Kevin Epling, producer and director of photography for MSU’s Division of University Relations, is one of the best in the business.
That’s according to AV Video Multimedia Producer magazine, which named Epling one of the Top 100 Producers of 2000. Epling and other winners are profiled in the November 2000 issue, which is on newsstands now.
“We’ve had a phenomenal year,” Epling said. “We’ve had a lot of great productions and people have been pleased with what we’re doing.”
Epling said it’s especially an honor because he was selected by a panel of his peers.
“It’s gauged by other industry professionals that look at the perimeter of people’s work,” he said.
After four years of doing news photography and freelance work for a number of local and national news markets, Epling settled into his position at MSU. He has worked for the Marketing & Creative Services unit of MSU’s Division of University Relations for eight years.
While at MSU, Epling has received multiple awards for his accomplishments including Videographer Awards and Communicator Awards of Excellence for his short pieces on the dangers of student drinking, the MSU men’s basketball team and museum patronage.
“I had always heard from the other Big Ten universities and other colleagues that Michigan State had been the school to look toward for our institutional profiles and commercials,” Epling said. “And this reinforces the fact that we are doing something right.”
Epling said his work with students has been vital to his success. In the past he’s worked with 10 students who have gone on to work in multimedia jobs in Detroit and New York.
“It’s really important for all the students working with us to get hands-on experience,” he said. “It’s not a hand-holding situation, but a learning situation - there’s a lot of give and take.”
Some students who have worked with Epling say the collaboration has been good practical experience.
Having worked with Epling since July, telecommunication senior Ryan Mulvaney regularly goes out on shoots with Epling and helps with the editing. He said he feels more like a production assistant than a helper.
“I’ve had other jobs like this, and sometimes employers won’t let a student go out and do stuff,” Mulvaney said. “What I’ve learned here is stuff you couldn’t learn in a classroom.”
