Today we’d like to introduce you to Donovan Lynch.
Donovan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
It took me a while to get where I am today, but I truly enjoyed my journey to Atlanta. I was born and grew up on the island of New Providence in The Bahamas and completed my high school education with honors.
Unfortunately, like many people, I had no idea what I wanted to study after school. I struggled to figure out what I wanted to do. My friends were excited to pursue fields such as accounting, medicine, and law and I was so jealous that they had their lives planned out. I knew I wanted to do something in media because it’s the one thing I am actually passionate about. Fortunately, I spent two years at The College of The Bahamas, where I studied Media Journalism. There I met many lifelong friends who gave me hope that a job in media can exist in The Bahamas.
During my second year, I received an email from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) saying that they would love to meet up with me. I was hesitant because I knew that SCAD was an art school and I believed that they wouldn’t have any majors that interested me. After meeting with a representative, I found out about the Television Production program. I had always loved everything television-related and after finding out more about the program I begged my mother to let me go. The following year I was able to transfer, and I began my journey through SCAD.
My three years at SCAD have been a part of the best years of my life. I made countless friends with students from all around the world, creating multiple memories and connections. SCAD has even given me countless opportunities to be involved in my field. I have interned at the Emmy Winning legal show Lauren Lake’s Paternity Court and the Emmy nominated legal show, Couple’s Court with the Cutlers, where I served as a Production Assistant and a Camera Production Assistant. I have also interned at Georgia Public Broadcasting, Georgia’s statewide public television and radio network, being involved in different projects highlighting the talent and hardworking people of the state. I was even given the opportunity to serve as a Talent Escort at the 2019 BET Social Media Awards, meeting countless celebrities and experiencing the excitement of a live award show.
After graduating with my Bachelor of Arts in Television Producing, I am currently working on another court show, the upcoming Personal Injury Court, as a Post Production Assistant, being involved in the editing and graphics process. I am so blessed to be in Atlanta, which is the best place for TV and film due to its growing media industry.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road and I have faced countless challenges along the way. I contemplated not even studying television because back home in The Bahamas, media-related jobs are not highly looked at, with some persons believing that a media-related job is not financially stable and just a waste of time. It is hard to want to follow your dreams when countless persons are looking down at you. But I was able to push forward and continued to believe in myself. At the age of 22, I have been blessed with countless opportunities and a ton of film/tv experiences. If I had listened to those that made fun of me and my career path, I would not have been where I am today. I probably wouldn’t have even gotten this interview!
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Currently, I have not created a company as yet, but my long-term goal is to return to The Bahamas and create my very own production company. Since I was a child, I adored television and it has always been my dream to take part in the scenes and one day carry television in The Bahamas to the next level. Currently there are about three/four major television stations and many individuals only watch them for the local news. Whenever I hear my peers speak negatively about our television stations, stating that they are “Boring” or “Only for adults”, I always say to myself that one day I will truly change the state of television in my country. Through the use of TV Production, I would be able to bring interesting and inspirational programs to the Bahamian people, telling stories that will be passed on from generation to generation. I am inspired to change the state of TV in The Bahamas because if I don’t, how long will someone have to wait for it to happen?
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I would say the proudest moment of my career was receiving a screenshot of my name in the closing credits of Couples Court with The Cutlers. That’s when it hit me that this was real. My name was on a national broadcast TV program seen by millions of viewers! I immediately sent the photo to my mother and within five minutes she had sent it to multiple group chats, and I received so much praise from my family and friends. That feeling was amazing and I realized that I could only go up from there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vimeo.com/donovanlynch
- Email: donolynch@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Ana-Lauryn Adderley
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