people, places and things to film or to tell a story about and that just knowing that aspect, knowing tomorrow will be completely different can be energizing. During my time at Windy City Live, I had the opportunity to also work on several projects with ESPN, a comedy special with Marc Maron, several production organizations including Chicago Force Football and Countdown Chicago on ABC 7.
After a great three years with Windy City Live, I decided there were two goals I still wanted to accomplish. The first was to help others find their passion for media production like my high school teacher did for me, and so after filming an event for Lowell High School, I started talking with administration officials about a potential job opening and become a teacher. It was a surreal experience launching a weekly, student-led show that was once such a big part of my own high school experience. I am currently in my third year as a teacher and my Media Program has grown to include two dual credit courses, an internship program, and even a state award.
Becoming a teacher not only helped satisfy my first goal, but it also gave me the time to lay the groundwork for my second goal, launching a video production company of my own with my business partner Josh Harvoth. Harvoth/McLindon video means so much to me on so many different levels. Every job I have ever had comes with unnecessary paperwork, long meetings that generally can be taken care of in an email and a fake front people put on to hide misery of a mundane job. When I am booking my own projects, filming in ways that invite my creativity, I am truly at my happiest. Being called upon to lead a marketing campaign for an upstart business or capturing a bride and groom’s special day gives a euphoric feeling that I crave.
The last project I would like to discuss is an interactive game show I am currently director of known as “Gaming Under The Influence” or GUI. VCM just ran an article on Jared Hoffa, our creator, and Executive producer a few weeks ago. I met Jared when I worked at Windy City Live, he was the show’s lead editor. I owe a great deal of my career and my success to every person I mentioned in this write up, but without Jared, my work ethic and film style would not be anything close to what it is, Jared was a mentor who taught me several aspects of producing, scripting, filming, and editing. It was in the edit bay, after hours of slicing together packages for TV, that Jared shared his idea and concept of GUI. I was captivated by its uniqueness and knew I had to be a part of it. A show where contestants enter a steel cage match, play video games and have to contest with viewer’s decision making? SIGN ME UP.
Gaming Under The Influence will be at C2E2 March 22nd – 24th where event attendees can check us out and even compete live from the show floor!
We currently broadcast live every Friday @9:00 pm from Replay: Beercade in Lincoln Park. Our viewers directly influence the show by voting for crazy obstacles to be thrown in the way of our contestants. Sometimes, that means losing a point, sometimes that means wearing a horse-head and playing with the controller behind your back for a round.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Has it been easy? Not even close. My family wasn’t wrong in their fears about there being a job market. This industry is highly competitive whether that it’s producing live TV or starting your own business, there is someone else right behind you trying to get their own success. Columbia was not cheap and I had to work three jobs just to afford tuition each semester. This made me miss out on several opportunities at the school but I knew how important being there was and I was willing to do whatever it took to stay there.
When launching Harvoth/McLindon video Josh and I knew very little about getting our name out there, developing a website, getting licensed, insurance, etc… it was all very overwhelming and even a little scary to invest so much into the unknown but we took the plunge and there are no regrets.
As Jared discussed in his article, Launching GUI, like any show, comes with a heavy load of problems to solve but that’s half the fun. For me, Gaming Under the Influence is the culmination of a tough week where I get to come in and direct some of the most talented minds I have had the pleasure of working with. Whether it is going over game rundowns with the man with the golden voice, co-host Kevin Fair or discussing new Hotbox challenges to torment contestants with co-host Jenny Milk, directing GUI always reminds me why I got into this business because, at the end of the day, it’s all about fun.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Harvoth/McLindon Video – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Harvoth/McLindon Video specializes in promotional videography; including commercials, shareable promos for social media and instructional content to help grow businesses.
We also specialize in Event videography including weddings, parties, corporate gatherings, keynote speakers, etc…
Our biggest goal is always to make your day unforgettable. We pride ourselves in being the most affordable, reliable and memorable videographers in the Chicagoland area. We can always tailor a package to fit the needs, whatever they may be, for clients. We are proud to have worked with several notable clients on a variety of projects. Whether it is sitting down for a high profile interview with Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb or helping a family secure an adoption, Harvoth/McLindon Video guarantees an unrivaled sense of professionalism.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
This past summer was really a soft launch for us. We did very little promotion outside of our own social media channels and were shocked at how many words spread and how fast we were booking updates and projects. Our plan for the immediate future is to market more of our services to a wider range of clientele. Now that we are finishing up the paperwork and legalities of operating a business, we are ready to shift gears and really take Harvoth/McLindon Video to the next level.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.harvothmclindonvideo.com
- Phone: 2194884338
- Email: harvothmclindon@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarvothMcLindonVideo/
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