ON CAMPUS: Grad making mark in video
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People. Curiosity. Trust.
These are a few of the values guiding Make Hay Media, a narrative-based production company in Kingston, Ontario.
Founded by Braden Dragomir, a filmmaker who has worked on the sets of X-Men 2, Smallville and Dead Like Me, Make Hay Media is composed of a dynamic team of four, including Taylor Leeder and Brody McMaster, 2015 and 2016 graduates of Loyalist College’s Film and TV Production program (formerly Television and New Media Production).
“When I first heard about the company, I thought it was really cool,” said Leeder. “There was nothing like Make Hay Media in Kingston. It’s creative and focuses on people. Through video, it pushes the boundaries of storytelling and takes the viewer to another level.”
Leeder’s interest in video production began at St. Lawrence College. While studying Music and Digital Media, he sampled photography, post-production editing and filmmaking.
“I loved playing the piano, but I’m not a professional musician,” he said. “I knew that the visual and digital arts were where I wanted to put my creative energy.”
Upon identifying his strengths, Leeder decided to change his field of study and focus on multimedia. Having heard about Loyalist’s School of Media, Arts + Design, it was a clear choice.
“Compared to other film and television programs, Loyalist had a lot more to offer,” he said.
As a student, Leeder focused on post-production and refined his skills. His hard work was acknowledged at Loyalist’s Sparkie Awards, a celebration of student achievement, where he received awards for Best Sound Design and Best Editor, and was nominated for Best Graphic Design. In his third and final year, he completed an eight-week placement at Make Hay Media, which led to his current position as filmmaker and editor.
McMaster’s interest in video production began with filming tailwhips, barspins and backflips; tricks his biking and scootering friends were mastering.
“The more I filmed active sports, the more absorbed I became,” he said. “From a young age I knew it was a career I wanted to pursue.”
Much like Leeder, McMaster completed his third-year placement with Make Hay Media and was hired as a filmmaker.
“Loyalist gave Taylor and Brody a strong set of skills and developed their professionalism,” said Dragomir. “The creativity and passion they bring to Make Hay Media makes them essential parts of our team.”