Life as a Student
Photo by: Aiyanna Armstrong
Justin Hilliard is known around campus for his significant skills in live events. As a senior at Olivet, he’s looking for opportunities to advance his career in video production in the real world. His main focus aside from college media projects and job responsibilities is to expand his own media company.
“I actually own my own company, it’s called Justin Productions,” Hilliard said. “I mainly focus on video stuff at the moment, but I also do live audio for smaller events.”
His passion for multimedia and creating his company began at his hometown church in Michigan, where he gained his skills while working on the video team. His uncle who was a member of the church recognized his skills.
“He asked me to be part of the tech team of my church, which was on the video side,” Hilliard said. From there, his interest in video production grew, prompting him to network creating wedding videos, corporate content, and highlight reels for clients of his own.
Life Outside the Classroom
His church, Flint Central Church of the Nazarene, in Michigan was the beginning of his craft for multimedia. Then, at Olivet, he became involved in groups such as Upper Room and Media Services, where he continued to improve his skills. What began as a side gig has grown into something much bigger, and his career in media production is just now spreading.
“When I came to Olivet, I was more on the introverted side,” he said. “But I’m stepping out of that because I’m part of so much.” For Justin, video production is more than just a job; it’s a way to connect with others and learn about new events. “One of my favorite things is going to an event that you don’t know a lot about and just learning more about it, how it works, and how it came to be,” he said. “It’s also a great place to network.”
Creative Projects
Despite his hectic schedule, Hilliard makes time to pursue creative projects that bring him joy. He enjoys photographing nature, hiking, and spending quality time with friends and family. His leadership extends beyond his company, influencing everyone he works with.
The biggest thing for me is being creative, I love being creative.
Justin hilliard
Justin Productions
“Justin is a natural leader,” said Kyle Petersen, an Olivet employee and peer. “He not only leads his team with enthusiasm, but he also motivates those around him to succeed.” Hilliard brings a unique energy to everything he does, whether it’s creating videos or guiding others.
Hilliard’s journey as a videographer for Spiritual Life has added value to his craft, he found fulfillment in sharing his work with others on campus. His interest in media production grew as he worked more on Upper Room projects and honed his skills through Media Services.
Inspired by his experiences and the collaborative skills he learned at his home church and being part of organizations at Olivet, Hilliard took a leap of faith and built the courage to start his media company Justin Productions. From wedding highlights to dynamic corporate content, Hilliard’s company demonstrates his unwavering commitment to the art of media production.
What’s Next
As he approaches graduation, Hilliard has big plans for the future. His primary goal is to pursue freelance work while expanding Justin Productions even further. He already has a job lined up at a local church, where he will manage production and video projects.
“I’m going to start there, and hopefully from there I can get more clients and slowly transition to being a full-time freelancer,” he said.
Hilliard’s journey from a church tech team to owning his own media company represents his dedication and creativity. He strives to continue producing content for his company adding life to his YouTube Channel. As he continues to explore the world of video production, there is no doubt that he will have a long-term impact on the media industry.
Check out another student doing media work outside of the classroom with audio production.
Related links:
Benefits of video
This website discusses the ways in which the use of video to tell your story is effective.
Websites for creating great videos including tips and instructions
This website provides video-making techniques which serve as a guide for editing and producing video content.
Freelance pros and cons
This website discusses the new trend of freelancing in the media industry and whether it’s worthwhile.
Finding Freelance jobs and statistics.
If you’re a college student looking for opportunities to work as a freelancer this is the site for you. It provides information on why freelance may be ideal for students including ways to get started.
