Thomas M. Silva
Broadcast and Video Production Management
(psu.edu)
ABOUT
Have you ever watched a movie or show that has a quote, idea, or character that really resonated with you? Evoking emotion in others is no easy feat. I have always watched television shows and movies in my free time since I was a young boy. Just like most, there are a few movies and shows that have stuck with me through the years for the impacts that they have had on me. I want to capture this feeling in content creation and give it to others, so they can share that same feeling.
My name is Tom Silva and I am a student at Penn State University in my junior year studying telecommunications and business. Upon graduation, I plan to enter the broadcast and video production industry. I want to work my way up to become a production manager or producer for work that incorporates elements of both video creation and business. Most people would say that I am very organized, especially in terms of time and resource management. I have used those skills in my experience when I was promoted to senior production teams in organizations at Penn State, such as Penn State Network News and 46Live, the official livestream of THON.
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In my free time, I like to consume content by watching shows, movies, and YouTube videos to experience all of the different stories that many people have to tell. Additionally, I am from the Philadelphia area, so I love to sit with family and friends to watch Philly sports, especially the Eagles and the 76ers. Also, I am a big food and travel enthusiast, and I would definitely like to see new places and try new foods around the world. Lastly, I enjoy incorporating humor in my work to make everyone’s day a little better and de-stress the fast-paced production environment. However, I can read a room easily and can detect when to get serious and down to business.
You can check out some of my work in the section below and feel free to reach out to me at any time. My contact information can be found here.
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AKA: Thomas M. Silva, Thomas Michael Silva, Thomas Silva, Tom M. Silva
My Projects
2020 Mummers Parade
In the heart of Philadelphia, there is a tradition of celebrating the culture of the city through a parade every New Year's Day. I had the opportunity to intern as a Production Assistant for PMTV in their production for the parade.
In this position, I worked directly under the Production Manager to help him carry out any and all tasks that he needed done within a tight time window. Working together with PHL17, who broadcasted the event, PMTV had me assist them by logging crew in and out, distributing lunch tickets, and aiding in the construction and tear down of talent sets, crew trucks, and stationary cameras.
Being one of the first to arrive and last to leave, I also contributed by ensuring that all operations centered around the broadcast ran smoothly, such as helping plan employee parking logistics in a small city space and communicating with the city police as a liaison for the production. Lastly, I operated the camera for a portion of the parade and learned a professional camera operating technique from a veteran.
46Live and THON
THON is an annual, student-run, 46-hour dance marathon at Penn State that raises funds for childhood cancer. 46Live is one of the student groups that contribute to THON by setting up and running the THON livestream. The livestream allows everyone, from sick kids to potential donors, to experience THON on its official website.
In my first year at 46Live, I operated camera, technical board, and audio during live concert performances. In the most recent THON in 2020, I was promoted to Crew Producer where I was part of a Senior Production Team that met weekly throughout the year to prepare the livestream. In this position, I organized crew trainings to teach the functions of production equipment to the crew members, prior to the event. I also acted as liaison between the Executive Producers and the Crew, so I communicated every upcoming event related to 46Live via email or Slack message.
During the actual event of THON, I set up and tore down our equipment, checked crew members in and out of their shifts, filled in for any shifts that did not show up, and helped fix various minor problems concerning floor pass entry or any general confusion.
Centre County Report
Centre County Report is a weekly live newscast that is targeted toward Centre County area residents. It is a class held at the Bellisario College of Communications a Penn State that students must apply for in order to enroll. Each episode is a typical newscast with two anchors reporting local and national news, a sports block, and weather, with live shots and packages allocated throughout the show.
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My main role, as one of the two telecommunication students, was to direct and technical direct every show, switching roles with the other student throughout the semester. I was lucky enough to direct an Election Night Special that was tracking the numbers of the national elections on November 3rd, 2020. With that, I also helped organize each show's rundown through a program called ENPS.
(Stephen Fritz-Youtube)
(Pressley Productions)