IN 2018…
Recording Connection grad, audio engineer Morning Estrada
Recording Connection graduate Morning Estrada went from a job at the bank to engineering today’s hottest talents.
In just the past year
Morning Estrada has worked with numerous players in hip hop, pop, and R&B including Jessie J, Aminé, Camila Cabello (of Fifth Harmony), Nelly, 50 Cent, Tech N9NE, Linzi Jai, Marsha Ambrosius, Noah Cyrus, producers Camper, Frank Dukes, Mr. Porter, and more.
Morning advises those bent on making it to stay as close to the action as possible by coming into the studio every chance they get:
“I think the biggest thing is being there, because you never know…None of the opportunities were ever planned. They just kind of happened because I was there or I picked up my phone…You just need to be really dedicated to it. I think that’s the biggest thing.” Find out more about
Morning Estrada’s journey.
Film Connection grad Sam Freed with Raiders’ Marcell Ateman (foreground)
Film Connection grad Sam Freed got hired by the Raiders!
Since graduating Film Connection,
Sam Freed has forged his career step-by-step, project-by-project. In the time it takes to complete a four year degree, he built his own film and videography business and landed the dream job of working for the Raiders!
“You only have one life on this planet and it should be what you want it to be. Get out there and do what you want to do. Strive for it and don’t quit till you get there. There were times where I wanted to give up because there wasn’t much work coming my way and I was afraid I was going to fail. Then things just started coming my way. Good things will happen.”
Read our
interview with Sam Freed.
Recording Connection grad Nate Riley
Recording Connection grad Nate Riley went from ‘guy in a band’ to recording his band with a pro!
Not only did
Nate Riley join the staff as audio engineer/music producer at Anthony Walker, the studio where he trained, he’s now working on recording his own band with his former mentor by his side.
“I was writing music for it for the better half of a year, and from the very beginning I said, ‘Yes, once it’s done I’m going to bring this in here.’ So we’ve been working on that now since August and just kind of fitting it in as the days go on, squeezing it in between other clients… We’re not worried about the timeframe…Anthony is a very strong music producer and we’re really working together, trying to create an art form.” Read the
article.
Recording Connection grad Efrain Matias at Noize Factory Studios
Recording Connection grad Efrain Mattias kicked his career into high gear!
After hearing about us on Pensado’s Place,
Efrain Mattias decided training with a professional was just what he needed to elevate his game fast. It’s paid off. He’s taking the reins at Noize Factory Studios in El Cajon, CA. Although his ultimate goal is to compose and produce, he says possessing stellar engineering chops will play and intrinsic role in his growing success.
“I feel like engineering is going to help me establish myself as a producer…If an artist comes to me and tells me what they’re looking for…it’s my job to interpret that and put it in the record or track and make their vocals sound that way. Just that connection of working with artists is going to enhance one’s production skills. If you love producing, then you should probably love most aspects of engineering as well. That’s really it.”
Get the scoop
here.
Chris Lord-Alge with Recording Connection students
Chris Lord-Alge Taught Recording Connection grads and students!
In October 2018 Audio-Technica, Clyne Media, and Recording Connection hosted the second annual Csaba Petocz Master Class, taught by five-time GRAMMY® Award-winning mix engineer Chris Lord-Alge (Green Day, Keith Urban, Rise Against, Pink, Carrie Underwood).
In the exclusive, one day workshop open to advanced audio engineering and music production students and grads, CLA himself shared mixing and production techniques, tips on how to handle the business side of the job, and discussed how to set yourself up for successful interaction with artists and clients.
It was an unforgettable eye-opening day for all. Workshop attendee and Recording Connection grad Dawnette Scolari took a lot away from the experience.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would wake up one morning and say, ‘Today I am going to learn the art of the mix from a master like CLA.’”
Recording Connection grad Jordan Duffy
Recording Connection grad Jordan Duffy Got Hired at Earwolf!
Thanks to the flexibility of our blended education approach,
Jordan Duffy was able to take our Audio Engineering & Music Production Program while simultaneously holding down a job in corporate America. Flash-forward just weeks after graduation and Jordan landed an audio job at the leading comedy podcast network Earwolf where she’s working on multiple podcasts including “Queery” with Cameron Esposito, “Unspooled” with Paul Scheer and Amy Nicholson, “Throwing Shade” with Bryan Safi and Erin Gibson, and “Hollywood Handbook” with Sean Clements and Hayes Davenport.
“You’re constantly learning, and just remind yourself of that daily. Don’t get discouraged. Also, be bold!” Learn more.
Film Connection grad Jason Reinhardt
Film Connection graduate Jason Reinhardt worked on The Black Panther and Ant-Man 2!
The same month Film Connection graduate
Jason Reinhardt was finishing his externship with film mentor Steve Carmichael at RITE Media Group, he got hired as a PA on the Black Panther production. So, how did it happen?
Jason was super smart about connecting with the very people who are on the frontlines of making film, TV, and media. He shook hands and got to know everyone he could, from the people who worked at the camera shop his mentor frequented, to the casting director who occasionally stopped by RITE to talk shop. Jason’s can-do attitude and solid people skills paid off fast.
“The long line of friends that I’ve made through Steve Carmichael [included someone who] has been working on The Walking Dead…and she’s been a key source of a lot of my big jobs, or at least getting me connected with a lot of big employers.” Read our
story on Jason Reinhardt.
Adam Moseley, Fay Garrison, Uriel Soto Jr. during studio session
Recording Connection grads Fay Garrison and Uriel Soto Jr. went into the studio with Fender and
Adam Moseley (Beck, U2, Rush)!
As recipients of The Fender Recording Connection Experience,
Fay Garrison and
Uriel Soto Jr. had the once in a lifetime opportunity to go in-session with Adam Moseley (Beck, U2, Nikka Costa/Lenny Kravitz, Rush, Wolfmother, Spike Jonze) and build their music production expertise by collaborating on an original track, slated for commercial release in coming months! Already musicians and producers in their own right, Adam was able to meet Fay and Uriel at their level:
“Adam recognized our awareness and understanding already and basically told us ‘Great. You know, we can really, really push and go far because we’re already there.’… he’s showing us these tricks to just smooth out that kind of that digital edge, because, he says, no matter how pixelated something is digitally, it’s still going to have that binary corner, you know, that digitized corner. So he’s taught us how to add in these random noises from hardware, to help soften that… A lot of what I’m learning is going right back into the song.” – Fay Garrison (
learn more).
Mentor Ron Osborn and Cheryl G. Agbunag
Film Connection student Cheryl Gallegos Agbunag Penned Award-Winning TV Pilot!
Want to talk intelligence, missiles, space, or the Cold War? Major
Cheryl G. Agbunag crushed glass ceilings as the first female missile launch training instructor, the first female Squadron Command Post Deputy Missile Combat Crew Flight Commander, and Commander of first all-female Minuteman II crew.
Under the mentorship of Ron Osborn (
Meet Joe Black,
The Radioland Murders,
Moonlighting,
Duckmen,
Night Court) Cheryl channeled her amazing Air Force career into a winning TV pilot!
“Film Connection has been an amazing experience for me. When I started my project, I was diagnosed with cancer while still on active duty. So, Charlie, my character, had to really come out of me as a person just to get through my cancer surgery and treatments. My character became even more determined of overcome all obstacles, because by golly, Charlie’s going to overcome everything!
Having Ron there, and having the school (RRFC) there and being very supportive during that process was very healing for me. I could have easily given up due to the stress of the news, had I been pressured to hurry up and finish my project—but that wasn’t the case, I want to thank Ron and Film Connection for their patience in my progressing through my screenwriting at a pace that has been comfortable for me and not rushed.” Learn more about Cheryl’s
career and writing journey.
Collin Jacka and Shane Anderson at Unique Recording Studios
Recording Connection grad Collin Jacka gave it 200% & got hired at Unique Recording Studios!
After taking both the Audio Engineering and Advanced Audio programs,
Collin Jacka got hired at mentor Shane Anderson’s Unique Recording Studios. So what’d he do to set himself up for success?
“The first time I came in for an interview, Shane asked what my intentions were and I told him my intention was to earn a position here at the studio by the end of my externship. So I put in my 200%.”
Learn how
Collin Jacka did it.
Film Connection grad Dakota Martin
Film Connection grad Dakota Martin got hired at Local News Station!
Knowing conventional classroom education just wasn’t for him,
Dakota Martin started researching his options for education during his senior year of high school. His mentor Darko Nikolich (cinematographer/editor/producer) was able to assess where he was at in his knowhow and excel from there. Dakota credits his parents for their support :
“My dad, he’s the one that gave me the idea in the first place, and then my stepmom found the school. And my mom, she’s still been there every step of the way, trying to help me out and supporting me…They’re ridiculously happy for me. They’ve been constantly telling me how proud of me they are. Actually, my stepmom has a career day for her school, and she invited me down to come talk about it.”
So what’s his advice for other RRFC students on how they can make the most their time in the program?
“I say just stick with it. Don’t give up on something if it’s really what you want to do. There’s always going to be something out there. Me, I got it really quickly, which is awesome, but it takes time. You have to put in the work for it.”
Learn how
Dakota Martin got hired at local news station.
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