By Clare Runciman
As a young entrepreneur who has struggled like a lone ranger to build and run a small studio business for the past 6 years, the HPA YEP program has come to me like a much-needed pillar of support, like suddenly finding a long-lost uncle who s now a successful CEO and can give me these clever solutions to my problems and the right keys to open doors for me.
Seriously, it's a lonely road for the independent studio owner like me and I have flogged it for a while, so to have this sudden access to the HPA's network of resources and all these wise, clever, successful, even legendary people to ask for help is not only a dream come true, but a much-needed booster shot for me at this stage of my career. Many times in the past I wished I had a mentor to consult for feedback or seek for a suggestion to with whom to connect with. Just 2 months into the HPA YEP program, I am discovering that yes, it's possible to have such help, guidance and wisdom. Thank you!
I came to LA as an audio engineering student, having worked in Hong Kong and China as a rookie boom operator in mainly Chinese movies. I had an early start to the entertainment industry when I was kind of discovered by a sound recording mixer in Hong Kong when my home was used as a movie set. The location scout had knocked on my front door. I knew my mom would say no but I said yes to them anyway - on condition that I could follow the crew around! I ended up shooting the Making Of video for that movie. The sound mixer on set must have seen some good in me because he offered me an apprenticeship after that! I started working as a boom operator for him. I was barely 17 and just out of school when I landed in the deserts outside Beijing, braving blizzards at 3 am working on Universal's Mummy III: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. That was when I knew I wanted a career in sound and film.
So I studied audio engineering in London, and later transferred to LA to further my studies. On graduation, I befriended a Grammy award-winning producer and became business partner with him. To cut a long story short, we raised enough capital to found a recording and post-production studio. Any misconception of being a glamorous studio owner soon evaporated when I realized that I was THE person who had to roll up my sleeves and make it happen. I had to be the manager, sales, designer, brand creator, audio engineer, secretary, troubleshooter, all rolled in one. On some days, I was lugging equipment, on others, craning my neck for hours to install light bulbs, on yet others, I dressed up to pitch to CEOs.
Chasing projects, managing people, kowtowing when needed, holding gigs to keep us in the limelight, watching the bottom line - all these became my life. I learned to be persistent and tenacious, and versatile to combat problems - no room for thin skin or false pride! We did good-size projects, fought for some and lost some. Creating, designing and building a small facility literally from the ground up, especially as a young immigrant from Hong Kong, has been one of the most difficult challenges of my career and my personal journey. I have been able to make a few waves, not only by executing projects and managing technicalities but most importantly by doing what I love.
The next stage of my career is to transit to a corporate platform that will give me the corporate muscle and wider reach to work on bigger and more varied projects. That's why I am so grateful to the HPA YEP program for giving me the access to a network of people I did not have access to before.
Through HPA YEP, I have been able to meet industry greats who have given me valuable feedback and suggestions careerwise. I have had one-on-one time with mentors at their workplaces to ask for their guidance and feedback in person. A couple of mentors studied my resume and suggested career advancement to suitable companies, even taking the trouble to write introductory letters to help me. The opportunity to meet with mentors like Laura Thommen and Bill Baggelaar have allowed me access to Sony, Netflix and Lionsgate. Lynette Duensing invited me to Instinctual and gave me valuable insight into her workplace and experience. I am so grateful to all of them. A lot of course depends on the YEP himself/herself to proactively make the first move of reaching out to the mentors!
I have also been connected with motivated young like-minded people, and participated in events like the Tech Retreat to network and learn about cutting developments and conversations in the industry. Thank you HPA!
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
19/08/2026
As the cost of IP nears price parity with traditional SDI, Reynolds argues that ...
19/08/2026
A private 5G bubble was chosen instead of traditional broadcast RF for the race ...
19/08/2026
(L-R) Rafael Manuel and Isabel Sicat attend the Filipi ana premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 23, 2026, in Park Cit...
19/08/2026
Studio owners invited to have their say on rates cuts
The Music Producers Guild (MPG) are inviting UK-based studios to take part in an in-depth survey that ...
19/08/2026
Vintage-inspired desktop interface revealed
Harrison's latest hardware offering sees them head into the world of audio interfaces, delivering a 10-in/12...
19/08/2026
Granular effect remains locked to scale and tempo
Described as your dream granular effect , Minimal Audio's latest creation is capable of turning any s...
19/08/2026
First polyphonic SWAM instrument incoming
Audio Modeling's latest physical-modelling orchestral instrument is just around the corner, and is now availab...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
There's an early Christmas gift for Bookish fans, as UKTV confirms the re-commission of the hit U&alibi drama, created by and starring Mark Gatiss. Viewers ...
19/08/2026
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Sky gives sports fans the chance to watch multiple liv...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
18/08/2026
Boland Communications will introduce a SMPTE ST 2110 input option for its 4K monitors at IBC2026, along with a new 55-inch super-narrow bezel display for video ...
18/08/2026
Dolby Laboratories and the Seattle Seahawks have announced a partnership integrating Dolby OptiView into the Seahawks' live streaming coverage, making the S...
18/08/2026
For BMG Executive Producer of Sports Production, Graham Taylor, producing live s...
18/08/2026
TMRW Sports has appointed Rufus Hack as President of Golf, a newly created role in which he will lead the company's golf businesses including TGL presented ...
18/08/2026
SMT will provide race technology for FOX Sports' coverage of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. on August 23, when the NTT INDYCAR SERIES races ...
18/08/2026
The live, YouTube-native roundtables combine fan voices, credentialed reporters,...
18/08/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
18/08/2026
The industry legend sounds off on replacing the Heat's iconic Medusa score...
18/08/2026
William F. Rasmussen, the sports fan-turned broadcaster and entrepreneur whose out-of-the-box idea of a 24-hour cable sports network, ESPN, changed forever the ...
18/08/2026
DAZN Group has completed its acquisition of ViewLift, a provider of streaming and digital solutions for sports content owners. The acquisition was first announc...
18/08/2026
The American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB) has added SI TV, Sports Illustrated's 24/7 streaming channel, as a broadcast partner for the remain...
18/08/2026
The Esports Foundation has announced that the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), originally scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh, will be postponed to Novemb...
18/08/2026
Diversified has announced a new Global Managed Services Practice, consolidating the company's managed services capabilities into one organization. Rob Mello...
18/08/2026
Appear has completed a proof of concept with Thoroughbred Racing Productions (TRP), demonstrating multi-camera remote live production over bonded 5G cellular an...
By Clare Runciman
