Stephen Harrod ’06

Success in Sound Production

Stephen credits his ability to work collaboratively from his time participating in the performing arts programs at Gunston.

When Stephen Harrod ’06 graduated Gunston, he headed to Columbia College in Chicago, graduating with a bachelor of arts degree with a focus in filmmaking and production. “I’ve been involved in sound production for 10 plus years now,” he reflected. Production sound is responsible for capturing the audio of the actors’ dialogue as the film is being shot. He is currently based in Los Angeles, Ca.

“I am part of a team of crafts/trades/specialties sharing the area around the actors and working in an often-constricted space just out of the frame for a shot,” he explains. “A lot of the time I assume the role of boom operator (the person who holds the mic over the actor’s head). The boom operator must keep the mic in the best location to pick up whichever actor is talking and keep the microphone from entering the frame or obstructing lighting while moving within the crowded area just off camera. As actors move within a scene, many of those involved in filming have to move as well in what is frequently described as a kind of dance.”

Stephen has worked on short films, feature films, commercials, digital content and documentaries. Recent projects have included the British Academy Film Awards, a Skechers commercial featuring Snoop Dog, and a movie called The Apology, among other projects.

“My favorite [projects] are the ones that [are seen by] larger audiences, particularly feature length films. Any time you get to share story telling with a large group of people, it is a wondrous thing. You have the ability to connect in that way—to have people feel something [from a project] that you had a part in creating. Film making is highly collaborative and learning to work with and trust other people came from participating in the performing arts programs at Gunston. Much of this trust, which is so vital in film making, is based on instinct and the relationships you have with people around you.”

Stephen describes a pivotal moment in the path to his present career: “Seeing my brother Richard (class of 2003) in the Gunston Player’s Production of ‘Wait Until Dark.’ I’d always looked up to my brother, and I think seeing him onstage made me realize that it was okay for me to be on stage too. So, when I went to Gunston I was very involved with the theater program under the guidance of Will Robison, Catherine Cunningham and Mark Wiening. I learned a tremendous amount about doing the plays every year and really found the spirit of camaraderie and discipline to commit to something. A lot of that comradery in pursuit of an artistic goal translates to filmmaking, and if you talk to people who work in the industry, many have theater backgrounds.”

“I think being exposed to that creative experience really set me on a path to work in the arts. While doing all the plays at Gunston I was also making my documentary films about them and that was kind of a jumping off point to really getting into filmmaking.”

Stephen is not sure what the future holds, “I work from project to project, and the time frame of each of them is different. It could be a day gig or it could last an entire month. I just try to be open to the challenges of each job and there are always challenges to work through.”

2018

Gillian Felton: “During my time at Gunston many of my peers knew that I was interested in the weather. My senior superlative was even “most likely to forecast the weather.” After graduating from Gunston, I began to pursue my bachelors degree in meteorology at the University of Northern Colorado. During the summer of 2021 I had the opportunity to participate in a 10 week long NSF funded Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Colorado State University. During my time in my REU I participated in a research project about meteorological risk communications during Colorado’s Cameron Peak Fire, a record breaking wildfire that occurred in 2020.

I was able to present this research at the American Meteorological Society’s annual conference in Houston, Texas in January of 2022. Having the opportunity to present my research was an intimidating but enriching experience. In May of 2022 I graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with my bachelors degree in meteorology. This fall (2022) I returned to Maryland as a graduate student in the department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science at the University of Maryland. I hope to earn my masters degree in atmospheric science in 2024.”

2019

Anna Wolf is a senior at the College of Charleston studying communications, sociology, and Jewish studies. This summer, she was able to work at a local NBC news station as an intern. During the internship, she was able to help with a wide variety of tasks including research, helping to produce the daily shows, and writing for their website. By the end of the internship she was mainly working with the digital team, assisting with the website and social media. Anna is also a part of Martin Scholars, a special program through her school’s communications department. Through the program, she is able to access amazing mentoring experiences in the communications field.