10 Question Interview: Welcoming Mark Berry, Video Producer to Gray Digital Group
A few months ago, we hired Mark Berry to join Gray Digital Group’s video production and content development team. I have known Mark for about two years and finally had the opportunity to leverage his whole skill set by bringing him to Gray. The best way to welcome someone is to ask him a few questions…so here ya go, welcome to Mark Berry!
Where are you from?
Piemont, SC.
Where did you go to school?
Lees-McRae college in Banner Elk, NC.
What project have you worked on that has impacted you the most?
At first I thought this question was going to be difficult to answer, given that I have worked on hundreds of projects in my career. However the story of Beverly Odum very quickly made it’s way into my pondering. Beverly Odum is the widow of the locally popular Michael Odum, who owned and operated a wildly successful car dealership for many years in the Greenville area. I will not disclose the entire story, but I will say that Beverly has overcome more trials and hardships than most people would ever dare to fathom. Hers is a message of hope, and is in my opinion evidence of the good in the world. It was an honor to play a small part in the telling her story.
What is your favorite gadget?
Well, besides Busby…
I have to say that the Adobe Creative Suite is my favorite technological interest. While not technically a “gadget,” the shear breadth of it’s capabilities are awe inspiring, and I just love discovering new and exciting tricks and techniques. Learning is a passion of mine, and considering the fact that it’s nearly impossible to learn it all, Adobe keeps me very busy!
What is your favorite movie and why?
My favorite movie is by far “The Christmas Card,” which is a short kid’s movie that I made for my niece and nephew in 2010. My shameless, self promoting link is below:
What is your favorite book?
My literary favorites are vast and numerous, but for the sake of this interview I shall pick “Empire of the Summer Moon” by S. C. Gwynne as my favorite (excluding the Bible).
This riveting non-fiction work delves into the rise and fall of the Commanche nation. It differs from other books on the subject by it’s detailed look into the social dynamics of the Tribe’s day and age. Instead of following a formula of simply stating facts and giving commentary, Gwynne’s work gives the reader a thorough understanding of both the historical and human elements that played into this important time in history.
(And almost all of it takes place in Texas, just thought I would throw that out there.)
What is your favorite ice cream!
Peppermint. The End.
Why did you join Gray Digital Group?
My decision to join Gray Digital Group was influenced by many factors, the most prominent being my desire to stay on a fulfilling trajectory. Steve Jobs once said, “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied it to do what you believe is great work.” I believe this quote to be inherently true. Before I officially joined Gray Digital Group, I was involved in a large amount of contract work with the company. During this time I worked on a variety of video pieces that dealt with all sorts of stories, some of them being very emotionally touching. It was these projects that convinced me that this was indeed great work, and extended beyond simply fulfilling the duties of employment. I think most can agree that when that sort enrichment is brought into the workplace; it stops resembling work and starts to become a truly meaningful endeavor.
What type of projects do you like to work on?
The ones that pay the Big Buck$!
Just kidding…
My favorite projects are ones that address some sort of social or religious issue. I find the projects that have both of these elements to be particularly fulfilling! For example, I’ve done several projects for Anderson Interfaith Ministries. This faith based organization does a lot of work to fight poverty, domestic violence and many other social issues. It is always an honor to be involved in stories such as these.
Tell us about Busby the Drone!
Busby the Drone is the newest addition to the Mark & Bobby Arsenal. He has had several near death experiences, most of which were no fault of his own (no names will be named). His capabilities extend far and wide, and he has made many tools of the past such as Jibs and Dollys obsolete. So far he has exceeded expectations and has yielded amazing and aesthetically pleasing results. I see a bright future for Busby (if he survives), and am very excited that he has joined us here at Gray Digital Group, SC.