Is there anything more uncomfortable than trying to explain who you are to another person? That was a retorical question. As I begin to write this I have already determined the answer is…”This is very uncomfortable”.
I’m the typical product of a generation of kids who grew up fascinated by a trilogy of sci-fi films that would define modern film making, and become part of the everyday lexicon of hopeful film students since 1977. Yes, I’m talking about Star Wars. Before I was even introduced and thrust into formal education, I had expressed an interest in directing films and television shows to my parents. Nearly 25 years later in a galaxy not so far away, I’ve found myself doing just that.
Growing up in Massachusetts lends itself to becoming a sports fan. It is engrained in the culture here. Professional sports are sacred, and by the time I was in preschool I knew more about Larry Bird and the Celtics, than I did about Saturday morning cartoons. Athletics was always part of my life, but I was always more of the creative type. I was a musician and artist, who dreamed of working in the television or film industry, but never had the means to dabble in filmmaking. After a trying to make a career in the music business, I had come to the realization at 25 years old that it was time to move in a new direction. I knew what I wanted to do, and I was prepared to get into the television/film business no matter what it would take.
Without having the educational background, and financial means to make my way to New York or Hollywood, I felt that the biggest entertainment industry on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. was the Boston sports market. With the recent success of the New England Patriots, and the Boston Red Sox, I realized the television, and radio industry was expanding and job openings may be available. This would give me an opportunity to get my foot in the door, and hopefully give me a chance to one day direct and produce a film or documentary.
I took a chance and enrolled at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting in Wellesley Hills, MA to get a crash course in television and radio production. Six months later I landed an internship at Fox Sports Net, and the rest is history. I was off and running before I had even realized my feet had hit the ground. I had found my niche and since 2006 I have been directing, producing, editing, and writing features, documentaries, and films in the Boston market.
I have had the pleasure of working for Fox Sportnet, NESN, Kraft Sports Productions of the New England Patriots, and I am now the Special Projects Producer for Comcast Sportsnet New England. I also started my own production company in 2007 and have had clients such as ESPN, the Boston Celtics, the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Bruins, Nokona, Wheaties, General Mills, Air Race 21, and many more.
One of my most notable clients was the Dropkick Murphys who asked me to direct, produce, and edit their 2010 live DVD release “Live on Lansdowne”.
The DVD has been released worldwide and the live video of “I’m shipping up to Boston” has aired on MTV, VH1, and Fuse.
Please take a look at my career timeline to get a better idea of some of the milestones of the last few years.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by my site.
Best,
-Torey Champagne