Working at Mosher Media As A Soon-To-Be College Graduate

For as long as I can recall I have been obsessed with telling stories. While some tell their stories via a book or an illustration, my preferred mode of communication is video. The culmination of writing, picture, audio is unmatched in its ability to move and inspire people. I used to take videos at the park or with my friends on a DV tape camcorder, then input the footage into iMovie on the family computer. I’d add effects, titles, and anything creative to differentiate my video from typical home movies. My film festivals were birthday parties, family dinners, and holidays where I could premiere my fledgling creations with my family. Any familial gathering felt like Cannes to me. The rush of having someone watch my video excited me, and the all important question, “What did you think?”  always followed. 

As the years went by I saved up birthday money, allowances, and any cash I could in order to upgrade my equipment. It was always fun to get my friends involved with video production, and at 8 years old I started filming the various shenanigans happening on my bus ride home from school. I uploaded my first ‘series’, aptly titled ‘Bus TV’ on YouTube, which had just come out around that time. Coincidentally, YouTube tutorials and other internet resources were where I was able to learn myriad aspects of video production. This ever expanding knowledge of video would propel me into my teenage years when I would go on to attend Beaver Local High School in East Liverpool, OH. My high school lacked any kind of video production program or classes, so I would try at every opportunity to make a video for a class assignment. As my reputation as a videographer grew, I made a business out of making campaign videos for students running for class office positions. This experience helped me realize video wasn’t just fictional stories, but in most instances was used for promotion. The notion that businesses and people alike could contact me to make videos and I would actually get paid was thrilling, and I knew from then on that I could make a career out of my passion for video. 

I decided to attend Kent State University and pursue a major in Digital Media Production with a Creative Writing minor. I chose Kent State because of the many extracurricular opportunities the school offers. I was fortunate enough to host, write, and produce a show on Kent State’s public access TV station. I then went on to become the Head of Marketing and then President of the independent film group on campus, Kent State University Independent Films. With the help of my talented peers, KSUIF has produced several short films, put on a film festival, and introduced what it is like to be on a film set to a diverse group of students. Additionally, I worked for Teleproductions, Kent’s full service video production center that broadcasts live sports for ESPN+ as well as live events around campus. I also worked for IdeaBase, a full service marketing agency staffed by KSU students of many creative disciplines, where I was the lead videographer. This was my first professional experience working with clients to bring their vision to life. The opportunities to create videos and get experience at Kent State are endless, you just have to reach out and take them. 

One day on campus I learned that some employees of an Akron based video production company were coming to campus to discuss the industry. I attended and ended up meeting Dan Mosher. He gave a talk detailing the local industry, his business, and what kind of students he was looking for to come work for him. Due to my experience, I applied on the off chance Dan would see my email, and I was delighted when just a few days later, I was invited to come take a tour of the Mosher Media offices in Fairlawn, OH. I was introduced to the staff and showed the high end, professional gear Mosher Media uses when creating videos for clients. After this visit, I was fortunate enough to be offered a position at Mosher, and it was a no brainer to accept. Dan and the rest of the employees at Mosher Media understand professional video production and the new landscape open to businesses as a result of the internet. Your typical TV commercial spot still exists, but the internet and social media has proliferated where people obtain information and has changed the formula for how to market a business via video. We are able to create online specific ads that are optimized for mobile devices, social media sites, and more. Mosher Media not only has cutting edge gear, but it is also staffed by innovative, creative individuals who understand the new digital landscape, and can work with clients to bring their vision to life and better their business. In my brief time working at Mosher I’ve been able to work on set producing video for Kent State, Goodwill, Key Bank, and more. I’m able to do the same thing I’ve always loved, but with better equipment and bigger clients.

As a young professional and soon-to-be college graduate working in the video production industry, I have been able to learn a lot since my youth, but still find myself yearning for my work to be watched and impact folks in the same way I did as a kid. I have been blessed to learn myriad aspects of video production and work for many amazing professional teams. At the end of the day, the most rewarding aspect of this job is working with clients to bring their vision to life and I look forward to working at Mosher Media and continuing this journey while creating great work that grows businesses’ sales and public image.

I’m Jake Bell and I am proud to work at Mosher Media.