Meet Assiniboine Alumnus SCOTT CARNEGIE

What career path did you choose? I run a media production company, Sugar Cube Entertainment. I make the creative decisions for projects. Depending on the budget and scope of a project I might fulfill several roles: the producer, writer, director, cinematographer, editor or photographer. Other times I hire crew to fulfill these roles.

Did you take additional steps to get you where you are today? One of the best things about working in the media industry is the large variety of experiences and situations you find yourself in. I spent 13 years at APTN as an editor/ producer and then branched out to work in the freelance television production world as an editor/videographer for a few years before I started Sugar Cube Entertainment. I have worked on innumerable projects with many great people that I have learned from, collaborated with, been hired by, etc. I still take training through different organizations like Film Training Manitoba and On Screen Manitoba to keep current with technology and processes.

Do you have a career ‘highlight’ that you’re most proud of? I’ve been a life-long Pro-Wrestling fan and a few years ago I went on the road to shoot a documentary for the CBC. I got to follow a pro-wrestling company during their Western Canadian tour, which included spending time with and interviewing the legendary Jake “The Snake” Roberts. I don’t get star struck very often, but I had a moment when we sat down to interview him that I said to myself “I’m making a documentary about pro wrestling… for CBC… this is definitely a career highlight!”

What first attracted you to the program that you took at Assiniboine? The things that attracted me to Assiniboine were several; I wanted to live in Brandon since I had many friends and relatives there that I could turn to for support; the program was accessible price wise and a two-year program was appealing over a longer course. The program covered a large variety of skills and since I wasn’t really sure of the area I wanted to go into I liked the idea of getting a wide variety of skills and then specializing later on.

What was your most important experience at Assiniboine? My most important experience was having the freedom to explore creativity in various ways, and that it really was up to the student to make it happen. A student could stick to the curriculum and get by or they could push themselves to excel and take advantage of the facilities and resources at their disposal. I created and co-hosted a noon-hour radio show with another student that is still a radio DJ in Vancouver all these years later. I co-produced a multi-camera taping for the Brandon Jazz Festival. I wrote and recorded a five song EP in the multi-track audio studio. These were all things that were done outside of the standard class time and the program at Assiniboine provided those opportunities.

What advice would offer to someone interested in media? My advice is to set yourself up for success; find people that are doing what you want to do and ask them how they got there. My experience is that most people love to share their knowledge with people looking at the industry and they can be a great source of advice or mentorship.