By Chloe Newton
Staff Writer
Starting off as an intern over the summer of 2014, Mira Costa senior Remi Dayton was offered the title of Programming Coordinator at television and video company, Havoc.
Havoc is an innovative, multi-platform company that specializes in Video-On-Demand, Interactive TV and the web. It offers free access to indie music and action sports videos, both old and new.
“Her uncanny knack for good music, complete understanding of action sports, and efficient yet extremely creative work ethic made her a natural fit,” Havoc co-founder Jeff Cutler said. “During her internship she was always on time, often working past office hours to make sure she got the job done.”
Dayton’s job as Programming Coordinator is to watch music videos they receive from Warner Music Group and transcode them into the proper format for their database. She then inputs the video’s information, such as the artist, album and a short summary for their Video on Demand channel. Aside from that, she also contributes to the website’s blog at havoc.tv.
“She is forced to watch hundreds of videos per week on a computer screen,” Cutler said. “Many people might look at that as boring. Instead, she takes the opportunity to learn more about our business and other ways we can grow.”
According to Havoc, their employees work hard to find new hits, classics and produce their own unique content, making them the nation’s leading indie music and action sports network.
“She has contributed in many ways that have helped Havoc TV significantly,” Cutler said. “If I had to narrow down the two most important ways she has helps I’d say it would be through her curation of music videos and her efficiency. She has proved to be one of the most efficient employees we have.”
Dayton went through a training period, where she learned the basic skills she needed in order to edit and input music videos. She also learned how to use programs such as FileMaker Pro and Final Cut.
“I’ve learned a lot about how music is marketed and what appeals to consumers,” Dayton said. “I also learned how to use tools on the computer to crop videos and manipulate them to suit the needs of Havoc’s 24 hour video on demand channel.”
According to Dayton, working at Havoc is giving her the feel of what it is like to have a serious job and work for money for the first time. It is preparing her for the future, whether she says in the music and video industry or takes another path.
“This job has been an incredible experience for me,” Dayton said. “I’ve been able to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of those who work in music production and all the work that goes into making music available to the public.”
Although she does not have any plans for what career she would like to pursue in the future, her job at Havoc has opened many doors for her by exposing her to what it is like to work for the first time and and being more self-dependable.
“I’m not exactly sure what I want to do in the future, but this has definitely opened up new possibilities for me,” Dayton said. “I have grown up with a very musically-oriented family and go to concerts frequently, so being paid to listen to music is the perfect first job for me.”
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