FEATURED STORY
Markiplier and Spotify
Sam DeMartino '21, Producer/Head Video Editor for Markiplier and Spotify Podcasts "Distractible" and "Go! My Favorite Sports Team"
DeMartino majored in mass communication and currently resides in Towson, Md.
What does your job entail?
I edit and supervise the assistant editors with creating the episodes, social media clips and advertisements. I also consult regularly with the podcast hosts and Spotify team members to discuss business-related topics.
Why is this your “dream job”?
This job has allowed me to merge together my two main passions of video and audio production and has also given me room to experiment with different editing/storytelling styles. For example, on the show "Distractible," we did an episode where the three hosts get trapped in a D&D universe where they had to solve puzzles in order to advance towards the end. That was a super fun opportunity to collaborate with the other editor to build an environment that felt immersive from both a visual and audio experience. Also, it's really amazing to be a part of such an incredible team made up of so many talented and supportive people.
How did FSU prepare you for your current position?
FSU’s Department of Communication is really special because they actively give students opportunities to apply what they’re learning in the classroom to real-life work experience.
Whether that’s taking on a role in a news/talk show in their on-campus studio, going out in the field creating commercials for local businesses or getting to be a part of an actual film production, Frostburg starts you in your career the moment you enroll.
Did you have an FSU mentor? If so, who were they and how did they help you?
My professor/advisor Annie Danzi was a huge help in giving me and my peers opportunities to apply our skills in areas I never even considered. I remember many times when we would go into the television studio and we would rotate roles. In one production, I acted as floor manager. In another, I was the audio engineer. And in another, I was even in front of the cameras as an actor. Many of these experiences have helped me with challenges that have come up in my current job. Professor Danzi also allowed me and many of her students the opportunity to work on her own film projects, including her documentary about the music festival DelFest titled “Sweet Appalachia.” It was a very fun experience setting up camp at the festival and running back and forth from video village to the musicians performing to grab footage for the film.
What is a future career goal?
I love what I do currently, but in the future I would love to work in a post-production house as a VFX (video effects) artist or a colorist for films and television.
What is a future personal goal?
There are many places I would love to travel to. Frostburg gave me the opportunity to study abroad in Newcastle England during my junior year. It was an incredible experience that was unfortunately cut short due to the pandemic. I would love to travel back to Europe and visit some countries I didn’t get the chance to originally, as well as revisit Newcastle.
What advice would you give a recent graduate in pursuing his/her/their “dream job”?
Use your time at FSU to really get to know your classmates and peers. Collaborate on projects together, learn from each other, ask them about their career goals and also just hang out with each other. You never know where each of you will end up in the future. And if you ever need to build a team of people with certain skills, you’ll know who to call. Actually, I recruited one of my classmates to be a member of our podcast team. It’s just another great thing about my time at Frostburg.
