Towson University Graduate and Marine Corps Veteran Builds a Career with Blackmagic Design

Towson University Graduate and Marine Corps Veteran Builds a Career with Blackmagic Design

Brie Clayton November 5, 2026

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From the Marine Corps to the color suite, Matthew McDonell exudes precision in his storytelling.

Towson University graduate and filmmaker Matthew McDonell did not follow a traditional path into the arts. A former Marine Corps machine gunner and scout sniper platoon member specializing in reconnaissance, McDonell first learned to frame shots through the lens of a high powered DSLR, capturing long range imagery using telephoto lenses in the field. I didn't realize it then, but everything I was learning, shadow, contrast and light shaping, was training me to become a filmmaker, he said.

After leaving the military in 2018, McDonell enrolled at Towson University near Baltimore, MD. A counselor encouraged him to explore film, and it changed his life. I didn't know what a DP or colorist was, he recalled. But once I discovered cinematography, lighting and color grading, I was in. I fell in love with the entire process.

At the Film, Audio, Media Arts Department at Towson University, McDonell immersed himself in practical, production focused coursework and quickly gravitated toward Blackmagic Design tools. His hands on training included courses built around DaVinci Resolve Studio, as well as the Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K and Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2 digital film cameras used in advanced production classes. Towson's program is built on real world solutions, he said. We weren't just learning theory. We were working with the same tools used on professional sets.

From the Studio to the Set to the Stage: A Blackmagic Design Camera for Every Setup Now, for all his narrative, commercial, corporate and studio productions, McDonell continues to rely on BlackmagicDesign cameras for their image quality, reliability and design. They can be rigged for large scale shoots or stripped down for mobile work. And the Blackmagic RAW format makes integration with DaVinci Resolve Studio seamless, he said.

In addition to the URSA Mini Pro 12K and URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2, as well as the Blackmagic PYXIS 6K and BlackmagicPYXIS 12K digital film cameras, all used as A cameras, McDonell frequently uses the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro as B cameras or for gimbal work. I always add the battery grip for longer shoots. They are lightweight and portable but still deliver the image quality I need to match larger cameras, he noted.

For live or multi camera productions, McDonell uses the Blackmagic Studio Camera 6K Pro, commenting: The rear mounted screen gives me a clear view for monitoring while still feeding a clean tally signal. It is perfect for live environments.

He also uses the Blackmagic Camera app for location scouts and pre visualization, helping him lock in camera angles and compositions before a single shot is captured.

A DP Who Understands Color In post production, DaVinci Resolve Studio is at the heart of his workflow. McDonell first discovered its power in Towson's color correction course taught by Professor Emeritus Dave Reiss, D.C.D. That course opened my eyes to how color could elevate storytelling, said McDonell. DaVinci Resolve Studio is not just a finishing tool. It is a creative tool.

He was later invited to return as a teaching assistant for the course, guiding students through advanced grading techniques using the DaVinci Resolve Mini Panel. The DaVinci Resolve Mini Panel made grading tactile and intuitive. It's like painting with your hands. You feel the image, not just see it, he noted.

Despite his growing expertise in post, McDonell is quick to clarify that he does not consider himself a full time colorist. My objective is to be a DP. But every DP should understand color. The more I know about what happens in post, the smarter I can shoot on set. And the easier I can make things for the colorist. It is an invaluable skill, and I have completely fallen in love with it, he explained.

McDonell continues to color short films, reels and freelance projects, often working across both camera and grading roles. Being able to move between production and post has made me faster, more collaborative, and more creative, he added.

McDonell uses DaVinci Resolve Studio for every step of his workflow, including portable editing with DaVinci Resolve for iPad and seamless collaboration through Blackmagic Cloud. Being able to rough cut or do color adjustments from anywhere, then sync everything back to my main system, that is game changing, he said.

Creative Precision As a veteran, McDonell believes film is a natural fit for others transitioning from the military. Planning a shoot is like planning an op. Teamwork, adaptability, logistics, it's all the same muscle. Blackmagic Design's tools make that kind of creative precision possible, he said.

Only a year after finishing school, McDonell credits Towson's training and Blackmagic Design's accessibility with helping him launch a real world career. Blackmagic tools let me dream bigger, create faster, and produce work that feels cinematic, even on a tight budget. They have completely changed the way I approach filmmaking, he concluded.

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