Scott Munro
Name: Scott Munro
Job title: Owner/President, Media Arts, Inc.
Role in Project SeaCAMEL: Broadcast producer and director
Age: 53
Home: Seattle, WA
Qualifications:
Undergraduate degrees in Zoology and Media production, 30 years experience in video and television production with over 15 years specializing in live broadcasting of expeditionary science education
Career Path:
As a teenager, my compelling interests in Marine Biology/Zoology and scuba diving led me to take up underwater photography as a way to record my underwater experiences and discoveries.
Fresh out of high school, I spent four years in the Navy, studied Marine Biology and Marine Zoology at the University of Washington and completed a 2-year Media Technician program. I then worked as a media freelancer, running audio and/or camera, lighting, pulling cable, editing – and doing just about anything that needed doing – in order to gain experience. In 1978 I started my own freelance company, Media Arts – picking up several large clients in the Seattle area - such as Safeco Insurance, Pacific Northwest Bell and a number of colleges.
After 2 years of freelancing for Pacific Northwest Bell, I was hired there as a full time producer of multi-image slide shows and, ultimately, was promoted to Studio Manager for their corporate television studio. In that position, I was responsible for hiring freelance crews (gaining valuable production/people management experience) and producing corporate marketing and training videos.
Eventually I decided the corporate environment was not for me and left Pacific Northwest Bell to devote myself full-time to Media Arts. I found a highly specialized niche in the media marketplace. Combining scuba diving with my media and production experience, in 1983 I began working with a partner, designing and testing underwater video equipment and developing the skills needed for underwater production.
By the late 80s, I was developing a reputation worldwide as an expert underwater videographer/producer, working for companies such as AT&T, the U.S. Department of Commerce/NOAA, and Turner Broadcasting, the first producers of the internationally renowned science-education program, the JASON Project, founded by Dr. Robert Ballard. My work as unit director and underwater production equipment and crew provider on JASON Projects III, IV and V led to the opportunity for Media Arts to take over complete production responsibilities for JASON VII and all succeeding JASON Projects through JASON 17. When the JASON Project focus changed to a web-based program, Media Arts began producing Dr. Ballard’s newest live expeditionary science education venture, Immersion Presents. Over the last 30 years, Media Arts has produced 425 live underwater broadcasts and nearly 1500 live broadcasts from over 30 countries around the world.
I’ve always operated on a simple philosophy, i.e. when something has been good to you, pass it on. The production business has given me the opportunity to travel the world and do fun things. So, as a payback, I’m very active in the production community. I’ve held every possible leadership position in the local ITVA (now known as MCA-I) as well as in the national organization and I was the very first lifetime member of the national ITVA. I’ve taught media courses at a local community college where I chair the Media Program Advisory Board. I’ve worked closely with both local community colleges and arts schools to establish accredited intern programs and have regularly “hired” interns at Media Arts. I feel I’ve benefited both personally and professionally from such activities. I have a good network of people working all over the country I can call if I need a crew. I’ve made great friends.
Interests/Hobbies:
Scuba Diving; Travel, Photography, Music, Politics.
