Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Spratt.
Hi Andrew, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hey there!
I’m one of those lucky people that has always known what I wanted to do, and I’m doing it today. I grew up in a very small town in Georgia and was very fortunate to have parents that saw my interests early. After graduating from Valdosta State University (Go Blazers!) with my BFA in Video Production, I moved to Atlanta at the best possible time for someone in my generation, May 2008. Having grown up watching MacGyver, Star Trek, and Myth Busters, I felt I was prepared for just about anything. Even for the US economy to be on the ocean floor.
I’m a problem solver by nature. I like to solve the puzzle, fix the shot, convert the file, route the signal, get to the solution, and even improvise a dance. (That last one has really come in handy!)
I have been diligently cultivating my 20-year career to be what I call “a video Swiss army knife”. I want to be able to walk into any scenario, assigned any task, presented with any problem, and have some sort of experience of knowledge to find the answer. I often say I am the “student of everything, the master of nothing.”
Being interested in all aspects of video and media production I have gained experience with the full gamut. Shooter? Got it. Need an editor? Fix it in post! Drone shot? Licensed and ready to go. Audio recording? Testing 1,2,3. Photographer? That’s video one frame at a time, smile! Livestream webcast? Those are a blast…and we are live! 360 Video recordings? Tricky but intriguing.
I have so far had a very interesting and fulfilling career in the corporate world. I have worked in healthcare, marketing, logistics and supply chain, food and beverage, technology, construction, broadcast TV, communications, with a global pop star and for a major consulting firm. I have been very fortunate to work with some incredible people along the way. Through our many projects, we picked up some awards including several Telly awards and four Emmy awards. I managed to win myself an Emmy award for video editing.
Currently, I have decided to set up my own shop and am working as a freelancer. After two years in the wild, I find the flexibility for my family is much easier, and the projects are more select. In the freelance world, there is still the adventure of video production versus the normal corporate lifestyle. Finding the work is now more of a quest, and I have been extremely lucky so far.
Outside of the world of video, I’m a new dad to an incredible toddler and the husband to an amazing wife. I’m a video gamer. A Chinese food enthusiast. A traveler. An adventure buddy. A bourbon snob. I like to have fun and am always willing to help a friend. I like to volunteer when I can. Non-profits need video help too!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have been parts of the road that were smooth for sure, and definitely a few bumps along the way. One could even call them pot-holes. Just like driving your car, you learn to look for and even avoid them if possible. There have been several struggles people in my generation have had to deal with. Technology has solved some of those problems like Fiber internet or solid-state hard drives for faster video transfer. Some problems are much larger that have affected up all like the real-estate crash in 2008 or the pandemic. Graduating college in May of 2008 and trying to find a job was very difficult.. but I managed! Having a good network and a sharp skillset to back up your recommendations has been the key to navigating the struggles.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have noticed that people tend to call me when they have reached a problem or scenario that they are having trouble navigating. I recently was asked if I could fix a poorly edited video done by a vendor for a nonprofit for a last-minute delivery. I was approached to edit a project with 12 unlabeled memory cards of varying types. (I was able to organize, deliver, and picked up continued business.) I was asked if I was able to travel overseas with only things I could carry and execute a two-camera, four-person corporate livestream to 100,000 employees. I am known for high quality, problem-solving, and fast turnarounds.
I’m a big believer that the extra effort, or the extra mile during the production or planning phase will save you hours on the back end. And it’s very true. Knowing my equipment, knowing my limits, and knowing the scope of the project calculates a formula in my head that makes turnarounds very fast. I know that my levels are good, my b-roll shots are in focus and dynamic, the interview was well-lit and the questions have clean and concise answers. I have usually edited the project in my head before I hit the edit bay.
I pride myself on what I can do for people, and I hope it shows through my relationships, network, and portfolio.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
There are lots of people in my life that deserve credit for me being where I am today.
Bill Muntz- a college mentor that built my foundation from day one.
Kent Buescher- the former owner of a theme park in Valdosta, GA who took a chance on a college kid to run his video.
Robert Davis- a former CNN producer who hired a new college graduate to run video for his new company, thus giving me a chance and responsibility.
Rashel Stephenson- the boss that can’t be replaced. Rashel saw a fire in me and pushed me into a fireworks factory. She encouraged me to push the boundaries of video possibility to near-dangerous levels.
Tom Pritchard and Brian Slusher – the best production partners anyone could ask for. They are the best in this business.
Patrick Martin- an executive that sent me global.
Keri Toggerson- my wife, daughter’s mother, and best friend.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.andrewspratt.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aspratt/
