The Rough Draft Rev

Today on The Rough Draft, we're joined by Mark Watters, a six-time Emmy Award-winning composer and conductor renowned for his work in film, television, video games, global tours such as Star Wars in Concert, and major events like the Olympics. Mark's career spans iconic Disney classics and collaborations with artists like John Legend, Mary Jo Blige, and Beyoncé. In addition, Mark serves as the Associate Professor of Contemporary Media & Film Composition and Director of the Beal Institute for Film Music and Contemporary Media at the prestigious Eastman University in New York. Join us today as we discuss his creative process, how to embrace technology while guarding authenticity, and the deeply emotional resonance of music across all content mediums. 
Guest Bio
Mark Watters is a six-time Emmy Award winning composer and conductor whose diverse career spans over 400 television episodes, feature films, DVDs, video games, concert works and music for the theater. 
He holds the distinct honor of having served as music director and featured composer for two Olympics. First, in 1996 for the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta and again in 2002 for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. For the ’96 games, Mark composed the Emmy nominated song, "Faster, Higher, Stronger." Performed by opera legend, Jessye Norman and featuring lyrics by Grammy-nominated lyricist, Lorraine Feather, the song was the triumphant finale to the Opening Ceremonies. He has served as guest conductor for such orchestras as The Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Tokyo Philharmonic, The London Symphony, The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, The Detroit Symphony, The New York City Pops, The Baltimore Symphony and The Atlanta Symphony. In 2002, film score legend John Williams asked Mark to co-conduct the 74th Academy Awards. He has worked with such artists as Beyonce, Sting, Carrie Underwood, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Trisha Yearwood, Yo Yo Ma and Broadway star, Brian Stokes Mitchell.
In addition to his composing and conducting career, Mark is an associate professor at the famed Eastman School of Music where he heads the Media Composition curriculum and is the director of the Beal Institute for Film Music and Contemporary Media.
Additional Resources
markwatters.comesm.rochester.edu/directory/watters-mark/
Rate & Subscribe
Be sure to subscribe to Rev's YouTube Channel in order to stay up to date with the latest episodes and to watch our video production of The Rough Draft.
Follow Rev and The Rough Draft on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X
The Rough Draft is produced by Rev, and releases a new episode every two weeks on Thursday. Subscribe now to stay up to date with the newest episodes, and be sure to check out rev.com/podcast for more content.

Today on The Rough Draft, we're joined by Al Black, the COO of Voquent, a company that specializes in talent matching services for global content creators and businesses seeking expert localization solutions. With over 25 years of experience in expanding global reach for brands and creators, Al shares valuable insights into the significance of accessibility in content, offering strategies for effective online localization. We delve into the evolving landscape of AI's impact on creative industries, exploring both its opportunities and challenges. Al underscores the importance of adapting to technological advancements while also emphasizing the need to protect artists' rights in this rapidly changing landscape. 
Further, Voquent has been kind enough to offer Rev customers 10% off their first order of voiceover or dubbing services. Simply mention “Rev” when making an inquiry.
Guest Bio
Al Black, co-founder and COO of Voquent, boasts a 25-year career helping creators reach new global audiences through translations, voiceovers, and dubbing.
Additional Resources
voquent.comLinkedIn: Al BlackVoquent YouTube: @VoquentX: voquentEuropean Accessibility Act
Rate & Subscribe
Be sure to subscribe to Rev's YouTube Channel in order to stay up to date with the latest episodes and to watch our video production of The Rough Draft.
Follow Rev and The Rough Draft on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X
The Rough Draft is produced by Rev, and releases a new episode every two weeks on Thursday. Subscribe now to stay up to date with the newest episodes, and be sure to check out rev.com/podcast for more content.

Join us on The Rough Draft as we chat with Brandon Carter, a seasoned brand strategist and copywriter with over 12 years of industry experience. Brandon's expertise lies in crafting strategic narratives for VC-backed startups and publicly traded tech companies, helping them define their brand meaning and connect with audiences across various media platforms. Together, we delve into the essence of "brand," exploring its rising significance in today's business landscape, what it means to be a “Creator Brand,” and his go-to productivity hacks. Brandon's invaluable insights illuminate the path to navigating organizational chaos, bringing clarity and cohesion to the intricate fabric of brand identity.
Guest Bio
Brandon Carter is a strategist and copywriter with over a decade of experience shaping the narratives of both tech behemoths and beloved childhood brands. Beginning his career in business development for iconic names like Peanuts and Sesame Street, Brandon later transitioned into the tech world, where he made his mark as an early employee and marketer at Outbrain, pioneering content marketing workshops for Fortune 500 giants such as L'Oreal and Bank of America. His journey continued as he took on leadership roles at Codeword, spearheading content programs for leading platforms like Snapchat and Waze. 
Based in Brooklyn with roots in Maine, Brandon's passion for both his work and personal pursuits shines through, whether he's crafting brand strategies or immersing himself in creative endeavors and tennis matches.
Additional Resources
brandoncarter.coLinkedIn: Brandon CarterInstagram: brandedcarterTwitter: brandedcarterperplexity.ai
Rate & Subscribe
Be sure to subscribe to Rev's YouTube Channel in order to stay up to date with the latest episodes and to watch our video production of The Rough Draft.
Follow Rev & The Rough Draft on Instagram, LinkedIn, & X
Rough Draft is produced by Rev, and releases a new episode every two weeks on Thursday. Subscribe now to stay up to date with the newest episodes, and be sure to check out rev.com/podcast for more content.

Today on The Rough Draft we sit down with Austin-based commercial producer, John Rains. Along with his experience in handling multi-million dollar productions, John’s impressive portfolio boasts collaborations with iconic brands like Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Nissan, and Reebok, to name just a few. Central to John's work is his dedication to building upon Austin’s reputation as a production hub and fostering a positive on-set culture. We explore the evolving role of social media in advertising, its effects on consumer engagement, and how this shift has shaped John's approach to his projects. We also talk about the importance of networking, assembling a talented crew, and the synergy required on set to create outstanding work.
Guest Bio
John Rains is a commercial producer based in Texas. While Austin is home, he’s traveled all across Texas and the US to produce commercial work for various brands like Nissan, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Reebok, Ford and more. John is a partner in the rental house Convoy. Opening their doors in 2020, Convoy wanted to inject Austin with a new rental experience that prioritized quality and customer service–making Austin a destination city for commercials of all sizes. Whether through equipment being used or budgets being managed, John’s desire is to positively impact the productions he’s working on in as many ways as possible and loves doing it all here at home. 
Additional Resources
LinkedIn: John Rainsjohnrains.netconvoyatx.comInstagram: convoy_atxbackstory.usInstagram: backstory.us
Rate & Subscribe
Be sure to subscribe to Rev's YouTube Channel in order to stay up to date with the latest episodes and to watch our video production of The Rough Draft.
Follow Rev & The Rough Draft on Instagram, LinkedIn & X.
Rough Draft is produced by Rev, and releases a new episode every two weeks on Thursday. Subscribe now to stay up to date with the newest episodes, and be sure to check out rev.com/podcast for more content.

Today on The Rough Draft we talk with content creator & solopreneur, Courtney Johnson. Courtney has such a fascinating methodology on creative storytelling. Her delivery mechanism is primarily social media, but she uses many types of digital marketing to grow her personal brand as a mentor and consultant. We talk about how she focuses on creating a lot of content - no matter how good or bad she thinks it is - and how this not only led to her overall success, but also generated nearly 8 million views on what she would say is objectively a bad piece of content. We get into her simple daily habits, different tools used in her workflow, and how a content creator should never leave anything in their drafts. Alright, here’s our conversation with Courtney Johnson.
Guest Bio
Courtney Johnson is an Austin-based solopreneur, social media consultant, personal brand manager for tech execs, and content creator who writes about motivation, personal brand, career, and marketing. She is the creator of the Monday Megaphone Newsletter, Level up on LinkedIn Program, and Level up on TikTok program. 
Additional Resources
LinkedIn: courtneylynnjohnsonInstagram: courtlynnjohnsonTikTok: @courtney..johnsonYou can find info on Courtney’s new podcast “Slay the Gatekeeper” on her instagramCourtney’s PatreonCourtney’s Problematic Career Cheat CodesCourtney’s “Level Up on LinkedIn” ProgramCourtney’s “Level Up on TikTok” Program“The One Thing” - by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan Flown
Rate & Subscribe
Be sure to subscribe to Rev's Youtube Channel in order to stay up to date with the latest episodes and to watch our video production of The Rough Draft.
Follow Rev & The Rough Draft on Instagram, LinkedIn & Twitter
Rough Draft is produced by Rev, and releases a new episode every two weeks on Thursday. Subscribe now to stay up to date with the newest episodes, and be sure to check out rev.com/podcast for more content.

Today on The Rough Draft, we sit down with director & cinematographer Jacob Hamilton. With over 20 years in the industry, Jacob is best-known for his award-winning directorial debut Jump Shot, and his cinematography can be found in places like the documentary Facing Nolan, and more recently on Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines. On today’s episode, Jacob breaks down what it’s like to work on a documentary for over 7 years. He explains his process of preparing for interviews and how he finds the right people to contribute to the story. We talk about the unpredictable nature of documentary storytelling, as well as the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. Alright, let’s jump into our conversation with Jacob Hamilton.
Guest Bio
Jacob Hamilton is director and cinematographer based in Austin, TX. With over 20 years in the industry he is best-known for his directorial debut JUMP SHOT (2019, SXSW WORLD PREMIERE), an award-winning feature length documentary about Kenny Sailors, the man who invented the modern day jump shot in basketball, his cinematography on critically acclaimed FACING NOLAN (2022, SXSW WORLD PREMIERE), and more recently his cinematography on MAGNOLIA TABLE with JOANNA GAINES for Warner Discovery & the Magnolia Network. 
Episode Topics
(1:12) Getting started & pursuing a feature documentary
(5:30) Pursuing a documentary story
(7:10) How to conduct interviews for documentary films
(9:39) Securing celebrity athletes to interview for Jacob’s film
(14:32) Volume of interview footage, b-roll, archival footage
(17:36) Cutting a documentary story with transcripts
(22:01) Committing to the story
(26:58) Caring for the story subject & the unpredictability of documentary storytelling
(32:58) Surrounding yourself with the right people
(36:52) Being a dad while directing a feature film
(42:48) Childhood dream to reality
(45:12) Technology, tools & storytelling
Additional Resources
 jacobryanhamilton.comInstagram: @jacobryanhamiltonTwitter: @jake_hamiltonjumpshotmovie.comfacingnolan.com
Episode Transcript
View the full Episode Transcript here.
Listen, rate, and subscribe!
Be sure to subscribe to Rev's Youtube Channel in order to stay up to date with the latest episodes and to watch our video production of The Rough Draft.
Follow Rev & The Rough Draft on Instagram, LinkedIn & Twitter
Rough Draft is produced by Rev, and releases a new episode every two weeks on Thursday. Subscribe now to stay up to date with the newest episodes, and be sure to check out a href="https://rev.com/podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer"...