William P. Bates
About William P. Bates
Ever since I was 8 years old, I always had some sort of camera in my hand. Whether it would be my basic point and shoot or my mom’s DV tape camcorder, I was always shooting something. After upgrading my equipment and buying my first HD video camera, it was the end of 8th grade for me. This is when I was introduced to the Academy of Digital Media program at the local high school. After entering high school, I made a few films, music videos and TV shows and I was asked to intern for Jackson Television (JTV), the districts local tv station. After interning with JTV for a few productions, I realized that I really enjoyed live television production and the fast-paced environment that comes along with a production. I then became a paid employee filming sporting events, school plays, concerts and patriotic events locally. I worked my way up starting as a cameraman to working in our remote production truck, from slow motion replay tech, to graphics and director of shoots. Today, I currently am one of the student producers for JTV, directing productions, editing events previously recorded and I also assist in coming up with new ideas for the station. In addition to working with JTV, I am a lighting and sound technician for the district. Any events taking place in the auditorium of the schools, I set up a range of items including microphones, PowerPoint presentations, DVD videos and stage lighting.I also had the opportunity to complete a Production and Post Production internship with Rock Shrimp Productions, NY, which is the production company of Kim Martin and Chef/Food Network star Bobby Flay. In the future, after working in the media field, I would like to pursue a career in education teaching young aspiring filmmakers all aspects of production. I would be around live productions every day, but also teach and impact students’ lives.