Dustin Schultz ’10, a graduate of the Broadcast Communications (now Broadcast-Cinema) program and Connecticut Film Industry Training Program (FITP), has found much success since his time at MxCC. Immediately after completing the FITP, he started freelancing and was able to work on set for the FoodNetwork and on commercials for AT&T, Nissan, and Capital One Bank.

During his last year at MxCC, he interned at WFSB Channel 3. After graduating from MxCC, he immediately started as an associate producer. He spent six months at Channel 3 before taking a job as an editor at FOX 61. While working at FOX61, he also began working as a contracted editor/animator at Gnarly Bay Productions, a commercial production company in Westerly, Rhode Island.  Through this opportunity he was able to work on commercials and web videos for brands like Brisk Ice Tea, Schick Razor Blades, and Staples.

After just one year at FOX 61, Dustin won an Emmy award for a short form documentary series about Haiti and decided to leave FOX 61 to start his own company. He began The Union Productions in January 2012. Since then he has moved the business from his apartment to its current office in Hartford. The Union Productions has produced commercials and web videos for UConn Huskies basketball and football, the Chicago Tribune, Dunkin Donuts, Kiss95.7, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, and Autism Speaks.

Where are you living now?
Middletown, CT

What do you do at your job?
I usually take the title of “Founder.” I am responsible for all aspects of The Union Productions, from finances and expenses to the creative and production. On set, I’m director and work with a lot of freelancers to fill our crew positions.

What originally brought you to MxCC?
MxCC was recommended to me by my high school television teacher. It seemed like a great place to get a feel for the industry I was interested in without committing to a four year school.

Did you do an internship at MxCC?
Through MxCC, I interned at WFSB Channel 3 which, about a month after completing, rolled into a job as an Associate Producer.

How did MxCC prepare you for your job now?
MxCC gave me such a valuable foundation in the theories behind my industry as well as the opportunity to be hands on with projects where I could push my creativity.

What was your favorite thing about MxCC?
I loved how hands-on we could be because of our small classes. The program wasn’t huge, so you quickly got to know everyone and could determine who actually cared about what they were doing. MxCC is a bit of an overlooked gem when it comes to training in video production and I feel like I stumbled across the program and was really able to learn a ton.