Jillian Arnold is a video engineer specializing in live broadcast recording, media management and workflow architectures who founded Mission Critical Media, dedicated to consulting on digital acquisition and training video engineers. She was the very first Pronology mRes encoder operator, and she has recorded and media-managed Grease Live, Hairspray, the MTV Movie Awards and Video Music Awards, and Oscars and Golden Globes for E! Entertainment, along with frequent work for NFL Films. She often oversees high-speed, high-resolution productions in the Mars Program at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In addition, she is on the board of IATSE Local 695, the Sound and Engineering Union, is a member of IATSE Local 600, the International Cinematographers Guild, and is the first digital recordist and media manager to be selected to join the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Did we mention she holds a master’s degree in cinematography? jillianharnold.com
What will be the biggest challenge of 2017 for the media industry? Live broadcast has been undergoing a cultural change — the traditional role of the tape operator has changed and expanded in responsibility. The biggest challenge we face in 2017 is finding operators with live experience who also are well versed in digital acquisition, IP networking, editing platforms, and storage. The recordists of today need to update their skills to meet this new demand, because the days of physical media are now behind us.
What do you like to do when you’re not working? I have so little free time, but I do try to read, travel internationally, and cook when I can. I also love catching a hockey game in the city I’m working in, especially if the Blackhawks are in town.
What movie, TV show, book, music, or other media would you most recommend to your colleagues? My TV show of choice right now is Netflix’s Chef’s Table. I’m always curious what inspires someone’s thought process and how they execute groundbreaking techniques. Its also comforting and relatable to note that people who push the boundaries of success often fail in the process. The end product may be different, but our journeys are often the same.
What’s your best advice for others in this business? If you want to be a technologist, you can never stop pushing the technological limits, while learning from the process. A technologist has to be creative in how they are going to take it to the next level.
